ᐅ Partial Controlled Residential Ventilation / Retrofitting Climate Control in the Attic
Created on: 4 Jun 2020 14:32
D
derdomWe bought a small house last year, built in 2014.
A split air conditioning system was installed in the living room on the ground floor. It works very well and handled almost 40°C (104°F) last year without any problems, reliably cooling the entire ground floor.
Now we would like to address the attic. We thought about installing a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery in the attic space. The ceiling is wood/drywall. Core drilling between the rafters is possible.
Additionally, through the open staircase, there might be a slight effect noticeable on the ground floor as well. It might also be possible to cool the attic and distribute the cooler air into the bedrooms at the same time.
Would this work, or is the project doomed to fail?
Here are two floor plans.
We want to completely exclude the basement. Perhaps a duct could also be routed through the existing but unused second flue in the chimney in the living/dining area?
A split air conditioning system was installed in the living room on the ground floor. It works very well and handled almost 40°C (104°F) last year without any problems, reliably cooling the entire ground floor.
Now we would like to address the attic. We thought about installing a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery in the attic space. The ceiling is wood/drywall. Core drilling between the rafters is possible.
Additionally, through the open staircase, there might be a slight effect noticeable on the ground floor as well. It might also be possible to cool the attic and distribute the cooler air into the bedrooms at the same time.
Would this work, or is the project doomed to fail?
Here are two floor plans.
We want to completely exclude the basement. Perhaps a duct could also be routed through the existing but unused second flue in the chimney in the living/dining area?
Warm air rises. Therefore, you will hardly achieve any cooling effect with the controlled mechanical ventilation system, probably rather the opposite. I would install an additional air conditioning unit in the attic and also use the controlled mechanical ventilation system for fresh air.
If possible, you might also have options to bring fresh air down, not only through the stairwell.
If possible, you might also have options to bring fresh air down, not only through the stairwell.
Thank you for your response. I did not plan to bring the air up from below with the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. It is already planned to install an additional air conditioning unit upstairs. However, we do not want an indoor unit in every room. That is why we are considering distributing the cool air from the air conditioning upstairs. One possibility might also be to cool the attic and distribute the air with the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery?
Unfortunately, this only works in theory when it comes to cooled air. The heated air in winter is continuously reheated within the respective room.
From what I understand of your reasoning, you want to distribute the cooler air into the rooms, but that simply doesn’t work. Once the air is inside the room, it will mix evenly with the existing air and may be reheated to room temperature, for example, through solar infiltration.
In simple terms: with the controlled residential ventilation system, you cannot distribute air.
From what I understand of your reasoning, you want to distribute the cooler air into the rooms, but that simply doesn’t work. Once the air is inside the room, it will mix evenly with the existing air and may be reheated to room temperature, for example, through solar infiltration.
In simple terms: with the controlled residential ventilation system, you cannot distribute air.
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