An attic is probably one of the worst places in the house if you have to spend hot summer days in it. There is no other opinion that a person may rarely survive the whole of its summer while living in an attic without a proper HVAC system or air conditioning unit.
As it is clear that the temperature and heat in the attic are extreme, air conditioners will also require extra performance and energy to provide efficient cooling in the area but the actual question is, can HVAC be installed in an attic?
Well, the answer is simple but related factors need to be considered before going for it.
Why put HVAC in the attic
On average, the temperature in the attic can go up to 55 degrees celsius during the hot summer days. This thing cannot only restrict people from living in the attic but may also affect the temperature in your house as well. Putting an HVAC in the attic is necessary to maintain the temperature and make the house habitable for human beings to live in and that too in a comfortable manner.
One of the major reasons is space. There is rarely a place in the house where you can install an HVAC apart from the attic. Attic provides you with efficient space to install complete of your HVAC units without wasting any other part of the house and its attractiveness as well.
Where all the mess of an HVAC unit will be away from your house if you put HVAC in the attic, you may face some issues as well at the time of installation or most probably at the time of maintenance or repairing.
How to install HVAC in the attic
- The process should be started by taking all the measurements and choosing the right place where the central part of the HVAC should be placed. Make sure that ductwork can easily go through all places without any space issues.
- Make a base for the central unit to be placed. This could be cement but wood or other related materials are widely suggested by professionals.
- Install all the ductwork but try to keep it there with the support of walls or pillars. This will give them extra support while mitigating the chances of damages.
- Insulation is recommended as it will act as a protective guard for the ductworks to keep them safe from cracks and leakages.
- It is best to keep all the equipment and parts of HVAC slightly above the ground as directly placing them on the ground may affect their performance and life as well.
Important things to know about HVAC in the attic
Installing HVAC in the attic is probably the best option and alternative to other traditional heating and cooling equipment such as ACs. This practice works extremely well for some houses depending upon the conditions, especially in terms of weather. Below are some most important things that should always be considered before moving on to the installation process.
Need proper care and look after
HVAC units in the attic will require a proper routine of looking after. As they are installed at a place far away from humans, you may not be able to notice anything if minor issues are developing in the system.
This is the reason that you should not only visit your HVAC in the attic periodically but get it checked by professionals as well.
Small cracks or leakage can waste energy which will add up to your utility bills. Apart from this, these cracks or leaks can cause major issues if left unattended.
Help you save a lot of house space
If you want a solution that can help you save a lot of space, putting HVAC in the attic is probably the best one.
The attic is treated as a space in most of the houses while only a few use it as a living area but that usually happens in cool regions where the temperature remains at a moderate level.
Installing HVAC in the attic will help you save space by installing a compressor, ductwork, and all the mess away from affecting the beauty of your house.
High-Quality ductwork is essential
Ducts are prone to more potential damage as they are installed in an attic which makes them more exposed to extreme temperature and weather conditions.
As ductworks in an attic are exposed to really hot and cold temperatures, expansion and contractions of the pipes and tubes are common due to their natural phenomena. This is the reason that using ductwork of the best quality should be one of your top priorities.
Less installation expense
As there is a good enough space to place ductwork without any issue, installation cost becomes extremely less as compared to installing them in a narrow place.
This also allows homeowners to save costs that are spent as extra money on the protection of ductworks from animals or other factors that can cause cracks or leaks.
Is insulation ductwork necessary in attic space
Insulating ductwork is necessary especially in attic space because it brings various benefits with it. One of the major ones is enhanced efficiency and performance because the air inside the ductworks will not be affected by outside extreme temperatures, either entirely or to a great extent. This will also increase their life by preventing leaks and cracks.
How to replace HVAC in the attic
- Start by inspecting the HVAC in the attic to analyze whether you need to replace the whole system or just a part of it.
- Before moving forward, make sure you have marked all the points of the checklist such as cost, time, efficacy, etc.
- It is recommended to replace the whole system if most of its parts are damaged because it may cost you more at that time but will surely save you in the long run.
- Cut the power from HVAC before getting to start your work.
- Disassemble different parts of the HVAC so that they can be taken out of the attic.
- Take all the old equipment out of the attic so that technicians can work with relaxed minds.
- Start assembling the new parts after making sure that nothing primary factors require changes such as the point where the system was installed before.
- Once all the assembly has been done, turn ON the system and examine it thoroughly to see if it is working properly.
Curious to know can you use sharkbite fittings on ac lines or is concrobium safe to use in hvac systems?
