Replies

1. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Oct 18, 2011 10:41am | #1

   William,
   An air-source heat pump will cost considerably less than a ground-source heat pump.

   The best air-source heat pumps are ductless minisplit units manufactured in Asia. (Daikin, Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, etc.) They are almost as efficient as a ground-source heat pump, and they are definitely more efficient than a poorly commissioned ground-source heat pump.

   Spend as little as possible on your heating and cooling system, and as much as you can afford to be sure your house has a tight, very well insulated envelope with better-than-average windows.

2. 
   auYWr29hu7 | Oct 18, 2011 10:53am | #2

   In one of you articles about spraying foam on the rafters but if possible I would rather use lose insulation. I would like to run the duct work in the crawl space. Is there any way to be sure the duct work is seal correctly. I know the reason you spray the foam is to make the attic a conditioned area. Can you do that with the crawl space,too?

3. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Oct 18, 2011 10:58am | #3

   William,
   Here is information on creating a sealed crawlspace: Building an Unvented Crawl Space

   Here is information on sealing ducts: Sealing Ducts: What’s Better, Tape or Mastic?

   Here is information on testing ducts for air tightness: Duct Leakage Testing

4. 
   auYWr29hu7 | Oct 18, 2011 10:58am | #4

   I am going to look up your suggestions. I am on a new learning curve. I want our furture house to be built right.

5. 
   auYWr29hu7 | Oct 18, 2011 11:24am | #5

   We have an addition in our present house which has a crawl space and they put that concrete over the floor. I just thought it was something standard that they do in the north. I just never seen it done in the south. I would have it done if possible. So there's no problem with spraying foam in the crawl space and make a conditioned space like the attic. And using regular insulation in the attic.