HVAC Retrofit. Options??

fumbrunner

I have a client that is looking at retrofitting an existing small apartment block and is looking for options.

It is a concrete block and currently has an old natural gas water boiler system. While he could upgrade to a newer boiler system, he is looking for options that would allow for separate heating bills for the three suites in the block.

Sounds like a complicated job with few options.

Thoughts?

Verbal

i've never had to split up a unit, but does the house have 3 gas meters? and is the layout done in a way that you can isolate the radiators or baseboards for each unit? If so you could run 3 small boilers. it would involve disconnecting the mainlines from the larger boiler and piping a new input/output loop for each new unit to connect the existing rads. if its all from one main gas line, and only one gas meter, thats gonna have to be split to bill them accurately. boiler zoning would work, temperature control-wise but it wouldn't separate the bills. But if hes looking to upgrade anyway, just split it up in the beginning and cut to the chase. but i'm not a boiler guru, this is just my humble 2 cents worth.

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fumbrunner

Yes, its one gas line right now but I suppose it could be split.

I am not sure if the lines are isolated in such a way that they can be easily split. I suspect not.

I guess there are a few options here:
1. evaluate the possibility of isolating the water lines and installing three boilers
2. upgrade the electrical and install baseboard heating
3. box in cold and hot air returns and run forced air.

None of them look like very good options given the specifics of the building.

His best bet is probably to improve the EE of the building and run a high-efficiency boiler.

Thoughts?

Verbal

Well if it was my house, i would prefer boiler heat, i think its the best way to go. But the easiest would probably be option 2.

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Best line from a customer "you here for the tune-up? the tank of 22 is in the shed, let me know if you need more."

westernhvac

How about one of the Daikin or Mitsubishi heatpumps with wall mounted indoor units. Units still produce about 80% heat capacity at -20F.

MechanicalDVR

What state is it in? Would adding a/c be a plus?

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fumbrunner

We are in Manitoba Canada. A heat pump is not an option. Gets way too cold for way too long up here.

Not really looking at AC options. The tenants just typically use window units.

flashheatingand

I had a potential client who had a similiar request. I don't know too much about the product (actually, I know nothing about it) but, I should study this matter further because it is not that rare of a request... Nevertheless, what useful information I can provide is: Google sub- meters, natural gas. That may lead you somewhere. There were a few sites that looked interesting, but it required too much reading at the time.

Good luck