Air Conditioner/Heater Unit on Roof

[elena]

Hello Cecil! My husband wants to invest in a super energy efficient unit that combines the heater with the air conditioner for our house. Our house has no attic, so this unit would be installed on the roof - it cannot be used on the ground. The technician says the unit will not be visible from the street, makes no noise and is built on special supports for safety. The unit would be put directly in the middle of the roof of the house(!). It would be beneficial to the value of the house and comfort of it's residents. BUT is this beneficial in terms of FS? It makes me nervous that the only spot this unit can be in the exact middle (intangible forces)of the roof. BUT if it isn't visible from the street, can't be heard and is energy efficient does that satisfy the FS requirements of the "can't see it, not a problem" school? It's too hot here to live without AC, and sometimes the nights get very chilly so we need the heater. Right now the heater is closed off in a secret closet off almost the exact center of the house and I purposely don't turn it on because it is close to the center of the house (your center bathroom theory). There is no AC at all. We can just leave everything the way it is, and just install a small AC unit outside, but the energy efficient unit adds tremendously to the resale value of the house. What do you think? Thank you for your help (as always)!

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Elena,
1. More importantly, the centre of the house would be a major consideration.
The impact at the middle of the roof, should not be an issue here.
2. In my opinion, you can still place this unit so long as it is on one side of the roof (centrally is acceptable) where possible try to `balance' it equally between the side of the roof.
3. The centrepoint concept applies more towards the interior of the home where centrepoint preferably is clear space.
4. For the roof, so long as your roof is symmetrical, this additional object should not have an impact. Where possible, the piping should not `drip' down to the centrepoint of the house (as this would not be good). It should run into the roof, and to a side.
However, you should make sure that there should not be any leaks (later on) dripping to the centrepoint.
Warmest Regards
Cecil

Quote

On 4/5/00 6:53:00 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Hello Cecil! My husband wants
to invest in a super energy
efficient unit that combines
the heater with the air
conditioner for our house. Our
house has no attic, so this
unit would be installed on the
roof - it cannot be used on
the ground. The technician
says the unit will not be
visible from the street, makes
no noise and is built on
special supports for safety.
The unit would be put directly
in the middle of the roof of
the house(!). It would be
beneficial to the value of the
house and comfort of it's
residents. BUT is this
beneficial in terms of FS? It
makes me nervous that the only
spot this unit can be in the
exact middle (intangible
forces)of the roof. BUT if it
isn't visible from the street,
can't be heard and is energy
efficient does that satisfy
the FS requirements of the
"can't see it, not a problem"
school? It's too hot here to
live without AC, and sometimes
the nights get very chilly so
we need the heater. Right now
the heater is closed off in a
secret closet off almost the
exact center of the house and
I purposely don't turn it on
because it is close to the
center of the house (your
center bathroom theory).
There is no AC at all. We can
just leave everything the way
it is, and just install a
small AC unit outside, but the
energy efficient unit adds
tremendously to the resale
value of the house. What do
you think? Thank you for your
help (as always)!