Moving indoor HVAC location

[Cherokeekid88]

We would like to move our HVAC to a different location than where it is. how hard would it to be moved and where could we move it to? We want to use that current space and do a peninsula so we can have extra seating and allow more light into the dining room.

Attached is our floor plan for that area. The 3 arrows are pointing to where the HVAC currently is. Laundry would still stay, just knock down the walls that currently house the HVAC.

Any idea on the extent of this and how much someone could typically charge to do this?

 

[RatLabGuy]

We would like to move our HVAC to a different location than where it is. how hard would it to be moved and where could we move it to? We want to use that current space and do a peninsula so we can have extra seating and allow more light into the dining room.

Attached is our floor plan for that area. The 3 arrows are pointing to where the HVAC currently is. Laundry would still stay, just knock down the walls that currently house the HVAC.

Any idea on the extent of this and how much someone could typically charge to do this?

when you say "move the HVAC" - do you mean relocate the vents that are in the walls so they are in a different wall?
Do you know wheret he main trunks are that supply them? Do they run overhead or underneath? Where is the air handler?

This could range from "just extend a line and drop down into a different spot" to "huge PITA expensive to do properly"

Also you're adding sq footage. Need to ensure your system can handle the load, and the new locations are logical for proper flow etc.

EDIT - Or are you saying the air handler is in that space (white above the "L" )and you want to move the whole handler to somewhere else

 

[Cherokeekid88]

Moving the air handler to a different location. then taking that utility room that it current sits in and knock that out to build off the wall that hold the washer/dryer and build a peninsula.

 

[CasterTroy]

Budget $15k, and hope scope creep doesn't set in







No..I'm not shitting you. Unless you have refrigerant certification and can do it yourself, it won't be cheap. Reach out to @Curtis_H and get a real number.

 

[Cherokeekid88]

Budget $15k, and hope scope creep doesn't set in







No..I'm not shitting you. Unless you have refrigerant certification and can do it yourself, it won't be cheap. Reach out to @Curtis_H and get a real number.

Geez really? if its anywhere near that, ill just live with it where it is.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Geez really? if its anywhere near that, ill just live with it where it is.

I'd totally believe what @CasterTroy is saying.
Moving an air handler more than a couple feet is a major deal.

Plus you gotta figure out where you're gonna put it. Unless it's in a retardedly large closet, it needs the amount of space it already had. The is a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, except you're also paying the robber too.

 

[Cherokeekid88]

I'd totally believe what @CasterTroy is saying.
Moving an air handler more than a couple feet is a major deal.

Plus you gotta figure out where you're gonna put it. Unless it's in a retardedly large closet, it needs the amount of space it already had. The is a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, except you're also paying the robber too.

I figured it was going to be a PITA. Just trying to do some updates that make since for us. We really want an island or peninsula to have seating, because we tend to hang out in our small kitchen.

 

[shawn]

Budget $15k, and hope scope creep doesn't set in

Yeah, I was going to say low five figures, not knowing anything else.

 

[Curtis_H]

Budget $15k, and hope scope creep doesn't set in







No..I'm not shitting you. Unless you have refrigerant certification and can do it yourself, it won't be cheap. Reach out to @Curtis_H and get a real number.

Appreciate the shoutout. We only do commercial these days but to reiterate what has already been said it is pretty involved to completely move an indoor unit to a new location. At minimum you will most likely need new main ducts, have to remove refrigerant and rework copper lines and drain, rework electrical and thermostat wires, if gas heat you also have to move gas line and flue pipe. It will at least be several thousand dollars depending on exactly what needs done.

 

[RatLabGuy]

It would be a lot easier to move the laundry room.

 

[CasterTroy]

we tend to hang out in our small kitchen.

Yeah that's a "1-1/2 ass kitchen" for SURE

Honestly, if this isn't your forever home, or even a home you think you'll be in more than 5-10 years I wouldn't waste a dime on any type or changes, and put all my extra monies into future home purchases that meet ALL of your needs. That's free advice from a 52 yr old dude with 35yrs in the construction industry that's owned more than a few homes and even built several custom homes



*Kitchen "Ass" sizing based on how many typical asses can be in that kitchen before one or more parties takes a wooden spoon and smacks the other party for being in their way. My personal preference is for a "4-5 ass kitchen" which allows for someone like my ex-sister-n-law that could qualify for 2-1/2 asses all on her own

 

[CarolinaHD]

Yeah that's a "1-1/2 ass kitchen" for SURE
View attachment 426756


Honestly, if this isn't your forever home, or even a home you think you'll be in more than 5-10 years I wouldn't waste a dime on any type or changes, and put all my extra monies into future home purchases that meet ALL of your needs. That's free advice from a 52 yr old dude with 35yrs in the construction industry that's owned more than a few homes and even built several custom homes



*Kitchen "Ass" sizing based on how many typical asses can be in that kitchen before one or more parties takes a wooden spoon and smacks the other party for being in their way. My personal preference is for a "4-5 ass kitchen" which allows for someone like my ex-sister-n-law that could qualify for 2-1/2 asses all on her own

…Pics of the ex sister in law?

 

[RatLabGuy]

…Pics of the ex sister in law?

Can you really not imagine what a 2 and a half ass woman looks like?
I can hear her.

 

[Cherokeekid88]

Well damn...
thought it was worth asking about. I figured though it wasn't going to be something easy.

 

[braxton357]

Without seeing any pictures at all of your system, who knows. Have an HVAC company that isn't a national chain come look. They are probably going to try and have you upgrade the whole system which it probably needs anyway, 100% depends on the layout and where you're trying to move it, if they can just make a couple new plenums, and find a way to get electric and line set to it, might be looking at less than 3k--anything else and yeah 10k plus.

 

[CasterTroy]

thought it was worth asking about

You don't know until you ask.

They are probably going to try and have you upgrade the whole system which it probably needs anyway

And that's where ballpark number comes from. It boils down to a "sensuous" problem; Sensuous already messing with the indoor unit, it'd be irresponsible to neglect the lifespan potential of the unit you're moving. I.E. you spend the $4k to make all these changes and MOVE the unit, and 2 yrs later you end up HAVING to replace the indoor and outdoor unit, and because we're anticipating a refrigerant change in the 2025 code, you're more than likely be forced to R-32 or 454B anyway.

But Cory you have NO way of knowing these things are out there on the horizon, and aren't watching these "budget" disasters happening on a daily basis so the only way to KNOW is to ask.

 

[83oldyoda4x4]

because we're anticipating a refrigerant change in the 2025 code, you're more than likely be forced to R-32 or 454B anyway.

From what i understand R410a systems have to be installed before jan 1 2026. Most manufactures have already stopped producing. and switched over to a2l refrigerants.

 

[shawn]

They're getting harder to find for sure. We had to switch brands to get one.

 

[CasterTroy]

From what i understand R410a systems have to be installed before jan 1 2026. Most manufactures have already stopped producing. and switched over to a2l refrigerants.

2025

The EPA has set a phase-out date of January 1, 2025, when new HVAC systems will be required to use safer alternatives. However, existing systems can continue to use R-410A, and it will still be sold and imported until the end of 2036.

Trane rep rents an office from us in our building and we usually get some good intel about what's coming down the pipeline from him. He's a realist and not just another talking head repeating what the gubment wants us all to be mouthsexed by. The new world of refrigerant is downright sketchy. We're looking at the possibility of having to rate chases that have linesets in them because of the flammability of the new refrigerant. "mildly flammable, nothing to see here" but we're going to limit where lines can be run in buildings now. And yes I've sat thru all the CE classes from MFG's assuring us this is NOTHING like LP or NG kind of flammable, but given R410A, R22 and all their predecessors had ZERO flame propagation makes me raise my eyebrow for whats to come.