The HVAC is IN...and OUT!

I'm happy, make that thrilled to report that the HVAC unit is in and working...And yes, technically it is on, or out...as in on the roof outside. The new unit, a York Affinity Gas Heating / Electric Cooling package system, sits on steel beams that span from party-wall to party-wall called 'dunnage' above the roof. In addition to keeping the weight of the unit from sitting on the roof itself, this also reduces vibration and noise transference from the unit through the roof. The main reason that I chose to go with this system was because, unlike a split system, there is no furnace located on the interior of the house. In a small house like mine this can free up a lot of space (especially in a case such as mine where the old furnace was located out in the open in the kitchen). And perhaps that is what I'm most excited about...the fact that the old furnace is out as well!

In addition to freeing up room on the interior of the house, the added advantage for me of going with a combined roof top unit is that I no longer require a separate condenser, which in my case was located in the rear yard against the rear wall of the house. This means that once the abandoned condenser has been removed I'll be able to build a deck! But first things first...I still need walls around the bedroom and bathroom!!

The Latest Look...

The new light and mailbox. Yes, I need to paint now (the red rectangle is the location of the old mailbox. Note that the light fixture will also get a new back plate, as I'm not a big fan of the diamond-shaped one on it now.







A look at the interior from a few weeks ago. The plaster at the stair and on the kitchen side of the closet under the stair has been removed. Subsequently the studs have been cut back, and the former pantry has been removed.



While removing the plaster around the closet under the stair I found deterioration in the wood due to water damage. This explains the newer subfloor in the kitchen, which unfortunately was poorly done and needs replacement. I'm hopeful that only the subfloor and not the floor joists will need to be replaced.



The wall separating the rear bedroom from the stair was removed and bracing installed (overhead, not shown) to prepare for the new wall. Supply and return air vents for the new tankless water heater will hopefully be able to be run in a new, thickened wall. There is 5 1/4" of space to work with between the double beam that carries the upstairs landing and the edge of the floor at the stair. The supply and return vents are 3" and 4" respectively, and pending the type of piping used may or may not require additional clearance. I'm of course hoping that no additional clearance will be required, but will hopefully have more information in the next day or two once I select a water heater. I am currently considering Takagi and Rannai.

Back on track...

Once again I am impressed by what I can get into my little Ford Escort ZX2. If you have ever wondered how many 10' long 2x4s you can get into one, the answer is fifteen.