Hydronic baseboard heat VS Hydronic water coil in Air handler?

[JohnDS]

Hello,

I have a single story ranch with unfinished basement. I have central AC in my home. The air handler is located in the attic. There is existing hydronic baseboard throughout main floor, but it all needs replacing due to damage. Boiler in basement also is going to be replaced. My question is this:

1) Should i replace hydronic baseboard with new, or should i take advantage of having central AC and run a hot water coil(heat exchanger) up to attic into air handler so i have central AC and heat?

2) I am not familiar with whats involved with the air handler option. Can i use existing air handler to install hot water coil, or do i need to replace airhandler with one with a built in hot water coil?

3) While I know hydronic baseboard is more efficient in heating vs a direct fired forced hot air furnace, what would be more efficient in this case since my senario is hydronic baseboard vs hydronic coil in central air handler? Again this is not going to be a direct fired furnace.

Thanks.

 

[johnjh2o]

If central air is needed then the coil would be my choice. If the coil is going in the attic space then the system will have to be filled with a none toxic anti-freeze.

 

[JohnDS]

Thanks John. Does anyone know how much less efficient this system is than hydronic baseboard?

 

[chukar]

If you were to replace the boiler in the basement you could run a set of lines to the attic throw in a heat exchanger coil, you could also look at adding on a storage tank in the basement for your domestic hot water. I have run a few of these systems in the past using IBC boilers I think we had around 90% effiency, most of the time we were running the VFC 45-225 boiler. They are a Cadillac of boilers, the controls are very easy to use and setup.


http://www.ibcboiler.com/content.php?pid=11

 

[rickcf]

I have central AC and in the basement a boiler air handler/radiator that hooks into the houses ductwork for heat. It has worked well. I was told we could get a used furnace and put the radiator in it to convert it to a boiler type. The air handler will need to circulate a large amount of air so while it is pushing hot air into your ducts it will need a clear draw from somewhere – within the house. Not from the outside as you do not want to heat winter cold air. Not sure your attic setup will accommodate this – if it is a sealed attic. Otherwise you will need a vent to the house into the attic so air can get to the handler. I prefer the air handler over baseboard because it is quicker to heat. I use baseboard for supplemental or hard to reach areas of the basement or in the garage. It is also easy to overheat with baseboard and baseboard is more localized heat. Just my observations for what it is worth.