Relocate from closet to attic

[DefEddie]

I've searched and googled but cannot find this info.
Is it feasible to relocate the central air unit that currently resides in a dedicated hallway closet into the attic?
Unit is all electric,no gas.
If needed I will post pics,I am pretty confident there is enough room for it so lets assume that isn't a problem.

It won't need to go far, right above that closet would be fine-I simply want to lay claim to the extra closet space.
I think I would need to extend the "building envelope?" to include this unit maybe? Not a big issue if needed though.

Will a dedicated horizontal,attic mount unit be needed?
If a different unit is needed can I purchase one that could use my existing condensor etc?

The unit is only 7yrs old so budgetwise I really would rather not buy if I don't have too. Though I do have an insulated 1300 sqft shop where it would come in handy...Hmmmmmm....

Any information or ideas what would be involved is appreciated.

 

[Falcon67]

Interested to see possible answers, but I don't think you can lay an A coil vertical unit on it's side. There are probably furnace issues too unless it's electric. Since the unit is fairly new, you could probably locate a proper evap coil for changing to horizontal use.

The unit can just lay there on a platform - it does not need to be in the insulated envelope. You'd likely need to have the plenum redone to feed the runs and engineer a filtered return in the hallway ceiling.

 

[Grumpy365]

It depends on the drain pan.

A closet unit is a vertical unit.

Attic units are typically horizontal units.

Look at the drain and see if it will support laying it down. If the drain is wrong, you will have a mess.

 

[DefEddie]

Sorry,to clarify I believe I can mount the unit vertically in the attic.
From just looking,the unit itself is maybe 4ft with about 4ft of duct above.
Not sure if anything is in the duct,but pretty sure I have at least 5ft in the attic just offhand.
I'll find a tape measure to be sure.
At a glance looks to be as easy as mounting and then extending lines/wires about 5-6ft.

 

[DefEddie]

K,pics and more info.
Unit is a Rheem,it is right at 3ft tall from bottom to metal duct.
Metal duct mounted on top is approx 2.5ft till taped juntion/extension into ceiling.

The drain i'm assuming is the white pipe on front.
Is anything mounted in the first metal duct or is everything contained in the unit itself?

With that info,the pics and assumption that room is available above-any idea how difficult or costly an endeavor this would be?
Wife and I figure the space is worth a few hundred to claim,but not worth buying a new unit.

I would want a professional to do the work,if possible I would like to do any work I can though. I would prefer building the mounting platform,reworking ducting and possibly hoisting it into attic even if it will help with budget.

 

[Full Throttle]

no, those Ruud/Rheem units are notorious for sweating in attic applications

next you want it horizontal in the attic unless you have tons of head room, you don't want the duct up high in the hottest part of the attic.

that a/h apears to be verticle only. I could be wrong, would have to see the coil with door off.

next your return is through the floor... you still need duct running down to pick up the return, so there goes your gained space, unless you cut a new return in the ceiling of your home.

 

[Full Throttle]

definately more than 4-500$ cost to do, if you did it.

 

[Falcon67]

>Wife and I figure the space is worth a few hundred to claim,but not worth buying a new unit.

Hunt your space elsewhere IMHO. It'll cost much more than a few hundred to get that thing up there, re-plenum, move line set, build return, etc.

 

[DefEddie]

The return can remain in that closet without issues if it were moved straight up.
I also have enough spare materials in the shop to actually enclose/insulate a small room around unit in the attic for keeping it temperature controlled if that needs to happen.

The A coil is behind the bottom panel and is situated with the tips of the coils at top.
The top panel looks to house the squirrel fan and motor.

The only other space to claim is the opposite closet that holds the hot water heater,and that question was coming after this closet.

I would really like this closet,mainly because the back wall abuts a closet in our spare/computer room.
We've lined it with shelves and converted into a library,and we're running out of room.
(the hot water closet i'm hoping to convert to a gun closet )

 

[JimL]

Wouldn't recommend it. No one wants to go in the attic to work on it. Still have to run a duct down to hook on to what is below the floor.

 

[DefEddie]

Wouldn't recommend it. No one wants to go in the attic to work on it. Still have to run a duct down to hook on to what is below the floor.

I've thought about that,as I go into the attic at the other end of house periodically and it does get hot.
If I enclosed the ac unit in the attic,I would basically build a room around it.
Would be a good place to house our various home media stuff as well as a 12v solar charged power supply I want to retrofit into the house using some existing wiring.

Should be easy enough to add a fan to vent the room if AC is not working.

However,I do think it is something we will wait to do.
My cousin is actually an HVAC technician,and next time he comes over I will pick his brain about it.
Didn't want to call until after I figured out it was feasible.
Had him check out my system before to see if it could handle ducting into garage.
Thankfully our system was a bit oversized for the house and he actually said it would be better for system to cool more area.

Thanks for the advice,i'll update when/if we decide to do anything with it.

 

[shoot summ]

We went with horizontal units a couple of years ago. Converted from a single down flow unit that couldn't handle the load of the house to two units, new ducts, and 2 zones. Reclaimed the closet space completely as we installed all new ducts in the attic. Now I'm looking at moving or replacing the water tank to get all of the closet space.

Even if that unit is capable of running as a horizontal unit I would think it would cost at least $500 or more to properly move it and re-install it.

 

[nbee]

Does anyone have suggestions on a new model HVAC unit to replace that old monstrosity we have? Looking for an attic unit. Need to reclaim that closet.

Also going to tankless water heater to reclaim another closet - oy vey.
Any suggestions here?

Thanks!

 

[kd3pc]

Don't put it in the attic...the repairs to the ceiling WHEN the drain pan clogs or overflows is going to be a hassle, not to mention that no one ever goes in the attic to change air filters, let alone scheduled maintenance. The cost to redo the ducts is an add on as well.

but it is your money and house. Just my experience.