HVAC contractor for island work
 

I am looking for an hvac company to install ac/heat in our island home. Either a central system or mini splits. Who do you recommend?

I have received one quote so far and almost choked. Judging by what units can be bought for online there has to be a better solution.

I bought a Mitsubishi split unit on Ebay for a great price and installed myself. I can be a bit handy. When a compression nut split a couple years later, I had these guys come out to find and fix the problem. Picked them up in my boat, drove them out with all their equipment. Drove them back. They were very reasonable and professional. Recommended.

http://www.homeenergyproducts.net/

I installed a second Mr Slim back home. I would recommend the model as well. We did the heat and cool versions. The one at the lake is good to about 40 degrees outside in heat mode. The newer one at home is good to about 20 degrees outside in heat mode. The newer one has a very good seer rating. I heat / cool my entire house with the wall unit (with my forced hot air system fan running) when the outside temp is above about 30F. Below that I turn on the oil heat.

I installed one of these mini's by myself, and can attest to how easy it was. So far no problems :)

Codeman,

We're not really answering your question but the mini-split is the way to go. I have the Sanyo Heat/Cool version. 36K btu compressor driving (1) 18K and (1) 9K unit in my island application. I've walked into the place in the winter and the inside was 20 degrees. In 4 hours it was 55 degrees. The A/C is tremendous.

Blue Thunder

I have the Mitsubishi Mr. Slim FD12NA mini split heat pump installed in my shop in PA. Fantastic, 23.0 SEER, 12.9 EER and 10.5 HSPF have had it one year and have to say we don't notice it on our electric bill - like keeping a light on. AC works great and heats with outside temp at -13 degrees and you get 100% of heating capacity at 5 degrees. No issues all winter and we had a colder than usual one here this year. I would think it would work great on an island where you will only use it May thru November. I will certainly consider it if we decide to go to an HVAC system for our island home - currently have hydronic electric baseboard heat, no AC. Here is a link to their catalog: http://www.mitsubishicomfort.com/med...im_catalog.pdf

As an aside here, I have often considered a real island property as a way to break away from the family's retreat. These are of course the complication that always worry me. In the event I have a problem I can't handle getting people out to the island to do the work. Are most contractor's in the area fairly well used to dealing with islanders as long as you provide them with a boat ride?

Generally yes, however, some contractors will not work on the islands. With HVAC, I would think you should be able to find someone who is willing.

Problem is always that if they need an extra fitting from the truck it is another round trip and time. A contractor experienced with island work will know to bring plenty of supplies for all contingencies.

Luckily with our proximity to Cattle Landing it has been pretty easy getting contractors to come out over the years. I can be dock to dock in 5 minutes.

HVAC Work for Island
 

I saw your post about needing an hvac company to install ac/heat on your island home, and I wanted to let you know that I would be more than interested in bidding the job for you, if you are still interested. I own a HVAC company called Cooling Unlimited, Inc. I have been in business since 1986, and I currently serve the Greater Boston Area as well as the Lakes Region of NH. Please let me know if you are still interested, and I could swing by and take a look at what you are looking to do.

Ac?
 

After living on Winnipesaukee all my life, I can't understand why anyone would want AC? Unless your a flatlander! ;)

I have to agree (about the a/c part), only because I avoid A/C at all costs, no matter what I am in, home, truck, etc. Gives me a headache.

Another alternative to A/C in this climate is a whole house fan. Gets installed in a central location in the house, flip the switch and the cover over the fan in the attic opens, the gable fan starts, the fan in the hallway starts and pulls all the hot air out of the attic, out of the house and draws in nice cool summer night air in through the windows. Wake up in the morning, flip the switch off and close the windows if it is going to be humid, otherwise the windows stay open.

http://www.wholehousefan.com/PRODUCTS/HV-1600--GDR.html

I always think the same exact thing when I read about people wanting AC on the lake. There are never more than a few days when we even use a fan in the bedroom.

The front of our place has a lot of windows and get sun all day. Lots of solar heat. It can get a bit sticky. We have a window unit in our master bedroom but it would be nice to cool the rest of the place. Two slobbering bulldogs in the heat is no fun, especially in bare feet.

For heat we rely on our gas fireplace only, it would be nice to have something that would heat the whole place quicker and more efficiently.

With Winnipesaukee at 500 feet above sea level and Dover just above sea level, I dont think this qualifies me as a flatlander...Just a cool guy that likes to stay cool :coolsm:

AC or not to AC
 

Hey everyone is different. Some people like AC some don't. For some it is worth the extra cost while for others it is a waste of Money. The bottom line is this. If in the end it helps your quality of life, then that is all that is important.

As construction materials and techniques have improved, homes have started breathing less and less. I had a new roof but on the camp a few years ago. The first time that ice, and water shield and felt had been used ever on the camp. The previous owners had many layers of rolled roofing. But now with the new roof I have noticed that the heat loss through the roof is considerably less... (no attic)....The ice and water shield as well as the felt, with the shingles on top create much more of a tight blanket effect then the several layers of rolled roofing ever did. We have also tightened up the walls of the camp by adding insulation etc. The bottom line is, now when we leave the camp for a week, the heat actually builds inside. So when we get to the camp on Friday night it is Hot inside regardless of the outside temp..... sure after openning all the windows and turning on some fans it cools right down... but hey if I didn't want a bigger boat, putting in some AC, might have some appeal.....

For me it is rather complicated. It's the heat. It makes me hot.:D

It's all what you are used to
 

I think its the reverse. If you are used to the hotter temps to the south, then a 80 degree day here is cool. To myself, 80 is wwwaaarrrmmmm :)

Funny I was just recommending air exchange heat pumps in another thread and I find their well covered here.
They are one of the most effective ways to reduce our oil consumption drastically.
I installed a MitsFD12 in Nov 08 and love it. We get way more use out of it fo heating than cooling. Just use it in summer when RH is heading for 60.

I finally bit the bullet. We scrapped the idea of a central ac system and had a 230v outlet installed and put in a 25k btu window unit. That combined with a 10k btu in the bedroom turns the house into a freezer. I couldnt find a good place to put in a mini split, and the $7500 quote for installed central air was a bit much.