Furnace on roof?

[The Nightfly]

I saw a first this morning...on an FHA inspection the furnace and condenser unit was on the roof, on a wood platform. Is this common anywhere? I've never seen it in N. Texas. Does HUD have anything to say about this? If you are in an area where this is done, why?

Thanks!!

 

[CANative]

Is it an older house on a slab?

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Do you mean the exterior A/C unit or the actual furnace that is usually in a closet inside? A/C units on roofs all over the place in Vegas. Around here, if it is located in one of those neighborhoods where the A/C unit has to be chained down or iron fenced, it would seem make sense.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

pictures???

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

"Gas Packs" are very common in Arizona. They are a single unit usually placed on the roof or at a gable next to the roof line that have a gas heating system and a refrigeration unit (AKA as central air in the midwest) combined. Everything is inside the unit. Attached is the unit on the roof of the house my son just purchased. We have ours at the gable with a Aero Evaporative cooler directly below so that the same duct system is used. We use the evaporative cooler during the dry hot months and the refrigeration during July-August during the monsoon season when the dew point gets over 50 degrees. Works quite well, when the humidity is low the evap can keep the house at about 70 degrees even if it is 110 outside. But since the evap uses water to cool--when the humidity gets high in July, it is very sticky so then we switch to refrigeration.

 

[CANative]

"Gas Pack." I love that name. I wish they had those out here so I could use it in an appraisal report. It's one of those terms that UW'ing monkeys would not know and I'd sound real smart explaining it to them when they call. I'd use that tone of voice I get when they ask stupid questions.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

In an appraisal report the terms FWA and Refrigeration are used. Gas Pack is the local jargon for that specific type set up. I went and took a photo of our system that is installed against the gable. The upper unit is the "gas pack" that provides heating and refrigeration. The bottom unit is the evaporative cooler, it has a foot thick pad only in the front. The cheaper models have four thin pads, one on each side of the unit. The other three sides, top and bottom are solid metal. With upducts inside the house, they are much more energy efficient then the regular evaporative coolers (nicknamed swamp coolers because of the high humidity that it puts inside a house).

The reason "gas packs" are used because they are cheaper to operate and more energy efficient than a total electrical system or having a air conditioning unit for cooling and a separate furnace (either gas or electrical) inside the house some where. When we updated our heating and cooling system several years ago, I only considered a gas pack, I did not want the more expensive system because it wouldn't have been an energy efficient.

 

[Mr Rex]

I'd be surprised if they don't have package units in Cali. There are both gas packs and Heat Pump package units. Simply a self contained unit with both the condensor/compressor and fan unit all in the same box versus a "split system" with the condensor outside and the fan coil unit in the center of the house in a closet, in the crawlspace, or in an attic. The split systems are slightly more efficient due to the centralized location of the fan coil unit and less ductwork etc.

 

[Ken B]

In an appraisal report the terms FWA and Refrigeration are used. Gas Pack is the local jargon for that specific type set up. I went and took a photo of our system that is installed against the gable. The upper unit is the "gas pack" that provides heating and refrigeration. The bottom unit is the evaporative cooler, it has a foot thick pad only in the front. The cheaper models have four thin pads, one on each side of the unit. The other three sides, top and bottom are solid metal. With upducts inside the house, they are much more energy efficient then the regular evaporative coolers (nicknamed swamp coolers because of the high humidity that it puts inside a house).

The reason "gas packs" are used because they are cheaper to operate and more energy efficient than a total electrical system or having a air conditioning unit for cooling and a separate furnace (either gas or electrical) inside the house some where. When we updated our heating and cooling system several years ago, I only considered a gas pack, I did not want the more expensive system because it wouldn't have been an energy efficient.

Typical appraiser...ignore the aesthetics in favor of the bottom line.

(I'm being semi-sarcastic...or am I?)

 

[EDWARD BERRY]

Also Called "duo Pacs"
Live With It And Enjoy The Spring Weather