House Heating Question - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

daveuz · #31 10-26-2009, 01:32 AM

use this link to calculate (coal in your area is probably about 350 per ton bagged) http://www.blaschakcoal.com/html/calculate.htm

t walgamuth · #32 10-26-2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy_Nate

I don't have any insight on specific heaters, however...

Insulation, insulation, insulation

A couple of summers ago, I added 12+ inches of blown cellulose type insulation into my mother's town-house attic. It has since paid for itself numerous times (summer and winter). It wasn't difficult at all, seal up any holes with foam (in a can), install some new soffit baffles (keeps the insulation out of the vents), and then spend the better part of an afternoon with a helper blowing the stuff in.

I agree with the concept but prefer fiberglass insulation.

BobK · #33 10-26-2009, 09:00 AM

I thnk electric is running a bit over 13cents in our area (half way between Cincinnati, Oh. and Lexington, Ky. I heat a big house and have electric baseboard heat (17 thermostats!). If I really want to keep the place warm thoughout, the bill can head towards four digits! There is actually a separate 225A panel and meter for the electric heat. My little kerosene heaters cost 40% less to run per BTU. Yes, I'm working on sealing up the house. Project down the road is geothermal heat pump.

raymr · #34 10-26-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobK

I thnk electric is running a bit over 13cents in our area (half way between Cincinnati, Oh. and Lexington, Ky. I heat a big house and have electric baseboard heat (17 thermostats!). If I really want to keep the place warm thoughout, the bill can head towards four digits! There is actually a separate 225A panel and meter for the electric heat. My little kerosene heaters cost 40% less to run per BTU. Yes, I'm working on sealing up the house. Project down the road is geothermal heat pump.

Seems you don't have gas service available? I would be checking out wood stoves or even a propane gas fireplace or 2 for those chilly mornings. Friends of ours have a geothermal system and their house has never been toasty warm. I don't know if thats typical - the vents only put out lukewarm air.

BobK · #35 10-26-2009, 01:35 PM

most heatpumps, when operating in heat pump mode (not using backup resistance) will only put out air slightly warmer than the air in the room. They don't have the several hundred degree heat exchanger found in a fuel fired furnace. That doesn't bother me as I had a rather good air-source heat pump at my old house. Gas is available at the street, but while the wholesale price of gas (close to the wellhead) has gone down, the retail price we pay is still up there and likely to stay as high as the suppliers can get away with. The grond coupled system looks the best to me, just want to be sure to get the biggest ground loop I can afford(or maybe a bit bigger than that!). House was built for caol fireplaces and I have actually thought of putting in a couple of small coal stoves for supplimental heat. Eventually, as I tighten up the house, that could be a problem.