Heating Question part 2

[s1120]

Another heating question. I will be building a new house in the spring and am trying to decide on a heating system. I need to decide between hot water baseboard, or forced hot air. I like the heat from hotwater better, but we also want AC, and that would be easier with hot air. Also cost is a big factor. This is our first new house, and we want to do it right. Thanks.

 

[MikePA]

If you go hot air, be sure to get an electronic air cleaner and a humidifier. If you also have hard water, get a water softener, particularly for the humidifier.

 

[JJT]

We went with forced warm air for several reasons. 1 - easy to add a whole house air filtration system, (wife's allergic to dust, mold, etc)., 2 - A/C for the summer, 3 - added a whole house humidifier for the winter, 4 - I hate plumbing.... I've had baseboard hot water heat, it's fantastic, but we needed some addons that where much easier with forced warm air.

 

[s1120]

<font color=red>1 - easy to add a whole house air filtration system, (wife's allergic to dust, mold, etc)., 2 - A/C for the summer, 3 - added a whole house humidifier for the winter</font color=red>

Yup, all of these are pointing us that way. Will be a bit of money, but should be easy to add after the fact.

 

[TerryinMD]

Paul,

You'll see my previous post which applies to this post also.

The cost of the system is a determining factor but when building new it is best to do it right from the start. In the grand scheme, spending a couple thousand more up front is very cost effective. The payback comes quickly in effeciency and system life. It is hard to retrofit a system after the house is built. Been there... done that.

Terry

 

[s1120]

Ya, I know that. I just hope this will be my last house, and want to put the most money into the stuff that is very costly to change later. Like If we go with hot air we will most likly hold on the AC till we know we need it. The duct work is there, just need to add the ac stuff when we have the need, and the money. Unless I am missing something. This is my first, so I have no idea.

 

[TerryinMD]

Paul,

Yes, it can get to be quite expensive - relative term ya know... /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

When we had our first system put in, I had bids done with 3 or 4 HVAC contractors. It is amazing to see the variances in their proposals. If you have the plans for your house, pick a couple reputable contractors, show them the plans and then have them make a proposal. Be sure to ask for a couple different options. Once you have all of the data, you can then make the decision on the best approach. You may be surprised at what you might be able to afford. Oh yes, be sure to ask about coming back and adding equipment.

Good luck,
Terry

 

[RickM]

Paul,
You may have more choices than you might think. Ground source heat-pumps are becoming more popular now. I think what should dictate your space heating method should be the longterm least expensive fuel. My guess for your area would be oil. With a small boiler you can heat your house and domestic hot water. These small package boilers can use L.P. and natural gas too. Do any of your local utilities offer an energy audit/analysis program? Many do here in Oklahoma.
I've often thought out my ideal home indoor comfort system for when I build. I would have a hot water (small boiler) heating system in the slab or sub-floor for space heat and domestic hot water. I would then have a forced air heat-pump, ducts in the ceiling, for air conditioning it the summer and with a humidfier that I could use in the winter. Heat rises and cool settles /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.
Sorry I got off on my own tangent there. Just want you to make an informed decision about the comfort you will expect from your new house for years to come.

 

[s1120]

Thanks, I will take any ideas I get.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The first item you need to consider is the life span of the new hot air furnace heat exchangers, [censored] short cause they are about as thick as aluminum foil. Yup, they're efficient as all hell, but expensive to replace. A boiler, on the other hand will last about 25 years. The baseboard system will outlast 2 boilers.
Second major consideration, the ducting system for AC should be totally different from the heating duct system. They need to serve different functions.
I have hot water heating, baseboard, with a seperate ducting system in the attic for AC. It's far more energy efficient than a coil in the furnace. There are also systems available today with individual evaporators for each room. If I was doing the job today, I'd go that way, probably with a ground loop condensor system.
Another consideration is getting rid of accumulated heat in the attic. Most contractors want to sell a cheap fan that is thermostaticly controlled. A better way to go is a fan that is clock or sunlight controlled. Remember, insulation only retards the flo of heat, so cooling the attic thru the night gives you alot better energy situation in the first half of the day, the sun needs to totally reheat the insulation, before the ceiling can reradiate the heat into the living area.
The initial cost of the system is only one consideration and usually turns out to be the least part of the cost of heating and cooling a house. It doesn't take a lot of brainpower to install the systems today either, most of the "professional installers" are 19 year old kids with the brainpower of a gerbil.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

i have had oil and gas heat in the house that i live in and have extensively added to and remodeled. the oil heat is good, and with the on site tank you are self sufficient as long as you can supply a small amout of electricity to the furnace, these come in 90% efficient now also which i would say is a definate must. insulate heavily if at all possible, that will keep your temperatures very even and save you a bundle. i doubled the square footage of the house, insulated all ext. walls and ceiling old and new during the renovation, and the heating bill is about the same. house built in 63, no insulation in the walls or ceilings.

i would always recommend that you build in a secondary heat source- wood stove/ aux furnace. it has come in handy around here a few times. i have a wood stove plugged into the furnace ducts, it has its own fan and circulates hot air through the furnace ducts, when it drops below 35 degrees i run the wood stove, really really really cuts the nat. gas use. the furnace runs about 1/3 as much with the wood burner going. you will save a bundle of dough in the long run by making that kind of investment now.

alex

 

[shade2u2]

I'm in the process of trying to make the same decision also. We are comparing propane forced air & geothermal. Both utiliize a duct system that can manage cooling also. Geothermal cost more up front, but also supports water heating & will cost less than propane to operate over the long haul. I also want to support my heating with a woodburner (can't beat my free wood) which has me leaning toward forced air since I may not "use" the geothermal much & therefore not realize it's operating savings to cover the initial higher cost. If you are not going to burn free wood, then I would suggest that you have as many geo. vs fuel comparisons done as possible. The utility companies & heating venders can supply assistance & info.

 

[BWa]

See my post on heting question 1 but as an add detail , make sure if you do go with forced hot air , DESIGN IT FOR ALL THE DUCT WORK!!!!!!!
If I had a nickel for every time I craeked my head on that !@#$%^&*()_!!!! duct , we all could retire to your own idea of this side of heaven ......
I would sure like to get my hands on the guy who put the system in the house , ........just 5 minutes alone
The house is the inlaws , and was to be turned over for a wedding gift , but as things go , all that was turned over was up keep , repair , back taxes , and taxes and all the other thing that go with a money pit house in the city ,,,,,,,,, just the thing for a counrty boy at heart needs ,,,,,,

 

[Chillimau]

Anybody know of anybody doing oil heat in Oklahoma? Looks cost effective. Most everybody is doing nat. gas if avail then propane or electric. Any ideas as to why no oil burners in OK? Nat gas would be my first choice, but isn't available.