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Most cost efficient way to heat our house?
Main Post:
I live in an old farm house, built in the 1920's. Right now, it has electric baseboard heat which is VERY expensive. Our power bill can approach $400 during the winter. The house is about 1100-1200 sq ft.
We've put in new windows, the walls and ceiling are insulated, every year we seal up some more cracks that we discover, and the house is becoming more energy efficient.
We tried one of those infrared heaters last year so we could turn off a couple of the baseboards, but we were not too impressed with it.
We're looking into possibly installing a new central heat/air system but I want to explore any other possibilities. A (relatively) high cost up front is okay if the long term cost of heating is greatly reduced but I'd like to find a nice balance of upfront vs long term cost. We've got about a $3-4k budget to work with, but we'd be willing to get a loan, especially if the result is a drastically lower heat bill during the winter.
Also, my husband is an electrician and knows a little about a lot of things, so we can most likely do a lot of the work ourselves (like running the ductwork for a heatpump, installing electrical components, etc).
Any recommendations?
Edit: Forgot to mention that we are in western NC with moderate seasons. The winters are colder than the summers are hot, though.
Top Comment:
If you live in western north Carolina, then install a wood fire stove and tell your husband to start hiking though the woods looking for felled trees. You can then cut them up and boom, free heat source.
I've been scavenging trees for years now, and my heating bills are effectively zero.
Is a heat pump worth it?
Main Post:
We need to replace our A/C unit very soon. It is still working but we know it's reached the end of maintainability.
We're trying to decide between just replacing the A/C or installing a heat pump. We're in the South, so it's pretty important to have reliable air conditioning in the summer! Is it worth the extra expense (~$5K-7K more) to go with a heat pump?
Top Comment:
There isn't very much difference between a heat pump and and air conditioner, basically a heat pump is an air conditioner working in reverse. Unlike an air conditioner, a heat pump will allow coolant to move in either direction, and depending on that direction, it will result in hot or cold air being blown into your home.
Being in the south, this would probably be a very cost effective solution, especially if you also want to offset your heating costs (if you have any) in the winter. I assume this would be a whole house replacement and not in a single room? If you have a whole house AC unit and you are replacing it with a single small heat pump meant to cool a room, then no, its not worth it. If its a whole house replacement, then it may be worth it over a traditional AC since you would also get the benefits of heat in the winter.
You may also have local rebates from energy providers and/or the state that might take a bite out of the total cost.
Looking for Advice on HVAC System (Single Family Home - California)
Main Post:
Recently got 4-5 quotes from a few companies on what system to install in our home and I feel I am being recommended different things, so wanted to get reddits thoughts/opinion.
The problem I am trying to solve is:
What system is best suited for us (see below) but also sets us up for the long-term (considering nat gas legislation in California and future installation of Solarl)? I'm tempted to simply to a basic replacement of the existing furnace to a modern single stage and add a sufficient A/C unit and call it a day. Though I keep getting stuck on if the right move should be for full electric.
Factors worth noting:
Looking into solar within next 5 years.
Fine with single stage. Don't feel like we NEED modulating/variable speed systems (for comfort)
More concerned about monthly costs/maintenance (long term) rather than upfront equipment costs
Home (current setup):
2-story home
2100sq ft
30 yr old functional gas Carrier furnace (~3 ton)
12 total floor/wall/ceiling registers
1 return (1st floor)
No A/C
Why are we wanting to change anything?
Want to have A/C installed for next year
Furnace filter is an old downflow V-formation (that can't take a new filter that provides any filtration.
Told by HVAC contractors to just replace it if I'm adding A/C anyway.
How we use/plan to use the system:
Fall and Winter months set to 69 degrees
Summer months we set it to 78
Estimates/Recommendations by Contractors (listed only the reputable ones)
Two have recommended going full electric (air handler and heat pump) as this is the direction California is going and have said natural gas prices will become more expensive with the new legislation passed this year (new developments need to be electric only and california will eventually phase out gas) (Estimates range $15-$16k)
One has recommended a dual fuel system (Estimate $19k) . I'm not sure why I wouldn't just get a replacement furnace and a regular A/C unit instead (Estimates around 10k-14k)
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Top Comment:
What part of California are you in? Ambient temperatures would play a role in what I would recommend. There's a big difference between the heating requirements in LA versus Sacramento.
I'd be more likely to go with a heat pump. Heat pumps are a lot more efficient than gas furnaces. But without knowing your energy costs, it's hard to compare. I'd imagine having a more efficient system and adding solar in the future would make a heat pump the clear winner.
When using a heat pump, you'd typically pair it with an electric heating coil for low ambient conditions. You may not even need that in a place like Southern California. I think the low in LA is around 40 degrees (per ASHRAE). Heat pumps start losing capacity around 30-40 degrees ambient.
You may also consider than slapping a cooling coil on a furnace will greatly increase the static pressure. If your system can't handle that added static pressure, you won't get the airflow you need. That can result in under-conditioning your home or freezing your coil.
Should heating a home cost 4x as much as cooling it?
Main Post:
Hello, we live in Ohio. We have a house. Our electric bill in the summer is about $125. Our electric bill throughout the winter goes up as high as $450. To me this means that the AC unit works really well but that the furnace is broken but I am not an expert in HVAC. How much more should heating cost vs cooling?
Top Comment:
Depends on the type of furnace. Electric furnaces cost a good penny to run as converting electricity to heat is one of the least efficient ways to warm a home.
What are your experiences with home heating options?
Main Post:
I am currently a first-home buyer with a potential home that I cam currently about to purchase. Although, it does run on oil heating and I found out that there is no service for a gas hook-up in my area.
What are some alternatives that are cheaper to look into? Maybe electric heating? What are your experiences? I would love to hear from you guys personally what you had done or been through.
Edit: Thank you all for providing me such amazing advice. I will look further into all of these recommendations and decide which one is best for my situation. Be well!
Top Comment:
No one has mentioned getting a home energy audit. That would be a good place to start.
A poster on another forum bought a former military house on a decommissioned base. First winter he was there he had the 200 gallon tank filled four times.
So he got aggressive with re-insulating the place. Turned out it leaked heat like a sieve. Once those deficiencies were dealt with, he now uses about a third to half a tank per winter, and is looking at replacing the furnace with a much smaller unit, as it roasts them when it turns on.
TL:DR. Evaluate the place before doing anything.
Heating systems, which is best?
Main Post:
My wife and I are going to be buying some land and prepping it, then putting in a basement and dropping a modular on top. Since this is a fresh build we have lots of options open to us.
My question is, what would you recommend for a heating system and why?
This is to be in Vermont, and it gets quite cold here (negative 15f at times)
Some options we've considered:
Radiant in the basement floor, with a tie in to a baseboard system for the house.
Baseboard for everything
Forced hot air on the first and second floor and leaving the basement as is.
Top Comment:
The minimum code for a Vermont basement is an R-15. I am going to suggest that this in NOT enough. The reason I say this is that the basement will be livable space. You might as well be comfortable, dry, and energy efficient.
There is an actual science that goes into building one. You just don't make a hole, throw up some forms, and pour concrete. Here is a PDF from the Building Science Foundation about this subject:
https://www.buildingscience.com/file/3450/download?token=_XnivCkZ
Here is some more info:
https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/basement-insulation
And from EfficiencyVermont:
Build this hole in the ground correctly, and you can heat it with a candle. You will not have to spend tons of money every year to stay warm.
Of course the modular has to be built with Vermont in mind. Your manufacturer will offer insulation upgrades. Take them up on it. You won't regret it.
Which is cheaper heating, or cooling?
Main Post:
Lets say 5 degrees
Is it cheaper to cool the house 5 degrees in the summer? Or is it cheaper to heat the house 5 degrees in the winter? Or does that not matter?
Top Comment:
Heating and cooling costs can vary greatly depending on various factors like your location, insulation, and the type of heating and cooling systems you use. It's essential to consider energy-efficient appliances, insulation upgrades, and thermostat management to optimize your expenses.
Personally, I've use this site to check for the best deals on each services. It's saved me some serious cash by helping me find local providers with competitive prices and customer reviews. Plus, it's a quick and easy way to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck.