best heating system

farmerpsv · Jul 19, 2004

Once again I plumb the depths of knowledge at tractorbynet. am going to build a house and am considering all the heating alternatives. have been looking seriously at radient under floor heat. my wife is asthmatic and figure it would be better than blowing hot air and dust around. am concerned about the off gassing that would occur from heating osb or plywood with glue, finishes on wood floors. is this nuts? not a real issue? then i consider ratiator heat, which i know nothing about. would like to be able to incorporate an outdoor wood furnace/boiler. anyway, what's your input? what is your ideal heating system?
thanks,
paul

ghitch75 · Jul 19, 2004

if i was building a new home i would go with floor radiant heat with a outdoor wood boiler and a gas boiler backup...let me know if you need any help...i'm a outdoor wood boiler dealer and been in HVAC for over 20 years and as far as the glue gases coming out the temp is not that high to release them..shoot me an email to ghitch75@hotmail.com for more info

MikePA · Jul 19, 2004

...am concerned about the off gassing that would occur from heating osb or plywood with glue, finishes on wood floors. is this nuts? not a real issue? 
We have some HVAC TBNers that can answer authoritatively, but the water in the tubing does not get hot enough to do this.

If I was building a new home, I'd go underfloor radient.

DAP · Jul 19, 2004

I agree with mike, but my oil fired steam sure is nice though.

Birdhunter1 · Jul 19, 2004

Another system you may look at is geothermal. I use to install and servicec them and geothermal is an awesome heat source, plus around here many of the electric co-ops will offer rebates if you install them. The initial cost is higher but I would look into it, I will be when I decide to build soon. If you talk to a good contractor he should be able to help you get a rough estiamte of what the estimated annual costs would be if you went gas/geo or electric. Obviously wood would be free but you have to have a large supply. If you can't find a contractor who could provide you with this info check with your power company and they may be able to help you. And it will put out enough heat to do what you are needing to do.

DaveNay · Jul 19, 2004

( Another system you may look at is geothermal. I use to install and servicec them and geothermal is an awesome heat source, plus around here many of the electric co-ops will offer rebates if you install them.)

What about northern IL? Will geothermal work around here too? Do you just put it deeper?

Dave

MicroPilot · Jul 19, 2004

On my geo system they drilled 2 vertical holes 200' deep x 8 inches wide.

Yankee · Jul 19, 2004

I like forced hot water systems using an oil burner. Very clean, should cause your wife no problems, and is easily maintained. These are conventional systems with easy parts availability and lots of servicepeople available. My concern with radiant floor systems is dealing with tube deterioration, deposits, etc. Also note that some people are reported to find radiant floors uncomfortable. It inverts the normal expectation of having things cooler lower down and warmer around your upper body.

Given the way the world is going, I'd prefer to super-insulate and rely primarily on a passive solar approach, plus have a back-up solution or two in-hand. I insulated my new house with polyurethane spray-in insulation. I've got R19 in the walls, and R30 in the ceiling, and virtually no air leakage (i.e., almost, but not quite super-insulated). Didn't go solar, though - it was a spec house and I was too late in the process for that.

_RaT_ · Jul 19, 2004

Yankee, I am also in the process of designing a new home. I am certified by Nudura to do their insulated block. The ICF is so incredibly, unbelieveably superior that I have no doubts it will someday displace stick frame. R values are an interesting thing. The way in which they are derived is interesting and a rude awakeining as to what they really are. Don't get me wrong, todays homes and insulation are far superior to what they were, but wait until you hear about what ICF can do. I have done wood frame ince 1972. Never have I been more excited aboout a new way of building as with ICF. The Nudura product is by far the simplest system available. The radiant floor system is superb and if the figures work out, plan to use it. Electricity in much of California is far to expensive to be considered as a means to heat, geothermal or not. Cooling is where I would receive a big bonus in ICF's benefits. Rat...

SPIKER · Jul 19, 2004

Hi Guys:

I have been working on installing a in-floor radiant heat for the barn I'm building. and have tons of links I can post or send you. I bought my floor tubing already, (this is PEX-AL-PEX) and is about the best tube for the floor , (below copper but installing copper can be a major pain, as well as corrosion and leaks.) I got it from https://www.farmtekcatalog.com/
they also have tons of other good stuff too. here are more infloor links ans boiler links

http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/radiantfloorheating/index.html

http://www.infloor.com/

http://www.durapex.com/home.asp

http://www.insultarp.com/

http://www.misterpex.com/book.htm

http://www.wattsradiant.com/

http://www.wattsradiant.com/

http://www.stadlerviega.com/

btu calc
http://hearth.com/calc/roomcalc.html

ok now most any of them give lots of info. I got about 20 different packages price info in the mail, some will do load calc for you too. need to know thos things to know how much HEAT you will need. only PROPERWAY to get the stuff the right size for you;re application...

if you need any more info let me know and I'll try and help

Mark M