odd comment on gas fireplaces --

[erics_bruisers]

-- i was talking to my neighbor tonight about their small gas fireplace (more like a gas-burning stove) and he said he heats the entire downstairs of the house with it, not using the furnace at all in the winter --

-- i mentioned i was looking at one rated for 1,500 sq-ft for my great room, and one rated for 800 sq-ft for my bedroom -- the house is only 1650 sq-ft, mind you -- the stoves are on thermostats --

-- he suggested i not even install a furnace -- but do the ductwork for the next buyer --

-- is this right thinking?

i am somewhat concerned about the smaller rooms, like the bathrooms, etc. getting heat --

e

 

[Koffer]

If your building the house and your thinking of going this route then make sure the wet walls in the house are interior walls as they will freeze . (see this happen here with even the new houses when it gets real cold )
Also put the ducts in as you will need to cool the place in the summer .

 

[erics_bruisers]

what's a wet wall?

then the guy said, "you don't need AC -- just button it up (ie, close the windows) when you go to work, and at night open the windows up -- it will be fine --

-- something is not cool with that, i know -- it will still be a hot house --

e

 

[erics_bruisers]

oh, are wet walls the ones with water pipes in 'em?

 

[Koffer]

A wet wall is where the (pitbull lifts its leg) plumbing runs
Also if your going to get one make sure it pulls the air for burning (cuts down on drafts) from the outside and also vents outside (nothing like walking into a nice tight house with a ventless one )
Also is this guy you talked to wear a sweater in the summer ?

 

[RHINO]

gas fireplaces work best with open floorplans, you will notice cooler temps in the other rooms, but it should maintain a comfort level worth doing. i would however install the furnace if your going to run vents for one, its only a small expense in the whole picture.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

just put on a sweater and get a good conforter, there is no reason it won't work
you only have to keep your house above freezing, for you pipes. Anymore then that it is just comfort!

 

[erics_bruisers]

thanks for this, all --

-- i will prob. go with the furnace, too -- like this one --

http://www.amana-hac.com/consumer/selectSide.act?side=3&requestedSite=Amana

something's just odd about leaving the fireplace on when i'm not home --



i will use the fireplaces when i'm there though ---

thanks --

e

 

[DSRTRDR]

have you thought about a heat pump? Very energy efficient. Does both heating and A/C.

 

[erics_bruisers]

i had one at school -- i liked it, but didn't love it -- it felt like cold-heat, or something like that -- like electric-heat --

e

 

[Cards81fan]

Egad. Heat pumps are energy efficient, untill you run them all the freaking time becuase they absolutely suck ate heating. The AC part works just OK, but to heat my 700 sq ft apartment when I lived there... it ran nearly 24/7.

The electric bill was still only about 90 a month on those months...

For A/C it ain't great, to keep it cool my bill for said apartment was approx 130. Now in my 1100 sp ft house, it's about 65 / month to keep it even more comfortable.

I would keep far, far away from a heat pump.

 

[NorCalDoug]

I thought you were going to do the radiant floors.

 

[Critter]

I would think it would be more expensive to run gas fireplaces to heat your home than an electric heat pump.

The initial cost maybe less but in the long run I think a heat pump would be less expensive.

 

[Koffer]

A heat pump works fine but where eric is building (the North East)it will get too cold for it to work all through the winter.

 

[erics_bruisers]

i am getting the radiant quoted, too, but the builders already said to be prepared for an extra $30K for it --

-- so i'm looking at many builders -- !!

e

 

[Koffer]

i am getting the radiant quoted, too, but the builders already said to be prepared for an extra $30K for it --

-- so i'm looking at many builders -- !!

e

Its hard to drop that kind of money and still have to put in ducts for A/C

 

[erics_bruisers]

i agree, todd -- the only advantage to the ducting then is that it'll be ceiling ducting just for the AC -- but it is still a lot of $$$

e

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

$30k for installation of radiant floors in new construction!? That sounds stupid high

 

[John E Davies]

My 2 cents - any gas fireplace will be less efficient than even a low end furnace. I have a big one in my Great Room and it is wonderful to keep it cozy when occupied, and for backup if the furnace should fail. But it just isn't the best way to heat a home.

Natural gas prices have been climbing along with electricity, and I expect that to continue. Get a reasonably efficient central furnace. Otherwise you risk ruining the resale value. If you sell, I expect you would have to install a furnace, even if you personally haven't felt it necessary.

John