Posted on 02/10/2025 11:21:25 AM PST by DallasBiff
As we step into the winter months, it’s time to consider your heating options. Whether your home is warmed with electric heat or a gas furnace, you want to know your family will be comfortable when the temperature drops.
Understanding your heating options, like electrification or a hybrid system, supports a comfortable home and manageable energy bill. To help you decide the best way to heat your home, we’ll explain the differences between electric and gas heat, and give a brief introduction to the hybrid dual fuel system.
(Excerpt) Read more at hvac.com ...
NYC landlord switching to dirtier heating oil because of soaring Con Ed gas bill: ‘I’m tapped out’
That used to be true, but the latest heat pumps will work find heating a home down to an outside temperature of -10° F. That's still most of the country.
I have a gas boiler with radiators. It’s the best way to heat a house.
When we moved to the country, my dad made the decision to go all electric.
However, when the power fails, you have no heat, and sometimes for days. Those who had gas, at least, had heat in their homes.
We were always comfortable. I really dislike forced air heating.
Me, too. All that does is blow dry dusty air around.
Gas heat is the best.
I lived in a rambler house, with an under the floor gas furnace. It sucked in air in the living room, and breathed it out all over the house. I could make it draw the cool out of the crawl space, which BTW was about 4 ft. In the summer, It would suck the air out of the house, circulated through the ducts, and come out as 68 degrees nearly every day of the year. One room was not hooked up to the system, the old garage. We shut the door on hot days, and when we got off of work, we fired up the window type AC. It would bring that room to a frigid 66 real quick. I punched a hole in the wall, so it fit perfectly, and built an insulated box to cover it in the cooler months. I LOVED IT... Gas water heat, plus gas furnace. My bill for NG was around $50 a month avg. I even used the hot water tank to fill my hot tub when I swapped old water once a year. Cheaper, yes slower, but way cheaper than heating water electrically.
“But, if I understand it correctly, the heat pumps that are good for really cold weather are not the variable speed ones.”
I had to do some research.
To be rated as CCHP, Cold Climate Heat Pump, the unit must maintain down to 5 degrees F the same efficiency as at 47 degrees F and work efficiently down to -15.
These units commonly are variable speed.
Welcome to the thread!
“It’s ALWAYS “right”, about everything.”
And I was right, again.
Heating? What is this heating thing? Trade winds for the win....
Lived in one house that had electric heat (heat pump). We froze in the winter. Never again!
Perhaps my research is old (3.5 years ago when I installed mine). But back then the only heat pumps that went that cold were either single stage or dual stage, not practically infinite stages. Which is fine if you're main goal is to fight bitter cold (live up north). But if your main goal is to fight heat (live in the south) then you have the luxury of the heat pump not having to work hard to find heat from the air it draws in (would like it to have various options of low or lower speed).
Wise words from the boss of Free Republic.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4126830/posts?page=48#48
It’s term used around here interchangeable with cord…more or less.
“What Exactly is a Cord or Rick of Wood? – The Merry LotusA rick of wood is a regional unit of measurement for firewood that is 4 ft tall and 8 ft long. It’s also a style of stacking wood…”..
Thanks. I now understand a ‘rick’ is the same volume as a ‘face cord’ or 4’x8’x16”.
Thank you, I was starting to wonder if anyone noticed.
They really work. I want to dismantle it and build an actual Russian Stove, with a mass of about 2-3 tons. My wife keeps blocking the idea as she is afraid it would make that room (our “TV” room) too crowded.
Since our home is relatively small, about 1300 sq ft I guess I will keep it as is.
There is one improvement I need to make. Notice the curved pipe? It deleted the old pipe that went straight to the chimney and instead forces the exhaust to go through the heat sink. It has one serious flaw. When you open the door it creates an easier path for the smoke which leaks into the room.
I need to re-do that somehow. I’m thinking of getting the curved pipe and cutting holes to run a straight smaller piece from the curved pipe up to the piece going into the chimney. Inside the straight pipe I would have a valve. It would be opened when I want to load the firewood or clean out ash etc and closed when in operation.
Otherwise I have to keep using speedy hands when loading the firebox (or when its down to just coals). It also causes me to have to clean it a little more often as it burns slower until it heats up and high temps Crete a vacuum pulling fresh air in faster. Slow moving lingering smoke deposits creosote faster.
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