What type of home heating do you prefer?

[dirtysquared]

My lowes has 40lb pellet bags for $5 is that about the norm? I'll have to call to check local feed stores. How long would a 40lb bag last?

That all depends on the teperature and pellet feed settings. If its in the 40's and 30's outside, 40lbs lasts about 18hrs. Once it gets into the 20's and below, I increase the feed rate, and that 40 lbs only lasts about 12hrs.

Just remember if it isn't 78-83 degrees, My wife and daughter are crying that they are cold . I get my pellets for $210 a ton / $4.20 a bag. I live really close to a pellet mill, so that helps me get them cheaper, not as much shipping costs and middle men.

 

[Blasturd]

Another type of heating/cooling i see alot more around here is ductless mini splits, Which is typically 2 head units at opposite ends of the house and a small heat pump outside, i know absolutely nothing about them i have no clue what they cost but its an option you could look into.

 

[dirtysquared]

Geothermal heating is really cool as well, its just really expensive.

 

[tbrooks]

Yeah I've looked at geothermal, thought I could do it myself, but it won't work on my property. Blasturd, by propane stove I assume u meant like a fireplace, if I used a pellet stove it would be in conjuction with a circulatory system, such as hydronic or forced air. When I had my woodstove, I kept it going from october til april. Its just easier that way, and if you can regulate it properly you don't create excessive amounts of heat. Granted thats hard to do with a woodstove, but it sounds alot easier with a pellet stove.

 

[tbrooks]

Well after hours of research I think I'm gonna go with radiant. The question is propane or pellet boiler? I was planning on adding a garage, and no matter what heating I use, it ain't gonna fit in my crawlspace, so I guess the garage will have to get moved up to my to do list for this year. I sure hope I win the lottery, I better start playing!

 

[dirtysquared]

Well after hours of research I think I'm gonna go with radiant. The question is propane or pellet boiler? I was planning on adding a garage, and no matter what heating I use, it ain't gonna fit in my crawlspace, so I guess the garage will have to get moved up to my to do list for this year. I sure hope I win the lottery, I better start playing!

I'd go with propane. You call they deliver. Plus if you need a few simple parts, most HVAC places will have them readily available.

I love my pellet burner, but I have backup sources. Your situation being your only source, go with the true and tried LP gas.

Down the road when your looking for a supplemental source, that's when the pellet burner should look desirable.

 

[79 bronco]

I prefer a warm hot wife, to heat up my house!

 

[tbrooks]

I'd go with propane. You call they deliver. Plus if you need a few simple parts, most HVAC places will have them readily available.

I love my pellet burner, but I have backup sources. Your situation being your only source, go with the true and tried LP gas.

Down the road when your looking for a supplemental source, that's when the pellet burner should look desirable.

I'm leaning toward propane, mainly just cause I don't know much about pellets. But they would be cheaper after install. With pellets I would keep a supply on hand, but I'm guessing they need dry storage, which would be a drawback. The other drawback is the garage wont be very big (like 12x20, but not exactly sure) and with a pellet stove I wouldn't be able to get a car in. I always have quite a few space heaters at my shop if the system fails for some reason.

Bronco, you can send her this way, but that might be the most expensive heat there is

 

[dirtysquared]

I'm leaning toward propane, mainly just cause I don't know much about pellets. But they would be cheaper after install. With pellets I would keep a supply on hand, but I'm guessing they need dry storage, which would be a drawback. The other drawback is the garage wont be very big (like 12x20, but not exactly sure) and with a pellet stove I wouldn't be able to get a car in. I always have quite a few space heaters at my shop if the system fails for some reason.

Bronco, you can send her this way, but that might be the most expensive heat there is

They need to be stored dry, once they get damp they get loose and turn back into sawdust. If you burn corn in them the moisture content in the corn has to be 14% or less. I burned some corn last year messing around. It was pretty cool, it smelled like popcorn outside!

 

[tbrooks]

They need to be stored dry, once they get damp they get loose and turn back into sawdust. If you burn corn in them the moisture content in the corn has to be 14% or less. I burned some corn last year messing around. It was pretty cool, it smelled like popcorn outside!

Thats what I figured, that would eliminate all possibility of a car in the garage. Well I guess I'll be going with radiant by propane then, unless somebody has a good reason not to. Install will be a pita, but I lucked up, the floor joists run the long way, so that will help a little. Now i gotta start figuring out how all the plumbing works

 

[DUALSTROKE]

I have always heated with either oil or natural gas and paid for it dearly. Oil is the lowest it has been in a long time. It will go up in price in a matter of time. I recently bought a new house and have been setting it up to live off grid although it is on grid. House came with electric heat. I am keeping it in case I ever sell as it is an acceptible 24-7 heat. Although I will never turn it on unless absolutely needed. I went with a pellet stove in the basement with floor vents cut into various spots in the floor. I then installed small low price fans with adjustable speed controls. So far it has worked great. I can turn them up ,down etc. I also put in a monitor heater on the 1st floor that runs off of k-1 and I have to say once the house is warm it uses a gallon every 36 hrs running constant. The monitor has impressed me. I also crank everything wide open when I am there as I am remodeling and trying to dry mud etc. I paid $675 for a mint used pellet stove off cl with venting,hearth pad, etc. paid $250 for 2 used monitor heaters off cl in great shape and working great with piping included. 1 is for spare or garage. Monitors run various types of fuel depending on model. Almost all direct vent. Do some research every which way. So far I am more then pleased with heating the house in 2 degree temps. Far cheaper than paying big companies.

 

[tbrooks]

I wish I could have a basement to do that with, but it is costly and difficult to add a basement with an existing house. That and its in a swampy area anyway. I wish I could utilize some solar options too, but 40ft south of the house is the neighbors property full of pines.

 

[tbrooks]

Been doing lots of research on radiant flooring. There is alot of engineering that goes into this. Working on a 700+ page book right now, and I still won't be able to fully design the system without some pro input. I mean I could, but it wouldn't work as good. Install I know I can handle, its just plumbing lol. Good thing I have time to figure this out.