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Well as alot of you know, winter is here. I'm looking for a new source of heat for my house. Last winter we were paying $400.00 a month just for natural gas. Yes my house is well insulated, it's just damn cold here. Anybody have any experiance in a low cost heating system? I'd like your input before I just go buy something. Thanks for any imput you guys might have.
couch patato
10-13-2006, 05:57 PM
i built a ICF home.( insulated concrete form) i did not have a heating or cooling system yet, still don't. i used just a gas fireplace last year and had to shut it off often. we will be putting in a geothermal system this is my suggestion to you. check it out.
fibrechunk
10-13-2006, 07:49 PM
Last winter we were paying $400.00 a month just for natural gas. Yes my house is well insulated, it's just damn cold here
Whoa!!! :eek: I feel for you. My heating bill was under $400 for the year!! My house is insulated well for my area. R-25 walls and R-80~ about for the roof. Just how cold is your area??? and how many sq feet is your house????
Caddylover
10-13-2006, 08:05 PM
Geothermal is the way to go. You will not go back to any other type of conventional heating/cooling. Got it at the cabin and it heats and cools faster than any furnace or a/c system. Not cheap, but if you plan to live there for 10 years or so, it will pay for itself.
smilingjack
10-13-2006, 08:22 PM
Cost more then the house to get one put in
We average about -20 in the winter. My house is a rambler. 1680 sq feet built in 1979. I plan on moving 8 to 10 years when ever the kids get a life and move on. I was checking into a electric fire place or something to that effect. Not sure but has to be cheaper to run then gas. The only gas appliance in the house is the furnace. My dad has a bar in town and there was a salesman that came in last year trying to sell a electric furnace that ran about $2.00 a day but he can not find the info anymore. I don't want the hassle of a corn burner or wood stove. Just wanna turn it on and walk away. Well gonna have to do alittle more research.
smilingjack
10-13-2006, 09:35 PM
Call the electric company
They a have a special rate that goes to "total electric" homes.
The can usually recommend a better system.
We average about -20 in the winter. My house is a rambler. 1680 sq feet built in 1979. I plan on moving 8 to 10 years when ever the kids get a life and move on. I was checking into a electric fire place or something to that effect. Not sure but has to be cheaper to run then gas. The only gas appliance in the house is the furnace. My dad has a bar in town and there was a salesman that came in last year trying to sell a electric furnace that ran about $2.00 a day but he can not find the info anymore. I don't want the hassle of a corn burner or wood stove. Just wanna turn it on and walk away. Well gonna have to do alittle more research.
I don't know what a 'rambler' is, could this be some sort of mobile home/trailer? Anyways, $400/mth to heat 1,700 sq/ft is excessive and I'd think you would be better off to look at insulation and new windows, as your expensive heat is leaking out.
My home is double the sq/ft of yours and during the coldest months (sim. temps) no more than $250/month for natural gas. Of course insulated and new windows and a high efficiency furnace.
Go cheap and insulate, caulk and purchase some heavy gauge plastic and cut and trim and tape it over your existing windows on the inside. Also too late but should of planted some pines on the north side and windward sides surrounding your home.
Apart from the above, wear sweaters, use down duvets and just lower the thermostat. If you want 35C temps......move to Mexico.
regardless of my spelling, I'm looking for heating alternatives.
cojones
10-14-2006, 01:50 AM
I saw on the news that natural gas will be for the avarage user $1200 cheaper this winter and heating oil is going to be higher.
Here i will run ac some of the winter. HEHE!
In my area a wood stove or pellet stove is by far the most cost effective. If you don't wan't to go cut your own wood, which is what I do, but that's not always an option for various reasons, then go with the pellet stove. Strongly recomend you price out the cost of pellets in your area before you invest. The Lignetics pellets are about the best. You will go through about 1/2 to 3/4 of a bag of pellets per day, so do your math based on that. Natural gas used to be the way to go, but it's a petroleum product for all intents and purposes and it's no longer necessarily the best way to go anymore.
mikepr
10-14-2006, 03:28 AM
Wooa..natural gas is down alot this year but Im afraid not that much lol . Im in Canada here about an hour from Detroit Michigan..my bill last year for a regular size house (3 bedrooms,basement, 1/2 upstaris) was 1100 for the year. I think they said it might be down about 8- 10 percent ...maybe 100 bucks savings
fibrechunk
10-14-2006, 05:22 AM
Natural gas
LP
Fuel oil
They are all products of oil and are subject to high prices. Fuel oil will get you the best btu's ....but it is the highest price too. LP is nice but you have to have a tank outside. Most furnaces can be changed from lp to ng or vice versa. LP gets more btu's then natural gas and it allows you to fill your tank in the off season. The big draw back is you have to contract gas early or pay a high price for it when you run out in the winter.
Wood or corn furnace are cheaper to run right now but they have their drawbacks. Cutting and spilting wood is hard work. If you figure in your time and expenses you might be better to just pay natural gas.
Geothermal is probably the cheapest to run.....but might cost you a nut or two to pay for!!!:D If you are planning on moving after a few years ...you might want to ask yourself which one will help you sell your house?? Will you get enough out of the replacement to justify the expense???
bols2dawaLL
10-15-2006, 11:32 PM
Hmmmmmm , wonder what kind of a windmill or solar panels ( and cost) you'd need to provide alternate power source .
smilingjack
10-16-2006, 12:15 AM
windmill cost about $ 700 and up
+ batteries and in inverter
but you have to be in a place with lot of wind
solar panels $ 400 up up
+ batteries and in inverter
but you have to be in a place with lot of sunshine
put it all to work withe making heat and could leave the the inverter
you could make it back in 2 - 3 years, and add some more
leave the original equipment install you can the your windmill or solar panels with you were you leave.
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