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I've installed a few gas, forced air, central furnaces with 3.5 ton AC and the ducting can be half the work or more.
A few were homes on slabs so the only choice was to go overhead in the ceiling and it works well...
The last one was 1500 square feet and all the materials with an energy efficient variable speed blower, three stage burners and A/C ran about $3,000 in materials including ducts and permit...
The lowest quote from a heating contractor using the same equipment was $6,500 and that no one could beat his price...
If you are planning to live there for an extended time... it might justify the expense.
Always get a couple of bids and make sure each is quoting to the same specs...
A neighbor just had a new gas replacement furnace installed for $1200... he was very happy with the price... then again, it was 80% efficient with a standing pilot and the blower is louder than his old furnace...
Gas hot water baseboard will likely be your best bet. Heat pump might work, but you run the risk of copper thieves unless you cage the whole outside unit or stick it on a roof.
I've installed a few gas, forced air, central furnaces with 3.5 ton AC and the ducting can be half the work or more.
A few were homes on slabs so the only choice was to go overhead in the ceiling and it works well...
The last one was 1500 square feet and all the materials with an energy efficient variable speed blower, three stage burners and A/C ran about $3,000 in materials including ducts and permit...
The lowest quote from a heating contractor using the same equipment was $6,500 and that no one could beat his price...
If you are planning to live there for an extended time... it might justify the expense.
Always get a couple of bids and make sure each is quoting to the same specs...
A neighbor just had a new gas replacement furnace installed for $1200... he was very happy with the price... then again, it was 80% efficient with a standing pilot and the blower is louder than his old furnace...
a) Will a heat pump alone be enough for my home
b) If not, should I have a gas line set up (seems to be the most sane bet if I move away from the idea of a heat pump)
and... if I do have a gas line set up..
c) Should I do forced air with a furnace or see if I can workout hot-water baseboard.
Harry, do you have any recommendations where I can look for some prices or comparisons of those that have installed hot water baseboard?
Again, I really appreciate the help everyone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by harry chickpea
Gas hot water baseboard will likely be your best bet. Heat pump might work, but you run the risk of copper thieves unless you cage the whole outside unit or stick it on a roof.
Yes... the home had a single gas wall furnace... I had to run a new gas line from the meter because the old in slab line was in the wrong location and many of the similar homes have experienced problems with 60 year in slab pipes.
Please bare with me as I'm learning about this as I go...
But what are some thoughts on a "hybrid electric heat pump with gas backup?"
Where would that sit in the grand scheme of things?
I found this in another section of the forum, but haven't read much beyond it.
"We have a hybrid electric heat pump with gas backup and its VERY efficient.. In fact the largest heating bill over the winter (gas and electric and service contract for us with a 4 bed 3 bath split level was $255 .. In Feburary. In may it was down to $119 for everything.."
More info -
Pricing of installations can vary wildly over the country. There simply is no way for anyone outside of your immediate area to give a valid estimate of costs. Ask neighbors, businesspeople, anyone you meet for suggestions on who is GOOD and who is HONEST. Forget about price in that search. Once you have the names of at least a half-dozen, start making some calls. Trust me, it will narrow down to one or two very quickly.
I did an extensive post on heatpumps a while back. Use the search function in the forum to find it, using my name and the subject.
Don't make the error that many of us have made when purchasing things by buying what sounds great.
Look at your ROI (return on investment). If a fancy dancy heat pump costs $10,000, uses NO electricity, and life expectancy of it on the shore is 5 years, that is $2K + interest each year. If a gas furnace costs $2,000, but burns $1,000 worth of gas each year and lasts for ten years, the cost per year is $200 + interest, plus $1,000 for gas, for a total of $1,200 per year. Which is less, $2,000 per year or $1,200 per year? hmmmmm...
Lastly, I'm willing to bear with you, but not bare with you...
I did the best I could to seal leaks and such, but I'm young and relatively novice. I'm sure I could be missing something, so if anyone has suggestions in that area please let me know.
I've not gone so far as to pull sheetrock or do work in the attic, however.
The house kind of "came my way way" unexpectedly. Long story short, it has electric heating, boiler in the laundry room on the right side of the house, and the AC unit is outside on the left hand side of the house. House was ducted for AC that comes from ceiling vents.
I have some extra money, but the electric baseboard is definitely killing me. When used responsibly in the winter, it can run my electric bill from 400 to 500 dollars a month for a 1500 sq. ft home. In the spring when I can leave it off and I'm thrifty my electric can sit around $60 to $70. And when you have the property taxes we have...it's a serious killer. :/
It's the electric baseboard that came with the house (which was built in the 70s.)
I hear hot water baseboard is great in a number of ways, but I'm not sure what it would cost or take to run plumbing through the floors. That being said, it is only 1 story and relatively small square footage. Could be a plus there.
If anyone has any other suggestions based on the information, please let me know. Willing to listen to/try most anything! I'm a young guy, but it's important I take care of this home well.
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