chosing the best heating system for the home you are in.

Steve Garson_2

If you can afford it: Radiant in floor heat. If you can't afford doing the whole house this way, use baseboard hot water and put the radiant heat in your kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom floors.

Debbie White

Heating options

Renovating a 70-80 yr old house. Home was 1.5 story, we added 4 feet, new roof, new floor system (2x8 with 5/8 tg plywood)old oil burning furnace with forced air system (HATED IT) Removed chimney(that was in the middle of my kitchen) Need new heating system for the house. Replacing all flooring with that click together laminate. Would like to use the electric mat in-floor system but have been told it is no good for heating a whole house. Don't know much about heating options. Any ideas???

Mike T., Swampeast MO

The in-floor electric mats really aren't practical for an entire home unless your electricity is very inexpensive and your heat loss very low. Very few 70-80 year-old homes (even well renovated) would qualify...

A very nice hydronic heating option is modern panel radiators combined with radiant floor heat (particularly in bathrooms). If you go this route, use TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) on the panels. Cost will be higher than baseboard but less than all radiant. Comfort in between as well, but if budget allows you can size the panels quite generously and achieve near-radiant comfort levels. Depending on the circumstances either electric or hydronic radiant (for the limited areas) can be used.

Use a condensing/modulating boiler for the heat source if you choose natural gas or liquid propane. If oil is your fuel, consider oil-fired boilers that have no low temperature limit while maintaining their efficiency.

Ted_9

heating

Any combination of radiant and panel rads. Or all radiant or all panels. Best way to heat in most homes.

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Weezbo

on remodels Radiant panels are excellent...

radiant floors ,walls ,ceilings, benches, beams ,are worth considering also. someone near you may have an advert on this site... there are options when selecting panels also,for an eyeful take a look on past threads under Panel rads...

Dirk Wright

HRV

Don't forget the HRV (heat recovery ventilator). You need ventilation as well as heating and air conditioning. You'll need a make up air system if you have combustion appliances and they are not directly vented. I just installed a Field Controls make up air system (MAS), which is a duct with a barometric damper in it that leads to the outside, and I woke up the next day much more refreshed than usual. That fresh air really makes a difference!

Constantin

Second the floor heat...

... very comfortable, efficient, and the missus likes the lack of visual clutter and the freedom it brings her to place furniture in a room... and don't overlook the opportunity to install your boiler in the attic or on the 2nd floor, where it won't be hit by snow drifts (if that's an issue).

Most, if not all, modulating condensing gas boilers offer sealed combustion and are quiet enough to be overheard even while they operate adjacent to living spaces. By installing the unit upstairs, you minimize the chimney requirements, maximize space below, etc. Even a closet will do...

The only caveat is that the boiler has to be installed in the conditioned space wherever frost can occur. You might want to go for a unvented roof, in an attic-space installation, for example.