Heat source for basement

joncroteau

hello- I’m looking for options to heat my unfinished basement for two reasons:

A) We use the basement for a few times a week and it’s really cold down there in the winter (currently sitting at 47deg). It’s 6 degrees outside at the moment.

B) I’d like to have an alternative heating source rather than relaying on my propane fired baseboard heat in case of an emergency.

I came across a great discussion here about why pellet stoves aren’t all they are cracked up to be. My current setup for the house is an HTP 80w running two zones. Are there any other options I’m not thinking of? Ideally it would be used as needed.

Mad Dog_2

Why wouldn't you add a 3rd Hot Water zone for basement? Mad Dog

HVACNUT

Ductless HP.

EzzyT

1st thing is to do a heat loss of the basement area that you want to be heated.
I would suggest to heat the basement with your current boiler as long as it’s big enough to handle the additional load from the basement zone. There are different options of type of heat emitters you can go with. Baseboard, wall hung panel rads, cast iron rads, unit heaters and radiant.

joncroteau

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828545#Comment_1828545

I guess the only real reason is that I would still be relying on the boiler. If the boiler malfunctions, I would like to have a backup source of heat. The boiler I have could easily supply a third zone. In fact, with the help of a few gentlemen on this forum, I’ve had to tune it down to 50% combustion to efficiently run both existing zones. Adding a third zone for the basement may be beneficial. I still do like the idea of having a pellet stove in case the power goes out, or my existing boiler malfunctions.

psb75

Most pellet stoves rely on electricity to operate (igniter, fan and often a feed auger). You could then use some backup power source like a UPS/battery. There is a patented pellet stove on the market that uses NO power—gravity only. You can see it on YouTube. It is called the Wiseway.

hot_rod

Is it one big open room? Then a pellet stove may be a good option. If you want a second energy source, electricity, or solid fuel seems like the options. Pellets are much easier to handle, feed, and clean up after, than wood.

Pellet stoves are like anything else, there are bargin brand throwaways and the better brand, engineered designs.

We had wood "parlor stove" in our living room for many years when wood was available on our property. Every few years ice storms would take out our power for days. Two weeks one year! The basic cooking on the wood burner. A small generator for lights, microwave and well pump once a day. I had two large well tanks to cover a day or two worth of water.

A few wall convectors with blowers on the boiler loop would be a quick warm up option.

pecmsg

in case of emergency the basement is the Last thing to worry about.

Small mini split and dehumidifier is all that’s needed.

GroundUp

For what a pellet stove costs in addition to the terrible mess and headache that comes with them, personally I'd add some radiation down there on a 3rd zone and add a second boiler for redundancy. Similar dollar figure and no mess or headache

joncroteau

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828670#Comment_1828670

yea, one big, open space. My generator will power most of the vital systems of the house. I guess there are a few options. I do like the idea of a completely different fuel source. I’m not planning on running it full time, at least not in the beginning.

Jamie Hall

At some risk of sounding like the Grinch… where does this hypothetical pellet stove exhaust?

joncroteau

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828692#Comment_1828692

i have 3’ of concrete wall above grade outside. My plan was to vent (with the proper thimble) through the concrete wall.

pecmsg

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828694#Comment_1828694

and then you have to go above the roof.

joncroteau

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828698#Comment_1828698

The particular units I’m looking at are power vented. They basically have a 6” exhaust with a rain cap. As long as your clearance from windows or air intakes is more than 36”, no traditional stack or chimney is required.