New home best heating &cooling

DaveGateway

I'm building a new home in NJ Would like some advise on the best type of heating & cooling system. I have spoken to Radiantec about a radiant system it seems the way to go. Cost is a problem and the system will be fueled by oil. I'd also like to use a Buderus furnace. Any ideas or help would be appreciated. The house will be about 2900sqft.

clammy

where

Where in jersey and buderus is the key start to a oil fired heating system and for cooling most of the big names are good but if the ducts aren't externally wrapped and sized properly with seperate supply and returns to bedrooms and rooms whose doors will be closed it's just a waste.Think all your options out radaint is king for comfort but how about low temp rqadaint panels with trv working with a outdoor reset and some radaint on all your tiled surfaces or are you doing a slab .you,ve come to the right place for ideas

Scott25

Radiant

Go with the radiant heat!!! Just go "feel" it somewhere. If cost is a factor, at least do the areas that are a perfect match for warm floors. Bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, everywhere.... :-) Seriously, scale it back if you have to, warm some floors and heat some areas with different types of radiant technology, watever works. Ask people who have it, there is nothing like radiant heat!

Scott

DaveGateway

Radiant is definitely the way I want to go but my budget is limited to around 15K, that includes Ac. Thats why I may try Radiantec. Basically you do most of the installation yourself.

DaveGateway

I'm out in Hunterdon County near the Delaware River. I don't know anything about radiant panels and the ac is definitly a concern. My budget is limited and I'm trying to get the most I can for the money. To me heating the house is the key issue.

DaveGateway

name?

Hey, Bill Patrick is my name!
Are you not changing the Author field or do i have the same name as you?
Bill Patrick

DaveGateway

Sorry, The name is Frank

Jim S

Try to

avoid companies that make it sound like a simple do it yourself project.

In this line of work your better off biting the bullet and looking for a qualified contractor with references to deal with.

I`m not trying to discourage you, I`d just hate to see you throw away your money on shoddy materials or workmanship.

Another thing to think about is service after the job is done.

Just my .02

Nron_9

New Home

Try looking at a good heatloss for your house first.
then look at getting the system designed from a pro.
look at a combo system that will give you radiant heating and forced air off of ove boiler using a fan coil this will give you ac you want and be more affordable for you .
keep asking questions till you get what you want , after all you have to live in the house when we all go home

DaveGateway

Thanks for all the help. I have a friend who has a combination system. The baths have radiant while the rest of the house is forced hot air. The boiler is a buderus. I'd like to possibly do the whole 2nd flr. with radaiant. Would that make sense.

Radiant Wizard

Do It Yourself Installation

maybe monetarily practical for your budget but I would be very careful in respects to purchasing your material via the internet without a RADIANT HEAT LOSS AND DESIGN. Also what type of technical support will you get when you find that you need help. There have been and I can't count them numerous postings concerning this company and there practices. Get a second opinion from a reputable radiant contractor. You can also go to Wirsbo's web site and find a contractor in your area that specializes in radiant heat.

Everyone tends to want the Cadillac in heating but they want it at the Bettle budget. There's a reason why radiant heat is more expensive. Best of Luck To you

Nick W

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hr

You may find a DIY friendly contractor

I feel it is VERY important to have a knowledgable local radiant contractor work with you.

At the very least get some heat loads and design work done by a pro. Many will allow the homeowner to invest some sweat equity.

Skip bedrooms and carpeted areas with radiant, imo, for cost sensitive radiant installs. The best bang for your radiant bucks are kitchen and bathfloors. Any hard surface area where folks gather and stand!

Small area warming like that is fairly inexpensive and easy to install if planned for ahead of time. Definitally stay away from 16" on center large tube diameter for comfortable warm floors in baths and kitchens. I prefer a 6" oc spacing for tile bathrooms to get a very even heat spread.

16" spacing in a small bathroom may only get you 2 or 3 runs of tube. Not exactly a great way to install radiant floors!

My momma told me, you better shop around

hot rod

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Nick Z._2

right near you

Frank, I live in Milford and would be glad to help you.
Call me @995-9033

Tom Towne

Frank

I am a homeowner who did the full Radiantec install myself. It does work! BUT, it did not produce the BTU they claimed. After spending much time here on the wall I believe that 16 oc is NOT the way to go. The heat loss on my house was calculated to be 39000 BTU at -15F. Radiantec estimated output at 37000 btu for 800ft of their 7/8 tubing at 130deg water temp. This was not even close as anything under 20F I have to add supplemental heat. And that is with 150deg water temp at that point. My experienced but unprofessional opinion is to go with 5/8 tubing 8in OC with plates. As others have suggested at the very least you should get a heating contractor with a blower door test to get your heat loss and go from there.

It is possible that you could work a deal with your local contractor in that you do all the tubing runs, plates insulation etc. and he does the boiler, pumps and piping arangements. This would save you money, give you peace of mind that you had someone that knows what they are doing helping you with design, support your local heating contractor and give you some pride in DYI. Good luck

Paul Mitchell_2

My opinion

You can do a cost effective system. Rough in radiant in any slab or tile areas. Install a Energy Kinetics oil boiler. Excellent efficiency and made right here in NJ. Install hydronic air handlers and run ductwork. In the future you can set up some of the radiant when your budget allows. I must admit....15,000.00 is a light budget. What is the kitchen budget?

RELY

Radiant

First do a heat gain and loss. Next look at doing radiant on second floor for know and do first floor when budget will allow.Look at High Velocity system , right now ductwork is going threw the roof pricing wise these systems use smaller ductwork and can be equipied with hot water coils and get a/c seers @ 12 to 13. Looking to save more money buy direct vent oil fired boiler ,no chimney .With your budget this could be done.We are in Pennington 609-737-7443

Frank_21

Thanks to everyone for all the insight. Im glad I found this site.

Justin Gavin

Consider this

Here is something to consider if you want to stay in your budget.

1st boiler pick a burnham RSA series or LE series to help keep the cost down. If you can go with a Burnham V8 it costs more but will last longer.

2nd. Use ultra-fin on the first floor living spaces.
http://www.ultra-fin.com/

3rd. Install pex in the basement like you normally would.

4th. For the bedrooms install baseboard heat.
http://www.2haydon.com/baseboard.html

5th. For ac consider using a mini split AC system for places you need it. If your home is new construction you may only need ac in certain portions of your home.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/refbriefs/ad3.html

6th. Depending on your local codes you may have to introduct fresh air into your home. (even if not required you should still do it) it will help dehumidify your home in the summer.
http://www.renewaire.com/

Depending on local labor rates in your area a system like this should be really close to your budget even with the fresh air system.

Good luck,
Justin