Please help me avoid scorched air heating!

Erin_2

(figured that might get this crowd's attention)
Hi, thanks in advance for any advice, hope this makes sense!

I bought an 80 y.o bungalow in Minneapolis, it's currently on the original gravity hot air furnace. Gas-powered octopus. I've got a bit of money saved up to replace it and would prefer to use a boiler. I really don't need A/C and don't like the feel of hot forced air. The octopus vents are all asbestos as well, so I'm wanting to just leave the beasts as is and start over. Plenty of space in the basement to work around it. So it's a tiny house, but in a very cold climate.

I've been poking around here a lot and wonder what my best bets are to explore. It's only 800 s.f., one floor with an easy-access basement and attic. It's stucco construction, the plaster walls are uninsulated (and will remain that way), but I put about R32 up on the attic floor. There are lots of good-sized windows and beautiful original woodwork baseboards, oak floors etc.

What about thermofin between the floor joists underneath from the basement? That seems like a great option---is it expensive? I'd like to try installing, maybe with my dad's help. Does it run the whole length of the house?

Or baseboards? I guess I am trying to avoid the slant-fin types just because of my pretty woodwork being hidden. I also would have some practical issues of very little wallspace in my 8x9 kitchen (only one wall not full of cabinetry) and my extremely tiny bathroom (would not be able to open a door fully if there's a little radiator.)

Can I plug in different options if everyone thinks the retrofitted thermofin doesn't work? Maybe a regular wall-fin here and a panel there?

Oh, and what is the opinion of the boilers in a box? For an application as small as mine may be, could it work?

There are no experts for my area listed here and I am just looking for some thoughts so I am more informed when I really get going. Hope this isn't too uninformed as it is, but I'm trying to avoid being a babe in the woods. Although there's a compliment in there somewhere...

Thanks!!

Erin

Ray Landry

We are here to help Erin! I would recomend going to a few radiant manufactuer's web sites like www.wirsbo.com and check out there products. You can go w/ multiple stylese , like staple up, (which is just tubing in the joist bay) joist trac (aluminum heat transfer plates which conveys heat into the floor) the list goes on. radiant in my opinion is easier to install than thermo fin because there are no pipes to sweat together. Another option could be the use of european style panel radiators (check out www.buderus.net) they are VERY attractive looking and take up way less space than baseboard. I dont know what you mean by 'boiler in a box' but i would stay with a reputable boiler company, and if you do choose radiant, a condensing gas fired boiler for maximum efficiency. (Check out hte new buderus gb 142 series!) But above all, before any tubing is install or boilers ordered, PLEASE bring in a pro to at least do a heat load calc (to probably size radiation and the boiler) and while you may be able to do the tubing install, leave the boiler install to the pro's, there's just too much that can go wrong.

Tharon

Hot water

Is not Minneapolis/St Paul MI Wirsbo's home town? Should be a few home boys that can help you with this project. Call the local supply houses, Check find a pro (upper left corner) call Wirsbo, hows that for a start. Best Wishes J.Lockard

Mike T., Swampeast MO

What's the floor construction? Single layer (doutful)? Double layer (probably)? What do you plan to put on top?

Are the joist cavities fairly clear where you can insulate with rigid insulation?

jeff_51

Hey Erin

The company I work for is in white bear and we certainly would be happy to come out and look and what you want to do. Email me at hauganj@netzero.com or answer on this thread.

Erin_2

Thanks for the help!

I really appreciate your time everyone. Have written to Jeff and will sort out a visit to the little ranch. My dad's pretty well convinced me that doing radiant from underneat is a bad idea, mainly because of my thick hardwood floors and lots of area rugs. He says it's too inefficient.

So I'm really interested in Buderus and their wall panel radiators, especially if I can paint them to match the rooms. How expensive are we talking for a little Buderus boiler? I have several names of contractors from the wholesaler here, but just to give me some ideas? How much more is the super-efficient gb 142?

Thanks---maybe I should post this as a new question, but we'll see if someone catches my update. Appreciate it.

Are there other companies that make similar panel radiators?

harvey

your dad

your dad is confusing efficiency with capacity. Do your heat loss and see if radiant floors will work. Don't forget about radiant walls/ceilings. Take your time and do the math you won't be sorry. Radiant IS the most efficent way to heat for MAX. comfort