Basements, Attics and Crawl Spaces - Attic Furnace Question
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rmelo99
01-11-04, 08:51 PM
I have a 2 family, 3 story house that I inherited a few years ago. The 3rd story originally had 2 finished bedrooms and the rest was a huge loft like area that was open attic, with wood plank floors.
Long story short, the rest of the space was developed into living space. This is a sorta in-law setup. The two original bedrooms have forced air ducting for heat that doesn't really work and never has. Getting forced air to the 3rd floor doesn't happen too well.
When the space was finished a wall mounted gas heated was installed. Sorta like a fireplace but not, HD sells them.
This doesn't work for the not so open space. There is still about 5ft above the finished space of attic. Is that enough room to install a furnace?
What is the easiest to retrofit, forced air, water baseboard? All of the finished space is accessible from the overhead attic/crawlspace.
Long story short, the rest of the space was developed into living space. This is a sorta in-law setup. The two original bedrooms have forced air ducting for heat that doesn't really work and never has. Getting forced air to the 3rd floor doesn't happen too well.
When the space was finished a wall mounted gas heated was installed. Sorta like a fireplace but not, HD sells them.
This doesn't work for the not so open space. There is still about 5ft above the finished space of attic. Is that enough room to install a furnace?
What is the easiest to retrofit, forced air, water baseboard? All of the finished space is accessible from the overhead attic/crawlspace.
SteveBausch
01-13-04, 06:30 PM
Well....
Any heating system requires an input of energy, let's start with the choice of energy.
Most older houses are a bit 'poor' on electricity, and unless you want to set up a separate service for the top floor it might be messy getting a serious amount of electricity up there.
However, most older houses are 'rich' when it comes to gas. I have seen 1 1/4 piping in a very small 1890s house. It was brought it for gas lighting and an older house may have gas piping extending to the upper floors. If older piping is currently abandoned you may want to leave it abandoned and start a new run.
As to any sort of water or steam system, I would fear the results of a leak.
Forced air heating (and cooling) is easy enough to create; get yourself a Code Check HVAC handbook at Home Depot and study the rules on installing a furnace in an attic.
I assume you can run the ducting in your kneewalls or above the ceilings. Use a separate thermostat.
Any heating system requires an input of energy, let's start with the choice of energy.
Most older houses are a bit 'poor' on electricity, and unless you want to set up a separate service for the top floor it might be messy getting a serious amount of electricity up there.
However, most older houses are 'rich' when it comes to gas. I have seen 1 1/4 piping in a very small 1890s house. It was brought it for gas lighting and an older house may have gas piping extending to the upper floors. If older piping is currently abandoned you may want to leave it abandoned and start a new run.
As to any sort of water or steam system, I would fear the results of a leak.
Forced air heating (and cooling) is easy enough to create; get yourself a Code Check HVAC handbook at Home Depot and study the rules on installing a furnace in an attic.
I assume you can run the ducting in your kneewalls or above the ceilings. Use a separate thermostat.
rmelo99
01-13-04, 07:41 PM
Ok, let me provide some more information.
The third floor currently has it's own subpanel. This is fed from the main panel in the basement and is rated at 100amps.
As for Gas piping, there was a new 1-1/4" gas line run up to the attic for the stand alone heater that was installed.
I was leaning toward a forced air setup. How well does a forced air system work blowing downward?
Also what about venting? I was talking to someone and they told me that new furnaces can be direct vented and don't need a chimney?
The third floor currently has it's own subpanel. This is fed from the main panel in the basement and is rated at 100amps.
As for Gas piping, there was a new 1-1/4" gas line run up to the attic for the stand alone heater that was installed.
I was leaning toward a forced air setup. How well does a forced air system work blowing downward?
Also what about venting? I was talking to someone and they told me that new furnaces can be direct vented and don't need a chimney?
mlandman
01-14-04, 09:01 AM
Hi,
I just realized that the question I just posted is similar to yours.
If I understand your question re: 'blowing down' -- it works but is a bit less efficient: heat rises. Is usually nice to blow hot air at floor level. I have a bathroom that has a heat vent in ceiling -- works OK.
re: furnace not vented out chimnee, yes this is fine. Need appropriate venting device / fan (code may vary re: what is required).
-mike
I just realized that the question I just posted is similar to yours.
If I understand your question re: 'blowing down' -- it works but is a bit less efficient: heat rises. Is usually nice to blow hot air at floor level. I have a bathroom that has a heat vent in ceiling -- works OK.
re: furnace not vented out chimnee, yes this is fine. Need appropriate venting device / fan (code may vary re: what is required).
-mike
Ed Imeduc
01-14-04, 02:07 PM
First for both here go over to www.warmair.net and see whats the best fuel for you here.Then you can start 5' is more than room for any kind of heat. If you need A/C at all I would look at a heat pump for sure. Gas and vent out the side for sure. Duct work over head yes. But try and use as much ductboard for the duct as you can over the flex duct. Registers in the ceiling sure work like a top. dont get the round ones. Get the ones that blow down. They will work for the AC also 3 storys up Id say it needs its own heat and AC unit.;) ED