Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - opinions on zoned heating
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greebs
05-13-05, 09:11 AM
here's the specs:
1830 sq. foot on main level of a ranch home in south dakota. 93.9% efficient furnace. planning to put fireplace in the basement. builder says we don't need zoned heating for the basement because fireplace will take care of the heating.
he tells us the zoned heating is only about an $800 upgrade but if we do it either the fireplace will never need to be on or else if it is, it will be too warm down there, but our concern is more with the bedrooms possibly being too cool as the fireplace would only heat the family room for the most part.
we are thinking we should do the zoned heating but was wondering about others thoughts on it.
also, what are your thoughts in doing the underground heating elements in the concrete for the basement? It's several thousand to do that and I'm thinking that with an efficient furnace and zoned heating it's not necessary but I have heard different thoughts on the topic.
1830 sq. foot on main level of a ranch home in south dakota. 93.9% efficient furnace. planning to put fireplace in the basement. builder says we don't need zoned heating for the basement because fireplace will take care of the heating.
he tells us the zoned heating is only about an $800 upgrade but if we do it either the fireplace will never need to be on or else if it is, it will be too warm down there, but our concern is more with the bedrooms possibly being too cool as the fireplace would only heat the family room for the most part.
we are thinking we should do the zoned heating but was wondering about others thoughts on it.
also, what are your thoughts in doing the underground heating elements in the concrete for the basement? It's several thousand to do that and I'm thinking that with an efficient furnace and zoned heating it's not necessary but I have heard different thoughts on the topic.
Ed Imeduc
05-13-05, 09:43 AM
Up there I think you will sure like the heat ducts in the floor for the basement and I would put them in for sure. As as a zone control is not worth it in a home, dont work to good in homes.
What we do most of the time. Is put the duct work in the floor. from that plenum in the floor we run a duct up to the duct work going for up stairs. Now set the furnace next to that up and down duct and have the furnace plenum go into the middle of it. There put a splitter damper and move it by hand for move heat up or more heat down. Run the cold air duct for up and put a return in the cold air drop for down
ED ;)
What we do most of the time. Is put the duct work in the floor. from that plenum in the floor we run a duct up to the duct work going for up stairs. Now set the furnace next to that up and down duct and have the furnace plenum go into the middle of it. There put a splitter damper and move it by hand for move heat up or more heat down. Run the cold air duct for up and put a return in the cold air drop for down
ED ;)
Grady
05-14-05, 07:51 PM
Unless the zones are of aprox equal load, I don't like zoning. My reasoning is:
The furnace is going to put out xxx btu/hr. All furnaces have a temperature rise specification. In order for you to stay within these specs, you have to get rid of all of the heat the furnace is producing. To do this with unequal loads, you have to dump heat somewhere when the small zone is calling for heat & the big zone not. Where are you going to dump it? Into the big zone, even with it's thermostat already satisfied? Into a normally unheated area? Wasteful. In my humble opinion, if you want zoned heat, either install two separate systems or a boiler with two air handlers.
The furnace is going to put out xxx btu/hr. All furnaces have a temperature rise specification. In order for you to stay within these specs, you have to get rid of all of the heat the furnace is producing. To do this with unequal loads, you have to dump heat somewhere when the small zone is calling for heat & the big zone not. Where are you going to dump it? Into the big zone, even with it's thermostat already satisfied? Into a normally unheated area? Wasteful. In my humble opinion, if you want zoned heat, either install two separate systems or a boiler with two air handlers.