Heating and cooling questions.

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jamesA

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Figure I'll ask this here cause I'll get some more answers. Does anyone have an electric furnace? My gas furnace cost of operation is nuts, I'm thinking about replacing it within the next few years. But I'd like to know what the cost an electric furnace would run.

I'm also considering one of these systems.

McQuay Geothermal Heat Pumps - Geothermal Heat Pump 5 Ton: FCW-1060 Ingram-Water-&-Air-Equipment

With a gas bill topping 190 this month, and an electric bill of 50 things are tight, I'm looking for any possible way to cut costs in the future.
 
Figure I'll ask this here cause I'll get some more answers. Does anyone have an electric furnace? My gas furnace cost of operation is nuts, I'm thinking about replacing it within the next few years. But I'd like to know what the cost an electric furnace would run.

I'm also considering one of these systems.

McQuay Geothermal Heat Pumps - Geothermal Heat Pump 5 Ton: FCW-1060 Ingram-Water-&-Air-Equipment

With a gas bill topping 190 this month, and an electric bill of 50 things are tight, I'm looking for any possible way to cut costs in the future.


shit my bill for the last two months was 330.00 average.
 
That sucks chester, but that really doesn't help me... I'll have to do the comparisons tomorrow, if my gas bill was 330 I'd have to stop eating for a month to pay for it. The stove and water heater only accounts for about 10-15 dollars of this total bill. In addition to a new front door which I think will help immensely, I've gotta eventually try something.
 
stand alone heater inside the house. Like a stand alone pellet stove, natural gas heater, etc. Easy to install, semi-cheap and super efficient with fans.
 
That sucks chester, but that really doesn't help me... I'll have to do the comparisons tomorrow, if my gas bill was 330 I'd have to stop eating for a month to pay for it. The stove and water heater only accounts for about 10-15 dollars of this total bill. In addition to a new front door which I think will help immensely, I've gotta eventually try something.


There are still some X factors that you haven't told us. Are you the guy that has been replacing the windows? If so do you have them all in? How old is your current furnace? Do you have sufficient insulation in your attic? What do you keep the thermostat at? Is is a programable one? Have you had it checked recently? What has the weather been like in your area? Do you have an option for a "budget plan"? The wife and I use this option we pay 138.00 a month every month.

It may seem like a waste to pay that much in the summer but in the winter when my bills are 330.00 I have a credit built up so we are covered. At the end of the year any balence is either paid to us or we have to write a check. To be honest if you are in the midwest where it gets colder your bill doesn't seem all that outragous.
 
B. The Geothermal system is not 100% entirely electric. It does use electricity to run circulators etc... I would consider using a geothermal unit if your in the right climate zone. The initial cost of investing in geothermal might be expensive but the payback is usually within 5yrs. Also consider a solar hot water heating system it can almost entirely eliminate your need for heating water with a traditional heating system.

For example we have a facility here at work that is 16,000 sqft. that is heated and cooled with a geothermal system. The total install cost was ~$130,000. A traditional heating system was quoted at about half the price. Our entire facilities energy cost is $2000/mo. The geothermal contributes about 1/3 to the total electric bill.
 
B. The Geothermal system is not 100% entirely electric. It does use electricity to run circulators etc... I would consider using a geothermal unit if your in the right climate zone. The initial cost of investing in geothermal might be expensive but the payback is usually within 5yrs. Also consider a solar hot water heating system it can almost entirely eliminate your need for heating water with a traditional heating system.

For example we have a facility here at work that is 16,000 sqft. that is heated and cooled with a geothermal system. The total install cost was ~$130,000. A traditional heating system was quoted at about half the price. Our entire facilities energy cost is $2000/mo. The geothermal contributes about 1/3 to the total electric bill.

Geothermal is incredible if you've got the scratch.



At that, for more practical purposes, tankless water heaters are very very efficient.
 
There are still some X factors that you haven't told us. Are you the guy that has been replacing the windows? If so do you have them all in? How old is your current furnace? Do you have sufficient insulation in your attic? What do you keep the thermostat at? Is is a programable one? Have you had it checked recently? What has the weather been like in your area? Do you have an option for a "budget plan"? The wife and I use this option we pay 138.00 a month every month.

Windows:

I had them replaced by a professional. I would think going from a window with no pane in it, to brand new tinted, dual pane insulated windows would help... but it hasn't, not even in the slightest. They're not all done, but the main portions of the house are done, and all the windows (the two that weren't replaced are caulked around the seals as best as possible) These two are in the kitchen downstairs and the bathroom upstairs.

Furnace:

My furnace doesn't have any paperwork, I don't know how old it is.

Insulation:

Its fine in the attic, as far as the walls I can't tell without ripping the wall down. Portions of the exterior walls that I did put a hole through near the top have fiberglass paper insulation. Couldn't tell you if there is any insulation between the floors. The main problem is the house gets heated, and it all rises to the bedrooms upstairs.

Thermostat:

I installed a new one. During the day in the winter I set it down to 58 so it comes on as little as possible. During the day in the summer I just turn it off so the AC doesn't kick on at all.

Weather:

It's been fucking cold and windy, hence why I'm using a shitton of gas to heat it, even if it doesn't kick on for 9 hours during the day.

I'm not doing a budget plan, I count on the 11 dollar gas bills in the summer. Thats when I have the money to do shit to the house.

What I'm trying to accomplish here is the cheapest to run, highest efficiency way of heating and cooling my house. Just trying to seek opinions on different long term methods (Ie gas, oil, electric, geothermal, etc) of doing so.

Once it gets to be summer again I'll be installing both a new front main door and screen door, along with the frame and insulation around the front door. I also plan on getting a decent size oil filled heater for the main floor. It'll basically heat up oil and blow the heat around. I'd like to run that more than the furnace.
 
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Sounds like it is just a case of cold weather + old furnace + not as energy efficient as it could be house. I would suggest looking into a new furnace first before a supplemental heating system. Gotta fix the problem not put a band aid on an artery.......
 
lol thats why I'm asking around for the best method to upgrading the madness.
 
Windows:

I had them replaced by a professional. I would think going from a window with no pane in it, to brand new tinted, dual pane insulated windows would help... but it hasn't, not even in the slightest. They're not all done, but the main portions of the house are done, and all the windows (the two that weren't replaced are caulked around the seals as best as possible) These two are in the kitchen downstairs and the bathroom upstairs.

Furnace:

My furnace doesn't have any paperwork, I don't know how old it is.

Insulation:

Its fine in the attic, as far as the walls I can't tell without ripping the wall down. Portions of the exterior walls that I did put a hole through near the top have fiberglass paper insulation. Couldn't tell you if there is any insulation between the floors. The main problem is the house gets heated, and it all rises to the bedrooms upstairs.

Thermostat:

I installed a new one. During the day in the winter I set it down to 58 so it comes on as little as possible. During the day in the summer I just turn it off so the AC doesn't kick on at all.

Weather:

It's been fucking cold and windy, hence why I'm using a shitton of gas to heat it, even if it doesn't kick on for 9 hours during the day.

I'm not doing a budget plan, I count on the 11 dollar gas bills in the summer. Thats when I have the money to do shit to the house.

What I'm trying to accomplish here is the cheapest to run, highest efficiency way of heating and cooling my house. Just trying to seek opinions on different long term methods (Ie gas, oil, electric, geothermal, etc) of doing so.

Once it gets to be summer again I'll be installing both a new front main door and screen door, along with the frame and insulation around the front door. I also plan on getting a decent size oil filled heater for the main floor. It'll basically heat up oil and blow the heat around. I'd like to run that more than the furnace.

Sounds like your heat air return sucks. It should literally suck your warm air that you heated back into the cycle, so it doesn't have to kick on so much.
 
if your COMPUTER is keeping your HOUSE heated at 65F you really need to seek help
 
My 1 bedroom apartment that was built in 2005 had all new stuff, due to the price of everything shooting up in this area power wise ( thanks BGE) before moving out I was paying 150-180 a month...... btw when I first moved in before BGE rates shoot up, my bill was in the 40-70 range. Yes it went up that much, and maybe depending on your area and what the rate of power/gas is, you might be on par. I'd ask around with your neighbors and find out what they're paying, you might be supprised to find your bill isn't as high as you might think it is.

My current home is using 220-320 a month depending, I still haven't had enough normal bills to know where its going to sit.
 
We're paying about $125-$180 for natural gas. This is a natural gas furnace and water heater.
 
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