I'm new to this board and so glad I found it! I've been reading and have gathered some great info.
I live in SE Michigan. My home is 1 1/2 story, 2700 sqft. Currently, there are 2 gas furnaces and 1 wood burning fireplace insert.
I bought the house last January but didn't move in until June.
Since we didn't move in right away, I set the thermostat to 50 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing. At the time, only the larger, "main" furnace was running. The other, smaller furnace (located in the garage) wasn't working.
Keeping the house at 50 degrees with the one furnace cost me about $200-$250/month in gas bills!
Obviously, this was partially due to the fact that it was heating the whole house alone, when it was meant to work at the same time as the second, smaller furnace.
Obviously, we can't live in the house at 50 degrees. So, now that we live there, and both furnaces work, we intend to keep the house at 68 degrees. But, with both furnaces running, I can't imagine that my gas bill will be much less than it was last year. In fact, I expect it to be much higher with 2 furnaces.
So, I decided to buy an add-on furnace. I purchased the US Stove HotBlast model 1500, used.
Now here is my main question about installation. I have several options.
1) I can use it as an add-on to the main furnace in the basement. My main issues with that would be a more complicated installation (having to "build" a chimney for it) and figuring out how to get wood to the basement without it being a completely horrible and never ending task.
2) I can install it as an add-on to the smaller garage furnace. This would also require "building" a chimney, but may be easier since it's on the main floor. Also, getting wood to the garage would be simple. I think the problem with this would be that it will heat the half of the house that has less ductwork and the upstairs, so I'm not sure how much of the heat will make it through the rest of the house. Meaning, if the main (bigger) furnace keeps coming on anyway, this installation will not help much with the gas cost.
3) I can install it as a stand alone furnace in the garage. This will keep me from having to build a new chimney and the smaller gas furnace will no longer be a cost factor. However, I've read that the blowers on these wood furnaces don't do as well as gas furnace blowers, so I'm concerned that for all the wood I burn, it won't heat all that well if it's not connected to a gas unit.
Another consideration is that the fireplace (with insert) is in the family room (where we spend most of our time). This family room is right behind the garage, and below the 2nd floor. The wood stove insert heats the family room VERY WELL, but doesn't do much for the rest of the house.
The master bedroom is the only thing on the 2nd floor. I can sleep downstairs if necessary.
I have attached a picture of my house. Here is the relevant layout info:
The main furnace is in the center of the house, in the basement. It heats to the left of the garage on. This includes the kitchen, living room, a bathroom and 3 bedrooms.
The smaller furnace is in the garage. It heats the garage, the large family room behind the garage, and the entire 2nd floor.
The house has a very open floor plan. You can almost see from one end to the other. The kitchen is in the middle and it very large and wide open.
Any suggestions on which installation? Sorry for the long post! It's getting cold and I need to firgure this out!
Thanks in advance!
I live in SE Michigan. My home is 1 1/2 story, 2700 sqft. Currently, there are 2 gas furnaces and 1 wood burning fireplace insert.
I bought the house last January but didn't move in until June.
Since we didn't move in right away, I set the thermostat to 50 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing. At the time, only the larger, "main" furnace was running. The other, smaller furnace (located in the garage) wasn't working.
Keeping the house at 50 degrees with the one furnace cost me about $200-$250/month in gas bills!
Obviously, this was partially due to the fact that it was heating the whole house alone, when it was meant to work at the same time as the second, smaller furnace.
Obviously, we can't live in the house at 50 degrees. So, now that we live there, and both furnaces work, we intend to keep the house at 68 degrees. But, with both furnaces running, I can't imagine that my gas bill will be much less than it was last year. In fact, I expect it to be much higher with 2 furnaces.
So, I decided to buy an add-on furnace. I purchased the US Stove HotBlast model 1500, used.
Now here is my main question about installation. I have several options.
1) I can use it as an add-on to the main furnace in the basement. My main issues with that would be a more complicated installation (having to "build" a chimney for it) and figuring out how to get wood to the basement without it being a completely horrible and never ending task.
2) I can install it as an add-on to the smaller garage furnace. This would also require "building" a chimney, but may be easier since it's on the main floor. Also, getting wood to the garage would be simple. I think the problem with this would be that it will heat the half of the house that has less ductwork and the upstairs, so I'm not sure how much of the heat will make it through the rest of the house. Meaning, if the main (bigger) furnace keeps coming on anyway, this installation will not help much with the gas cost.
3) I can install it as a stand alone furnace in the garage. This will keep me from having to build a new chimney and the smaller gas furnace will no longer be a cost factor. However, I've read that the blowers on these wood furnaces don't do as well as gas furnace blowers, so I'm concerned that for all the wood I burn, it won't heat all that well if it's not connected to a gas unit.
Another consideration is that the fireplace (with insert) is in the family room (where we spend most of our time). This family room is right behind the garage, and below the 2nd floor. The wood stove insert heats the family room VERY WELL, but doesn't do much for the rest of the house.
The master bedroom is the only thing on the 2nd floor. I can sleep downstairs if necessary.
I have attached a picture of my house. Here is the relevant layout info:
The main furnace is in the center of the house, in the basement. It heats to the left of the garage on. This includes the kitchen, living room, a bathroom and 3 bedrooms.
The smaller furnace is in the garage. It heats the garage, the large family room behind the garage, and the entire 2nd floor.
The house has a very open floor plan. You can almost see from one end to the other. The kitchen is in the middle and it very large and wide open.
Any suggestions on which installation? Sorry for the long post! It's getting cold and I need to firgure this out!
Thanks in advance!