Hi – My husband and I will be building a timberframe home here in CT. About 2,200 square feet. We have not finalized what we are going to do for heating and cooling, and obviously it is a slightly different ball of wax in a timberframe.
My husband started talking about one of those wood furnaces that are separate from the house b/c of oil prices. Needless to say I am not thrilled on the idea. I have visions of me having to go out at 3:00 am in a snowstorm to put more wood in it when he is away on a business trip. No thank you!!
I would appreciate any advice, comments or experiences!
Many thanks,
Dee
Replies
How are you planning on enclosing the timberframe? Are you going to use SIPs?
Leigh
I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers)! I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers)! I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers). . .
Hi Leigh - we are not using the SIPs - housewrap and interior drywall instead. Why? I don't know. I am a little hazy on most details to do with the house as we have 11 month old twins and I am in a baby fog most of the time <g>!
I just want the dang thing built! To have space to move (we are in 800 sq feet right now), closets, storage - to not have to do mounds of laundry in a nasty wet basement. sigh. Can I just snap my fingers??
-Dee
I can relate--I have a 6-month old, and that leaves me wiped out enough!
Sounds like you are building a stick-framed house around your timberframe, then? I'm no HVAC expert, but I think a "normal" HVAC system would be fine, then, except of course you want to control the humidity level (keep it on the high side) the first winter to minimize excessive cracking and checking of the frame.
I'm sure the experts will be along to correct me any minute now.
We built a timberframe enclosed by SIPs, but are using a conventional HVAC system--gas-fired furnace and AC unit.
Leigh
I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers)! I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers)! I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers). . .
Built a timberframe in Western MD. put radient heat with oil fired boiler in, also installed AC but it used very little because we're in the mountains. Even with the cost of oil its cost effective. We did use SIP panels. If your stick building around TFrame, I would look @ spray insulation.
Well, I don't know how it works but I think the only stick built part of our house will be the interior walls. Not sure why our GC is not using SIP panels.
Rackman - we have thought about radiant heat but if we are going to do AC does it make sense just to go with a regular HVAC system? Won't they both use the same vents? Can you tell I know nothing about this?? we will use the AC as it does get hot & humid here in the summers.
-Dee
Radient heat is placed in slab and under the floor. very even heat source. Radient heat does not require duct work. AC does so Radient heat would be an additional cost. Use search engine to pull up Radient heat, there are additional discussions going on now refer Rheat at this site. I would question your GC on how he's closing in the frame. Details are better adjusted on paper than in the field later.
Timberframe construction requires thinking outside the box on many things, HVAC, electrical/sparky, window and door placement etc.
As this is your home I would be checking out details,details, details. Your about to have your hands full with this and with the young-uns both will present a challenge. Good luck, you and your husband should have questions written down and review them with your GC. Don't be afraid to ask. You will live there long after the GC is gone.
Check out the discussion on outdoor wood furnaces currently going on same section as your link.
I would also add ceiling fans in any high ceiling areas, to help air movement.
Edited 11/16/2005 4:19 pm ET by Rackman
Edited 11/16/2005 4:25 pm ET by Rackman
Fill out your profile...where in CT? I'm in New London. If you have infants, & your DH will sometimes be away, you definitely DO NOT want wood heat. (Been there, will never go there again!)
Have a look at the outdoor boiler thread in "Energy" here and go to:
http://www.woodheat.org .
This is a group of wood heat enthusaists that really don't like these units. John Gulland, who is one of the founders/moderators of the site, has written most of the training materials for certified wood heating technicians and the national gov't in Canada (and some for the US also)
You may not really want the outdoor unit unless you're a mile or so from neighbours and not in a narrow steep-hilled, wind-protected valley where the smoke will cool and fall back on you.
With a post & beam, the SIPS will be an easier, more efficient way to go rather than building infill walls with the posts/rafters exposed and a lot of finicky airsealing at these locations. SIPS will cost more though, especially if he's going to get a lot of sweat equity in the walls/insulation after the frame is up.
If you have high ceilings, radiant heat is definetly the way to go.
You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
and the good news is in slabs, that's as cheap as radiant gets.I'm incredibly biased about this, but I think anyone pouring concrete without pipe in it is crazy.-------------------------------------
-=Northeast Radiant Technology=-
Radiant Design, Consultation, Parts Supply
http://www.NRTradiant.com
Agree regarding radient heat in slab. This is the way to GOOOOOOOOO!
If you want wood, I'd look into a masonry stove or a wood burning stove (or two). I like the sound of a masonry stove, but our house is already built. Look through the archives here.