Hi All ; My house is 1936 no insulation it has a forced air gas furnace . I am going to bite the buller and get the walkin attic foamed w/ iceyene open cell foam
I have replaced the windows on the first floor and only one on the second . I am thinking of going room by room and removing the plaster and insulating and installing tuff r foil 1″ over the wall studs and packing them out so they are 5.5″ deep i can then use r-21 and have the foam over it
My problem with the furnace is the cold air returns are all installed in the outside walls of each room when the furnace kicks on the cold air sucks in
I was recommended by a local heating contractor to remove the existing cold air returns He says ” The returns would be on the 1st floor and the upstairs rooms could be connected using transfer grilles through the wall.”
See link below for transfer grille info.
http://www.tamtech.com/rap.htm
I am not familiar with these and suggestions I was also thinking of doing away with the gas furnace for heat and installing a boiler with radiators or base heat and keeping the existing furnace for just ac use in the summer
Im kinda all over the place here on this and i could use some advise on whats the best way to approach the problem
Thanks
Roy
Replies
Greetings Roy,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.
Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
Thanks I would imigine there are a bunch of them similiar to mine
Regards
Roy
You could ask the foam guy if they could blow foam in the walls through small holes from the inside.
When they foam a house in the UK they drill 1/2" holes every 3' and blow foam until it reaches the next hole. Works well. This would save you alot of work.
If you don't need A/C then getting rid of hot air heat and replacing with radiant in floor would be the best. Hot air gives you heat fast but cools fast. Electric infloor heat is great and cheap if used in a well insulated house.
You should get some excellent advice at BT but I would also post your Q here:
http://heatinghelp.com/
I don't see the point. While stuff is opened up separate the upstairs supply ductwork from downstairs and then install a zoning system (about $700). The thing you want to do on the returns on outside walls is make sure they're ducted (not just enclosed stud cavities) and put foam between the ducts and the outside wall to get the best R you can achieve. Also, tape all joints with foil tape.