New to site, looking to save $

meanjoe75fan · 12-18-10, 05:48 PM

Hi, I'm new to this site, though I used to post over at ecomodder a while back.

I'm registering because I'm about to be the owner of a largish (2400 ft^3) house dating to the 19th century, and I'm concerned about how to heat it. (I've looked into wood and WVO/WMO, given that these old houses had multiple chimneys of necessity.)

Looking forward to learning!

Daox · 12-18-10, 06:51 PM

Welcome to the site.

Your best bang for your buck will likely be sealing the house.

strider3700 · 12-18-10, 06:52 PM

Yep seal the air leaks and if you're pulling anything apart to do it fill the gaps with insulation before closing it back up.

Ryland · 12-19-10, 05:27 PM

My house is about the same size as yours and from 1906, I'm a big fan of energy audits and blower door tests because you learn alot, you get straight forward hard facts on what is going on in your walls, you get thermal imaging of your air leaks and cold spots and you learn what is going to give you the most bang for the buck.
As it is, assume that any area where wood meats stone, rock or brick is going to have an air gap with a draft, also assume that even if your house has had insulation added to it that they only got the large spaces, there for the spaces around the windows and doors are a cold spot, corners are cold spots, where floor joists meet walls are cold spots, chimneys are cold spots.
If your chimneys are on outer walls then you need a good seal at the bottom, if they are at the center of the house then they are a mass that needs to stay warm so any caps, damper or other sealing of them happens at the top.
If you can include photos, or tell us about the construction of the house (wood, brick, stone, stucco) then we can give you better tips.
First thing tho is to figure out how to use the least amount of fuel so you can use it well, 2nd is to find the best fuel.

12-18-10, 05:48 PM	#1
meanjoe75fan Lurking Renovator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New to site, looking to save $ Hi, I'm new to this site, though I used to post over at ecomodder a while back. I'm registering because I'm about to be the owner of a largish (2400 ft^3) house dating to the 19th century, and I'm concerned about how to heat it. (I've looked into wood and WVO/WMO, given that these old houses had multiple chimneys of necessity.) Looking forward to learning!

12-18-10, 06:51 PM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Welcome to the site. Your best bang for your buck will likely be sealing the house. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-18-10, 06:52 PM	#3
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	Yep seal the air leaks and if you're pulling anything apart to do it fill the gaps with insulation before closing it back up.

12-19-10, 05:27 PM	#4
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	My house is about the same size as yours and from 1906, I'm a big fan of energy audits and blower door tests because you learn alot, you get straight forward hard facts on what is going on in your walls, you get thermal imaging of your air leaks and cold spots and you learn what is going to give you the most bang for the buck. As it is, assume that any area where wood meats stone, rock or brick is going to have an air gap with a draft, also assume that even if your house has had insulation added to it that they only got the large spaces, there for the spaces around the windows and doors are a cold spot, corners are cold spots, where floor joists meet walls are cold spots, chimneys are cold spots. If your chimneys are on outer walls then you need a good seal at the bottom, if they are at the center of the house then they are a mass that needs to stay warm so any caps, damper or other sealing of them happens at the top. If you can include photos, or tell us about the construction of the house (wood, brick, stone, stucco) then we can give you better tips. First thing tho is to figure out how to use the least amount of fuel so you can use it well, 2nd is to find the best fuel.