Penny pinching people

Geo NR Gee · 01-26-11, 09:27 AM

New here and found this great site. It started for me with an idea to heat a kiddie pool from the heat in the attic. I took a car radiator and put it up in the attic. Ran some pvc pipe to it and the pump for the pool and next thing you know is we have cheap heat for the kids pool.

Here is Washington State it doesn't stay warm for long, but the attics sure do. I ended up getting the pool up in the low 90's and we enjoyed that pool for a lot longer than most families.

Recently, our furnace is needing to be replaced and the idea came up how to save money on that. We have three teenagers and the never ending penny pinching ideas are not too far from our minds. So, this is where I ended up.

Thanks,
Braebyrn

Geo NR Gee · 01-26-11, 11:33 AM

Can these threads be deleted?

Geo NR Gee · 01-26-11, 11:34 AM

Hopefully thats it.

Daox · 01-26-11, 12:22 PM

Welcome to the site braebyrn.

I hope you sent your PM already as I cleaned up the posts as you asked.

As for a furnace, I'd just look at the efficiency numbers and choose a good one. Also, make sure that they properly size the furnace, not just replace it with one of the same size. I don't know if any renovations have been done, but the old furnace may be too big and that will hurt efficiency. Other than that, I'd make sure to tape up the furnace ducts and insulate the areas that are in unconditioned space.

Geo NR Gee · 01-26-11, 01:06 PM

Thanks Daox. I found a good one that has 96% efficency and was a year and a half old. Its natural gas.

We spent the first year here sealing the outside around the windows and on the inside on the electrical boxes. Soon to do the can lights in the attic. They are the direct contact boxes already, so will probably make some sheet rock boxes for them.

But I am totally interested in doing a ground source heat pump system and use the natural gas for back up.

I look forward to gleening some info from this website!

Rick

Geo NR Gee · 01-31-11, 02:26 PM

Looks like I will research the insulation threads to do that first.

Geo NR Gee · 01-31-11, 02:29 PM

I entered my house address under waterfurnace's calculator and they show that the Btu's required for cooling is 14491 and 28796 Btu/Hour Heating. I wonder how close they are?

Geo NR Gee · 01-31-11, 02:30 PM

Just rambling to get my post count up too

Geo NR Gee · 01-31-11, 02:32 PM

I see a day where the refridgerator, freezer, heating, cooling, is going to be run by geothermal.

Geo NR Gee · 01-31-11, 02:33 PM

How about putting a geothermal unit in the greenhouse to have crops all year long? It would be warm enough, but what about the sunlight?

01-26-11, 09:27 AM	#1
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	Penny pinching people New here and found this great site. It started for me with an idea to heat a kiddie pool from the heat in the attic. I took a car radiator and put it up in the attic. Ran some pvc pipe to it and the pump for the pool and next thing you know is we have cheap heat for the kids pool. Here is Washington State it doesn't stay warm for long, but the attics sure do. I ended up getting the pool up in the low 90's and we enjoyed that pool for a lot longer than most families. Recently, our furnace is needing to be replaced and the idea came up how to save money on that. We have three teenagers and the never ending penny pinching ideas are not too far from our minds. So, this is where I ended up. Thanks, Braebyrn

01-26-11, 12:22 PM	#4
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 braebyrn. I hope you sent your PM already as I cleaned up the posts as you asked. As for a furnace, I'd just look at the efficiency numbers and choose a good one. Also, make sure that they properly size the furnace, not just replace it with one of the same size. I don't know if any renovations have been done, but the old furnace may be too big and that will hurt efficiency. Other than that, I'd make sure to tape up the furnace ducts and insulate the areas that are in unconditioned space. __________________ 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.

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01-26-11, 11:33 AM	#2
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	Can these threads be deleted?

01-26-11, 11:34 AM	#3
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	Hopefully thats it.

01-26-11, 01:06 PM	#5
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	Thanks Daox. I found a good one that has 96% efficency and was a year and a half old. Its natural gas. We spent the first year here sealing the outside around the windows and on the inside on the electrical boxes. Soon to do the can lights in the attic. They are the direct contact boxes already, so will probably make some sheet rock boxes for them. But I am totally interested in doing a ground source heat pump system and use the natural gas for back up. I look forward to gleening some info from this website! Rick

01-31-11, 02:26 PM	#6
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	Looks like I will research the insulation threads to do that first.

01-31-11, 02:29 PM	#7
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	I entered my house address under waterfurnace's calculator and they show that the Btu's required for cooling is 14491 and 28796 Btu/Hour Heating. I wonder how close they are?

01-31-11, 02:30 PM	#8
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	Just rambling to get my post count up too

01-31-11, 02:32 PM	#9
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	I see a day where the refridgerator, freezer, heating, cooling, is going to be run by geothermal.

01-31-11, 02:33 PM	#10
Geo NR Gee Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 326 Thanks: 109 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	How about putting a geothermal unit in the greenhouse to have crops all year long? It would be warm enough, but what about the sunlight?