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February 28, 2008
I hate force hot air heat -
Anyone have - or better still solve a similar problem:
I live in a old farmhouse (built approximately 1880's) the house has been insulated (probably not as well as it should be). As previously mentioned I have forced hot air heat and hate it. It is either too hot or too cold. And it is always very dry in the house. I know better insulation will help, I have also invested in a humidifier but other than that - anyone else battle forced hot air and won???
Comments
For your system you need a General 800 Plate Style Humidifier I have one on mine and it works great.
Posted by: guest at February 28, 2008 8:02 PM
Basically, I think the only way to beat forced air heat is to install radiators instead.
Posted by: guest at February 28, 2008 10:38 PM
About a year ago my 40 year old mechanical thermostat stopped working and I replaced it with a modern electronic digital one. It evened out the heat a great deal. The old thermostat (before it broke) didn't go on until the heat was a couple of degrees below the set temperature and stayed on until it was a couple of degrees higher. The new one keeps an even temperature, which makes a great difference. I still don't like hot air heat all that much, but I do appreciate how simple maintanance is--and my cat likes to sleep on top of a hot air register.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 29, 2008 12:09 AM
I love my forced air - I have a humidifier similar to 8:02 so dryness is never a problem. When the heat comes out it quickly brings the temp up to the desired range and maintains very even heating all of the time.
Also, the fact that my floor and wall space is not occupied by some ungly metal grate and pipes is such an added bonus.
I defiantely recommend getting a digital thermostat and install a humidifier directly to the system. Should work ou fine for you.
Posted by: guest at February 29, 2008 9:16 AM
and forced hot air hates you
Posted by: guest at February 29, 2008 9:25 AM
You need to put a bucket of water by your heater or put something filled with water on top.
For the too hot-too cold...I know what you mean. In my building the heat was set to 72. It would come one for 20 minutes then go off. ...an hour later it would come on for 20 minutes then go off. it was never over powering and always kept the place nice.
...THIS YEAR...my building was bought by "new people" (I dont feel like getting into it now). They set the thermostat at 73. The problem is that the building can maintain nice at 72...but to stay at 73 means it has to be on way too long....this means it is on 1-2 hours at a time...by the time it shuts off, the next cycle is sceduled and it comes on again. The building is not all that greatly insulated because the building will not stay at 73...always 70-72. So this results in way too hot nights...and during the day they lower it so low that it gets freezing.
I think the trick is to find that "magic" temperature and set it there...one degree higher will result in weight loss.
Posted by: dssguy99 at February 29, 2008 10:14 AM
"anyone else battle forced hot air and won???"
Yeah. I moved.
Posted by: rh at February 29, 2008 11:53 AM
I have not won. My cracked lips and knuckles, my sinus headaches, and the absurdity of waking up feeling hung over when I am not is all due to dry forced air. I have a humidifier but it does not work well.
My base boards and moldings are cracked and pulled off the wall and the floor boards in my hall are even buckled. (I know this is due to dry air because by June the wood will puff back up and you wont see even a crack.)
I am with you. I feel your pain. I bought a townhouse with radiators and cannot wait to move in.
Posted by: guest at February 29, 2008 4:29 PM
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