BTU/h of well insulated home
Dear Brownstoners, I would love to hear some professional ‘guess’ on how many BTU/h I will need for a 2700 sq/ft attached house. I said ‘guess’ because I don’t think nobody really ‘knows’ for sure. I am looking for an educated guess from any expert on this Forum. Details: The house will be very well…
Dear Brownstoners,
I would love to hear some professional ‘guess’ on how many BTU/h I will need for a 2700 sq/ft attached house. I said ‘guess’ because I don’t think nobody really ‘knows’ for sure. I am looking for an educated guess from any expert on this Forum.
Details: The house will be very well insulated and will have new double pane windows and it’s not facing south, so doesn’t have the solar heating factor. The building is located in a quiet and charming, tree-line street in Cobble Hill. It has high ceilings, a typical end of 19th Century row house. The heating system will be completely updated.
I’ve read somewhere in the Brownstoner that “a rule of thumb is 30 BTUs per square foot of living space”. I would like to get opinions out of the box, not just ‘rule of thumb’ since I will spend the money insulating the exterior walls, top ceiling and getting new windows.
I am asking hones opinions because I think that many heating contractors just simply overestimate because perhaps they have the obvious theory that there will be no complaints of inadequate heat if they just overkill. Understandable, at the end of the day, they don’t have to pay the bills.
Another detail to add more debate, I do not know the exact system that will heat the house. I would like something that could use solar thermal energy supplemented by something else when it’s too cloudy outside. But at this point I am still researching online. I know, many of you will recommend me to just go to local installer and forget about everything else. Maybe you are right, I should stop trying to educate myself… I am trying to find out the amount of BTU/h before deciding about the right type of heating and since I don’t know the type of heating I don’t want to approach a specialist who is already bias with the system that he/she installs. I am not sure if that makes any sense.
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
Best,
Heather
Try here http://www.hvaccomputer.com/gtarget1.asp?kwx=13&adx=0&gclid=CPKnseCy9Z8CFd1L5QodR33Sfg or just goggle “heat loss calculators”
Heather,
That question has a simple answer. But you have already discounted solar and I think you may be wrong in doing that. In any case you will be going with a hot water system with a modular condensing boiler. The question is whether solar can fit into the equation. If you want it, I believe it can, the key is to determine that before you decide on the final system. If you wish, I will come to the premises to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the system. I am located in Carroll Gardens and can be reached at:
heat@moltenmechanical.com
Regards,
-Steam Man
Thanks for all the recommendations. I almost knew that I would end with the recommendation of names of contractors, as always happens with most of the posts. For that reason, I said:
I know, many of you will recommend me to just go to local installer and forget about everything else. Maybe you are right, I should stop trying to educate myself… I am trying to find out the amount of BTU/h before deciding about the right type of heating and since I don’t know the type of heating I don’t want to approach a specialist who is already bias with the system that he/she installs. I am not sure if that makes any sense.
Maybe next time…
Heather, If you hire Master Plvmbers company you’ll not only like them alot, but you’ll get the most professioanl top notch quality job done in the 5 boroughs-BAR NONE, they are the best in the industry.
Heather,
I am half the guy you requested, not as smart as MasterPlvmber but definitely not as nice! Anyway, the bottom line is this, you want a system that works after you spend thousands of dollars to have it installed. To accomplish this you need to rely on the actual numbers, not rules of thumb or guesses. The only way to do this is using the only standardized and industry accepted means of calculating your home’s heating load, the ACCA Manual J Residential Load Calculation.
If you would like to do it yourself, there is software for purchase that will help you achieve this. If not, then I suggest you hire a reputable contractor. As a commercial heating contractor I can not be of much assistance unless you decide to install a solar hot water system.
However for residential I recommend a good company by the name of Gateway Plumbing, ask for John Cataneo the guy knows his stuff!
Good luck.
-Steam Man
OUCH!
Thanks, friends, but I guess I gotta take my lumps now and then…
modsquad;thanks for the technical clarification.Due to the tilt of the earth’s axis solar insolation is less in the winter.This is why the use of low temperature heating system is always better when using solar panels.Frankly ,when you are doing this kind of work it is always wise to check the tax credits and rebates given.National Grid has one for high efficiency systems including solar with federal,state and city incentives for yopur install.
Wow, Heather, been around long? Master Plvmber is one of the most generous and knowledgeable professionals commenting on this site (though I’m sure you’re too full of yourself to recognize that). Wishing you the contractor you deserve…
“The building is located in a quiet and charming, tree-line street in Cobble Hill.” The charming will provide all the heat you need.