What can I do to improve my old school gas-fired floor furnaces?
November 23, 2013 11:48 PM Subscribe
Are there improvements that can be done to them to improve their efficiency and safety?
Are there retrofits?
Would I be able to purchase something more modern that would directly replace the existing units?
I live in Southern California in a 60 year-old house with two separate floor furnaces that haven't been replaced since construction (and each also operates on its own thermostat). They work, but are obviously old old old and probably inefficient.
I'm planning on getting better insulation for the house (blown attic insulation, insulation under the floors in the crawl space, reflective attic cover), so this could help. But it got me thinking about the old, hulking floor furnaces.
Our house does NOT have central air conditioning, heating, or any ducting, and it's usually pleasant enough so that it doesn't get really cold OR really hot. I don't feel that installing a modern HVAC system and all the ducting would be cost effective (at least not at this time). Besides, removing the old furnaces would require replacing parts of the wood floor and walls.
I want to also keep using gas rather than switching to electric, as it is significantly cheaper. I also saw this on Home Depot's web site (new gas floor furnace), but would it be worth replacing an old outdated working unit with a new updated one? Would it even fit correctly, or are gas floor furnaces typically a standard size?
I live in Southern California in a 60 year-old house with two separate floor furnaces that haven't been replaced since construction (and each also operates on its own thermostat). They work, but are obviously old old old and probably inefficient.
I'm planning on getting better insulation for the house (blown attic insulation, insulation under the floors in the crawl space, reflective attic cover), so this could help. But it got me thinking about the old, hulking floor furnaces.
Our house does NOT have central air conditioning, heating, or any ducting, and it's usually pleasant enough so that it doesn't get really cold OR really hot. I don't feel that installing a modern HVAC system and all the ducting would be cost effective (at least not at this time). Besides, removing the old furnaces would require replacing parts of the wood floor and walls.
I want to also keep using gas rather than switching to electric, as it is significantly cheaper. I also saw this on Home Depot's web site (new gas floor furnace), but would it be worth replacing an old outdated working unit with a new updated one? Would it even fit correctly, or are gas floor furnaces typically a standard size?
The only gain with the linked model will be a remote thermostat, otherwise it will work in the same way as your old one. Floor furnaces are only inefficient for two reasons: 1) no blower and the heat only comes out in one spot, making you overheat that area to get the rest of the house warm and 2) if they are installed in an unheated crawl space, they may not have enough insulation and lose heat there.
posted by 445supermag at 6:12 AM on November 24, 2013
posted by 445supermag at 6:12 AM on November 24, 2013
Response by poster: Any ways you can think of to insulate the old furnaces without presenting a fire risk?
posted by rybreadmed at 8:59 AM on November 24, 2013
posted by rybreadmed at 8:59 AM on November 24, 2013
Get an energy audit, mine was $400, and well worth it for the excellent advice. Gas Co. might have rebates or something for it, too.
posted by theora55 at 9:38 AM on November 24, 2013
posted by theora55 at 9:38 AM on November 24, 2013
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posted by Monday, stony Monday at 5:47 AM on November 24, 2013