High-efficiency gas furnace installed where previously there was mid-efficiency. So it vents straight out the wall while the old furnace used the chimney. The vent is right next to the sandbox. How bad is this?
[more inside]
posted by winston
on Apr 26, 2008 -
5 answers
Which approach really burns more heating oil - keeping the house at a constant medium temperature (say, 64 degrees) or keeping it very low most of the time (58-60) but bringing it up to a higher temperature (say, 66 degrees) once or twice a day?
[more inside]
posted by anastasiav
on Apr 4, 2008 -
11 answers
Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that home heating-oil prices treble over the next five years. Would it be possible to retrofit a domestic hot-water baseboard system for an alternative fuel?
[more inside]
posted by Gordion Knott
on Mar 4, 2008 -
14 answers
How does the Apple Store keep all its heat from rushing out its open doors?
[more inside]
posted by cgs
on Dec 6, 2007 -
28 answers
Physics Geeks Please Help: Is it better to turn our radiant floor heating system on and off or to let it run? My partner and I have been debating this, for days and days now. Please help us stop the hate.
[more inside]
posted by RedEmma
on Nov 30, 2007 -
30 answers
NoobHomeOwnerFilter: Where do I start troubleshooting water temperature issues?
[more inside]
posted by pdb
on Nov 19, 2007 -
21 answers
I have a full-sized iguana enclosure that needs to be heated more effectively. I've been researching my options and I think that using an infrared heat panel is the best way to go, but I'm not sure what size to get for my enclosure. Reptile enthusiasts needed!
[more inside]
posted by baphomet
on Nov 13, 2007 -
10 answers
My forced hot air system has no return ducts. Instead, cool air falls directly into the basement, where there's a filtered intake on the side of the furnace. Are my life, health, and or selling prospects at severe risk?
[more inside]
posted by a22lamia
on Sep 20, 2007 -
9 answers
Does my home really need a new boiler? How do I choose one? Where should I buy it? How much should I pay?
[more inside]
posted by wordwhiz
on Jul 30, 2007 -
3 answers
Does bamboo burn in fireplaces and wood stoves? I'm wondering if I can use it to heat a house, since it's far more renewable than trees.
posted by Galen
on Jun 5, 2007 -
15 answers
Househeatingfilter: Saladpants is a city boy from major east coast city, who recently moved to smaller west coast city, Portland, OR. He and Mrs. Saladpants are looking at a house which, while only 15 minutes from downtown, is essentially out in the country. This means that the house has no gas line running to it and no sewer either.
In this particular house, the Saladpantses have two potential heating options: Propane or Electric. They have no experience with either, and are uncertain as to which is better. They seek opinions, wisdom and experiences of fellow mefites.
[more inside]
posted by saladpants
on Apr 20, 2007 -
15 answers
What form of energy is used to heat a Wal-Mart, Home Depot or Costo store, and how much does it cost per month in the winter?
[more inside]
posted by colgate
on Apr 8, 2007 -
12 answers
Do I need to have separate thermostats for my central air conditioning & my radiator heat?
[more inside]
posted by zempf
on Mar 23, 2007 -
5 answers
Please help me figure out what is going on with my hot water heater. I want to have a less foggy understanding of what may be wrong before I start asking either my landlord or the oil company questions.
[more inside]
posted by mkb
on Feb 14, 2007 -
8 answers
I've tried Google-ing and I've done what I can manage with the archives, but I'm not finding the answer to my how-warm-is-the-landlord-obligated-to-keep-my-apartment question...
[more inside]
posted by oreonax
on Jan 30, 2007 -
9 answers
Is there any where I can buy a furnace in the DC area and pick it up today? It needs to be all electric, and not a heat pump.
[more inside]
posted by juggler
on Dec 21, 2006 -
9 answers
I have a double sliding glass door in my bedroom that leads on to an enclosed porch. These doors are slightly bowed outward away from each other, which leaves a gap about the thickness of my finger in the middle. In Beijing, in December, with prepaid utilities and heating that's barely adequate to begin with, that's not a good thing for my wallet, conscience, or bodily comfort. So how can I McGuyver this gap shut?
[more inside]
posted by saysthis
on Dec 11, 2006 -
17 answers
My husband and I are in the market for a new oil furnace. Help us make sure we get the right one.
[more inside]
posted by SheIsMighty
on Nov 8, 2006 -
4 answers
My landlords turned on the heat in my building, and now my room smells funny. They say that it's nothing, but I'm kinda worried.
[more inside]
posted by Afroblanco
on Nov 5, 2006 -
19 answers
BrrrrrFilter: It's gotten cold here in Chicago and my heater appears to be broken. Google didn't help me much probably because my knowledge of HVAC is weak. Help me find out quickly if I'm being ripped off?
[more inside]
posted by twiggy
on Oct 13, 2006 -
15 answers
What's the minimum oil will it take to keep our new apartment warm through the winter? We're in a relatively moderate climate (Pacific Northwest).
[more inside]
posted by croutonsupafreak
on Oct 10, 2006 -
3 answers
Home Heating Oil question. I've never lived in a house heated by oil, so I have no idea how the whole thing works.
[more inside]
posted by SheIsMighty
on Aug 4, 2006 -
16 answers
What can we do to get more air from the air conditioning (and the heat in the winter) to the back of the house?
[more inside]
posted by winston
on Jul 29, 2006 -
17 answers
8 unit condo in Jersey City needs an energy (HVAC, heating) consultant to look at our boiler and heating system and advise us on how to lower our heating bills. We are keen to consider green options but economy is the main criterion. Thank you for your recommendations and advice.
[more inside]
posted by johoney
on Jul 20, 2006 -
1 answer
When you place a T-bone steak on the BBQ it starts to cook from the outside. But what about my dog?
[more inside]
posted by paterg
on Jul 12, 2006 -
26 answers
Any idea how much a new combination electric A/C and gas heater costs? Our house is approximately 1450 square feet.
posted by jayder
on Jun 28, 2006 -
1 answer
Tomorrow I sign a lease for a huge old house built in the 1800's, and I am worried about how much oil will be required to heat the place. How can this be predicted without appropriate historical data?
[more inside]
posted by brundlefly
on May 14, 2006 -
10 answers
My old apartment had extremely leaky single-pane windows, so in the winter my roommate and I would always cover them with tightly sealed heat-shrink plastic film. Why would the plastic
nearly always be bulging inward?
[more inside]
posted by Galvatron
on Dec 10, 2005 -
18 answers
Our (rented) house seems to have been built without insulation. Tips on keeping the house as warm as possible this winter?
[more inside]
posted by Wolfie
on Dec 9, 2005 -
31 answers
We're looking for ways to beat the high cost of natural gas this year. Anybody have any experience with the
Sun Twin space heater? Additional advertising page
here . I've heard about this electric heater from a couple of sources, but can't find any independent verification that it lives up to the claims made in the advertising. Anybody know of this thing?
posted by MonkeyToes
on Oct 21, 2005 -
10 answers
Hot-air heating systems...anyone in the UK know a stockist of spare parts for 'central-air' systems in the UK?
[more inside]
posted by mattr
on Sep 26, 2005 -
1 answer
What might cause a hot water boiler's pilot light to repeatedly go out? We've replaced the thermocouple, inspected the pilot assembly, and had the boiler cleaned. Twice.
[more inside]
posted by zogbie
on Aug 17, 2005 -
6 answers
Our air conditioner is going out and has to be replaced. We are likely going to replace it with two standard units as the single unit has never heated or cooled the entire house evenly. The heating/air guy said that would be ideal but would cost 8-10 thousand vs 4 thousand or less if we just bought a new 5 ton unit. However the electric company is offering to loan people the money if they want to buy heat pumps. Not having a lot of extra money right now, that is tempting IF heat pumps are likely to do the job, which I am not sure about.
[more inside]
posted by weretable and the undead chairs
on Jul 26, 2005 -
10 answers
