IH1206
New Member
Posts:8
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| 19 Nov 2008 12:48 AM |
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Which is the cheapest source of heat for in floor radiant - LP or electric boiler?
Our cost per KWH during the winter months ranges between $.07 - $.09. We would be using in floor radiant to heat the basement which is around 1,400 square feet and the garage which is around 1,100 square feet. Our home is 2 story with a walkout basement and is insulated with icyne spray foam and forced air heated and cooled with a HydroDelta geo unit. The basement radiant should take minimal heat draw as it's temp is already kept pretty steady from the geothermal forced air. But if the basement is heated with the in-floor radiant, will it ease the geothermal workload from heating the rest of the house? The garage (insulated with Icyene foam) never gets below 30 degrees but would like to keep it around 50 degrees with the radiant in-floor heat.
Since our home is all electric I would prefer to use a Thermolec 20W electric boiler. Will it be suffieient? Is LP or electric the most cost effiecient way to go? |
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BadgerBoilerMN
Basic Member
Posts:488
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| 19 Nov 2008 07:32 AM |
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We start with a heat load analysis.
Once you know the load for basement and garage you can size the boiler (I only use modulating boilers). Consider Electro Ind. and shut down register to the basement as you won't be cooling down there and the radiant panels (not fintube) will keep you very comfortable.
PS. You may want a temp alarm for the garage but do not let anyone talk you into anti-freeze (wasting time, money and efficiency). |
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MA
www.badgerboilerservice.com |
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Brock
Advanced Member
Posts:521
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| 19 Nov 2008 10:37 AM |
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From strictly a cost stand point put your numbers in here hearth Do you already have LP on site? |
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| Green Bay, WI. - 4 ton horizontal, 16k gallon indoor pool, 1.8kw solar PV setup, 3400 sq ft |
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IH1206
New Member
Posts:8
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| 21 Nov 2008 09:50 PM |
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There is no LP, home is all electric. However if an LP boiler is significantly more cost efficient to operate than an electric boiler, then I would consider LP. |
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BadgerBoilerMN
Basic Member
Posts:488
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| 21 Nov 2008 09:52 PM |
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Not likely. |
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MA
www.badgerboilerservice.com |
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Blueridgecompany.com
Basic Member
Posts:314
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| 30 Nov 2008 12:34 PM |
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Your electric boiler will modulate and be 100% efficient, hard to beat as a compliment to geo thermal |
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Dan
BlueRidgeCompany.com |
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retrobolted
New Member
Posts:14
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| 21 Feb 2009 04:21 AM |
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Re the LP versus E cost comparison, I recently did some comparisons for a home in Ontario, the the LP and E came out almost identical. To do some calcs based on LP and E prices in your area, see pages 78-79 in this guide:
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/enefcosa/upload/wood_heating_EN_W.pdf |
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Dteltech
New Member
Posts:27
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| 06 Mar 2009 03:31 PM |
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I am seriously wondering why the BadgerBoiler does not believe in adding freeze protection to the radiant heating system??? I have seen a frozen radiant slab and it was not pretty. While we use a design temperature to size our heat systems, we also look at what will happen at extended periods of below zero weather. Just depends where you are designing for. I will always include freeze protection....period
As far as LP versus electric, we found that a properly sized electric boiler had a lower operating cost (.09/kwh and 2.10/gallon LP) and up front costs were about $1500 less (tank and install, piping and venting). Just depends on boiler size in Kw, distance from electrical service and whether or not you have electric facilities rated to add the boiler. |
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| Here comes the sun |
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NRT.Rob
Advanced Member
Posts:985
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| 06 Mar 2009 03:35 PM |
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The only thing good about glycol is that it doesn't freeze: as Siggy says. The stuff is a parasitic pumping drain forever, it's an expensive maintenance item... it's not good. Any way to do without, including buying a generator for a full time residence, is worthwhile.
That said, there being a credible freeze risk trumps the desire to have an optimal system. But what constitutes a credible freeze risk? It's not as common as you might think.
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-=Northeast Radiant Technology=-
NRTradiant.com |
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BadgerBoilerMN
Basic Member
Posts:488
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| 06 Mar 2009 09:46 PM |
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Rob is right again.
But DT's attitude; I take jobs away from guys who "always" do lots of things. I always CYA when it's my money, but when spending other peoples money (unlike the US congress) I use inexpensive Freeze alarms and circulators.
I too have been called out on frozen radiant floors (two in 20 years); just after the insurance adjuster.
But I am in the heating business and don't mind. |
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MA
www.badgerboilerservice.com |
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