I’m trying to decide between a forced air propane furnace and multiple mini split units in a new construction home. Help me out please.
We have 13kw of solar panels. 24 batteries are 1110 AH at 48V. 240V available from the inverters, 8800W max. We need to run a generator a couple of times a week to charge the batteries Nov-Feb due to mountains blocking the sun for most of the day, but have excess power rest of the year. This is a stand alone system, no grid power. I plan to get a propane fired backup generator to charge the batteries when needed.
The primary heat is from a BK King on the main level. We have a Princess in the basement that is used when it gets deep in the negatives. I load the King twice a day in deep winter and once in the shoulder seasons.
The furnace/splits would be used for emergency backup, if I was injured, old enough to not want to burn, or we went out of town. The generator would kick on when needed to power either system.
I always planned on a propane furnace thinking we didn’t have the electricity to run the splits during the winter. Every room would have heat, and the entire house would be warm but I don't think I would start the furnace for any reason except those listed above, it wouldn’t be worth the cost of the propane.
On the other hand, the splits could take over in the shoulder seasons when I have plenty of power, cool on these hot days, and could be used as zoned heating in the basement without heating the entire house.
The costs would be almost the same:
The furnace would be a high efficiency model with new ducting. I would be running the ducts, the contractor would drop in the unit.
The splits would be three multi zone units with two ceiling cassettes each. I would install these, the contractor might vacuum the lines.
What am I missing?
We have 13kw of solar panels. 24 batteries are 1110 AH at 48V. 240V available from the inverters, 8800W max. We need to run a generator a couple of times a week to charge the batteries Nov-Feb due to mountains blocking the sun for most of the day, but have excess power rest of the year. This is a stand alone system, no grid power. I plan to get a propane fired backup generator to charge the batteries when needed.
The primary heat is from a BK King on the main level. We have a Princess in the basement that is used when it gets deep in the negatives. I load the King twice a day in deep winter and once in the shoulder seasons.
The furnace/splits would be used for emergency backup, if I was injured, old enough to not want to burn, or we went out of town. The generator would kick on when needed to power either system.
I always planned on a propane furnace thinking we didn’t have the electricity to run the splits during the winter. Every room would have heat, and the entire house would be warm but I don't think I would start the furnace for any reason except those listed above, it wouldn’t be worth the cost of the propane.
On the other hand, the splits could take over in the shoulder seasons when I have plenty of power, cool on these hot days, and could be used as zoned heating in the basement without heating the entire house.
The costs would be almost the same:
The furnace would be a high efficiency model with new ducting. I would be running the ducts, the contractor would drop in the unit.
The splits would be three multi zone units with two ceiling cassettes each. I would install these, the contractor might vacuum the lines.
What am I missing?