What to do?

[CJMN]

I'm hoping for some advice here, from all you folks who are far more knowledgeable than myself. I'm building a new house in New Hampshire, understand the basic benefits of wood-generated heat, and have read a ton of postings on this site, but there's simply too many variables, and I'm at a loss for what to do. I've looked at masonry heaters, masonry heaters with coils for water, indoor wood boilers, indoor wood boilers with water jackets, and outdoor wood boilers with both, for hydronic floor heat, and forced-air, etc.

What about the wood-heating systems that are dependent upon electic fans or dampeners, when the power goes out? Unless there is a guaranteed energy source, that seems risky. I'm not necessarily trying to "live off the grid", but just be efficient, safe, and cost-effective when it comes to energy. So, given the tax rebates, I'd consider installing solar, to power those electricity-dependent heating items, or air conditioning in the summer.

As a new house, it should be insulated well. It will be a fairly standard, 3000 sq. ft., two-story house, with a partially-finished basement, having a relatively open main floor, of maybe 1400 square feet. The second story will consist largely of bedrooms (3).

I appreciate any thoughts/opinions on this situation that anyone wants to share. Thanks.

 

[Huntindog1]

Some random thoughts:

One question is do you want to just heat your house or enjoy the ambiance of a fire burning in your family room watching the flames dance around while the snow is blowing outside?

Then there is cost. The wood boilers have more initial cost and setup and require more wood cutting or more wood purchasing but you can get your hot water for showrs and washing and such from it. Plus get the heat distrubuted better thru out the house.

Having the wood stove indoors , you need a location of getting the heat to flow the best thru the house. Do you want heat in the basement. So then can you get the wood heat from the basement to reach the upstairs bed rooms. Having the stove on the main floor will make it easier to heat the upstairs but then the basement doesnt have heat. Getting heat to floor down to the basement from a main floor wood stove is tricky.

Whats your heat source if you dont have a wood heat? Natural Gas , LP Gas , Fuel Oil or Electric? Are you looking to save money or just heat with wood?

If your worried about the electric going out then a basic free standing radiant stove is your simple solution and most economic solution as installation cost is lower as well as it will use less wood.

An indoor install will involve bringing wood into the house or keeping it close by outside the house for quick easy access. An outdoor wood boiler will get the wood away from the house and the wood stays outside.

 

[oconnor]

Personally I'd look at a wood boiler with water storage and a system design that can gravity feed when power is out. Folks in the boiler room forum would know best on that.

As for a wood stove setup, if you place the stove (or stoves) intentionally and design cold air return flow into the floor plan of the house, a stove can heat a whole home very well. It will tend to work better in multi story homes (ours is a two story with open stairwell) with open floor plans. We heat with an insert the main level. You could install cold air return lines that are fan operated from bedrooms to floor level of the room the stove is in. We did this in our last house and it did a great job by letting the heat move to all the rooms in the house, as the cold air was leaving.

Biggest point would be to place the chimney inside the house envelope - I.E. not on an outside wall. You will have a better performing flue, especially should you install a stove in the basement.

Lastly, insulate and air seal the entire basement. Stack effect is stronger in a two story home. This results in a tendency for air to leak into the home in the basement. Since we did our basement, it remains comfortable as a utility space all winter despite not having a heat source down there.