tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post1500916740955073702..comments2024-01-05T04:19:37.390-08:00Comments on Simple man, simple plan.: Heating ThoughtsFrugal Canadian Hermithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177261116826690085noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-78792879065530964482011-03-01T20:34:54.474-08:002011-03-01T20:34:54.474-08:00Hey Frann. I did'nt know your comment was here...Hey Frann. I did'nt know your comment was here until just now. I checked that link out. Looks like an intersting way of heating a house and I've never seen that before. I don't think it would have done a very good job of heating a house up here today though. It has been pretty nibbly here lately. I seen the truck thermometer dip to -39 Celcius in places out in the bushes today. Thats pretty close to the same in Farenheit at this temp. Minus -40 Celcius and Farenheit are the same temp.Frugal Canadian Hermithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177261116826690085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-39291434877171067502011-02-19T07:52:14.203-08:002011-02-19T07:52:14.203-08:00frannbro.blogspot.com/2011/01/hats-chickens-and-he...frannbro.blogspot.com/2011/01/hats-chickens-and-hell-dog.html<br /><br />On this page it shows what this guy uses for heat. Black rocks under plexi-glass with an opening on the bottom at one end and on the high end on the house side.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-11459267390550712852011-02-08T10:26:44.265-08:002011-02-08T10:26:44.265-08:00Annie. Lol. I'm sure not disagreeing with ya t...Annie. Lol. I'm sure not disagreeing with ya though. Some things don't make alot of sense to me also. We build homes so tight now days, that we then need to install other, electrical powered devices to bring fresh air in. I don't really see where the sense is to it all, but whatever. This is why I'm kinda leaning toward high efficiency heating sources that use outside air as combustion air. If I have a heat source that gets it's combustion air from inside the house, then I need to pump in more air from outside anyway. Seems with every good thing, also comes a bad thing. Anyway, please don't stop bringing me advice, as I do pick up a little here and there from it. I do take it all pretty seriously.Frugal Canadian Hermithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177261116826690085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-58007496293927856602011-02-07T07:16:28.055-08:002011-02-07T07:16:28.055-08:00Aaah, well, since it is in your building code then...Aaah, well, since it is in your building code then it's a do it anyway. That's very interesting. Vapor barriers and all are a bit of a voodoo science it seems sometimes and I'm still a bit skeptical of their reasoning, but like you say, it's a completely different climate that you are in than me. Well, I'll quite flapping my gums at you; you are doing a great job on your house and do have those inspectors to guide you also.MamaHenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018971960706063902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-17769856365783569322011-02-06T17:48:33.358-08:002011-02-06T17:48:33.358-08:00Thanks Jeanie. Ya know, I've been researching ...Thanks Jeanie. Ya know, I've been researching this stuff for years and years, and I'm still stumped. lol. Up here it's kinda hard because not very many businesses have much to do with renewable energy. It's hard to find supplies and equipment. When you do they want an arm and a leg.Frugal Canadian Hermithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177261116826690085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-79827896749743400992011-02-06T09:41:57.108-08:002011-02-06T09:41:57.108-08:00Mark, you're doing such a great job. Thanks fo...Mark, you're doing such a great job. Thanks for doing all of the research for the rest of us.<br />I learn something new every time I visit your blog. :)cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02516076315691432589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-35664028296007920012011-02-06T08:42:48.363-08:002011-02-06T08:42:48.363-08:00Hey Annie, good to see you again. This is a prime ...Hey Annie, good to see you again. This is a prime example of different rules for different climates, I guess. Up here they seal them tight. It's called your building envelope. They say having even one tiny little unsealed area in your vapour barrier will promote molding. They don't want air seeping in or out of the walls. Instead we incorpate a HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator), as one option for letting a house breath. It is stuff like this that I learn along the way that kinda slows down my building process. I'm still trying to figure out what I gotta do with my heating situation. The air barrier on the outside (Tyvek)is supposed to keep moisture from entering, and at the same time, is supposed to let moisture out if for some reason it did get in there.<br />Here is a sentence from my building permit under the category of insulation. "A continuous 0.15mm (6 mil)vapour barrier, CGSB approved, is to be provided on the warm side of the insulation". <br /> It is kinda funny how things are done so differently from place to place. Thanks for the heads up Annie.Frugal Canadian Hermithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177261116826690085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-1527245956976962952011-02-06T07:31:28.921-08:002011-02-06T07:31:28.921-08:00Hey Mark, good to see you posting again. I don&#...Hey Mark, good to see you posting again. I don't have any ideas for your solar set-up and heating; still working that out for myself. However, I did read where you plan to run an inside vapor barrier in addition to the outside Tyvek. You might want to reconsider this inside vapor barrier. Houses actually need to 'breathe' as they draw air through the walls. It alternates which way the air goes depending on the season but installing a vapor barrier on the inside can actually trap moisture inside the walls, in your insulation, and then you get mold growing in the insulation.<br />I don't want to sound like a big know-it-all or whatever but do a little more research on this. Most heat loss in houses is through the ceiling and windows anyway.MamaHenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018971960706063902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-20187844521898850132011-02-03T01:12:01.385-08:002011-02-03T01:12:01.385-08:00Hello Frann.
No mudroom. I agree it would be a go...Hello Frann. <br />No mudroom. I agree it would be a good idea and one could always be added on later if need be. My only concern is for when I'm not at home though, and when I'm not home the door stays shut anyway. New houses up here are built so air tight, that it does'nt hurt to let some new fresh air in once inawhile anyway I think. I have been paying attention to some wind turbines around here, but never get close enough to actually hear one yet. I'll have to check that out a little closer sometime. I realize that forced air furnaces like to use some energy, and when I mention that and solar power in one sentence, I seem to get alot of different reactions from people. Everyone assumes that I just fell off the turnip truck or something. Alot of those people still don't realize that I run all my power tools off solar power too. No one seems to realize that there is an actual plan to it all. I do have a plan and I thing a very well thought out one. Alot of the time when I heat water for an instant coffee or tea, I will heat it on the propane stove, but if the sun is shining, I always do it in the microwave. The microwave is free energy when the sun is shining, as would be a forced air furnace fan. If I don't utilize the sun when it is shining, I kinda feel like I am wasting good energy right there. Ya, I know, the sun don't always shine. Alot of the time it don't here in the winter, but yet alot of the time it does. About 3 months out of the year will be a struggle, but the other 9, I think, will be clear sailing because of warmer and longer days. Alot longer days. When I am working in the house, I have tried two different heaters. One is propane, the other propane with forced air. The propane with forced air really seems to make it alot nicer and alot quicker and there is no insulation yet. It is powered by my small solar power system usually unless the snow is flying. My power system is going to grow eventually. <br /> A forced air furnace would be just one part of the whole heating system. I am going to have a wood stove and it will be complete with an eco fan and and optional electric blower. I also plan on having a propane space heater in the basement, but only want to use it as a last resort. In my opinion, I think it would be more energy efficient to run a gen and high efficient furnace on the not so sunny days than it would be to run an inefficient space heater without a fan. I could be wrong, but I could be right. If I'm not home, the doors are not opening and closing, so a well insulated, smaller, tightly sealed home really should'nt allow a furnace to run all that much anyway. But then, I do realize there are going to be the real cold days. It's something I just have to try though. Initially I wanted to have no power consumption when I were away, but when I think about it, that is not a very energy efficient way either. I like experimenting with things and making it better as I go. I have done alot of research on grid tied systems also. It is something that I would rather try to steer clear from for now, but I do know that it could always be an option for me in the future if need be. I like to be independent and have my own power company. It is all a part of my early retirement plan. It seems that no matter which way I go, it's still going to cost something. I've looked into pellet stoves, but they do require power too, and those little pellets cost also. I hav'nt had any hands on experience with them, but I think they can actually use a fair bit of pellets in a day. I just might have to put in a little more time on this subject though. <br /> Eventually, I think I will be spending more and more time at home instead of always at work, so usually the wood stove should be doing most of the work, and the forced air furnace can kick in sometime in the middle of the night to finish the job until morning. Thats kinda the way I'm thinking. Thanks for your ideas Frann.Frugal Canadian Hermithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177261116826690085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-45688863974897915332011-02-02T20:24:26.921-08:002011-02-02T20:24:26.921-08:00Do you have a "MUD ROOM" where you walk ...Do you have a "MUD ROOM" where you walk in and have an area to take off boots and jackets. Then another door to enter the home? I think these are a great idea...I don't like windmills as I just do not care for the noise. I don't believe the forced air would work with watt hog fans running. Wood or wood pellet stoves are nice and there are heat activated fans to help spread the heat. I think if you went on grid they will take your extra power then you can get it back when you need it and don't have to buy all the batteries for energy storage. That isn't offered in my area as I am to far from the poles. Lot's to think about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-33599484835311610562011-02-01T22:13:05.966-08:002011-02-01T22:13:05.966-08:00Hey Muddome.
Ya, I often thought the batteries co...Hey Muddome. <br />Ya, I often thought the batteries could be making or holding some of they're own heat. They had to be, but a well insulated structure will hold it's temp for quite awhile.<br /> I agree that Canadian winters are challenging for off gridding, but it does kinda add to the fun of trying to come up with an ultimate system. I have never heard of the rocket stoves till now. I checked it out a few minutes ago. It is pretty interesting and I'll do a bit more research on the topic. I have done a little bit of research on the soapstone stoves awhile back. They're sort of a thermal mass type system themselves. Purty costly though, but pretty easy to look at also. Thanks for the info.Frugal Canadian Hermithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177261116826690085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-49152338339441310642011-02-01T08:44:34.324-08:002011-02-01T08:44:34.324-08:00It's not just the container your batteries are...It's not just the container your batteries are in that keep them warm. They generate heat themselves during all charging and discharging.<br /><br />Canadian winters sure do add some challenges for offgridders. One thing we are doing is incorporating tons of thermal mass in our design. Works like a storage battery for heat. A big part of this for us is the rocket mass heater. Have you heard of rocket stoves?Muddomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06990407933386531199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-625072586007087292011-01-30T20:32:13.131-08:002011-01-30T20:32:13.131-08:00Hey Jen. Good to see you too. The walls are built ...Hey Jen. Good to see you too. The walls are built and I have to insulate to what they are. They are 2x6 studs up, and 2x8 in the basement. The cieling will be some pretty thick stuff. The house will be insulated real good. Along With an air barrier on the outside(tyvek), and vapour barrier on the inside (6 mm plastic). It really should hold the heat good, especially if no is there to open the doors.Frugal Canadian Hermithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177261116826690085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397301028248675567.post-71918485580409820732011-01-30T15:57:20.820-08:002011-01-30T15:57:20.820-08:00Hermit,
Its so good to see you again. What if you...Hermit,<br />Its so good to see you again. What if you insulated like crazy with the thickest insulation you can find for yer walls, floor, and roof? It seems that that would help keeping the place warm, implementing a heat element with it of course. ~JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509348418996439007noreply@blogger.com