OK folks, I could use some observations (oil?) furnaces. The service guy just gave the bad news - cracked heat exchanger. The funace is about 20 yrs old, 78% efficiency, oil, hot air system. The heat exchanger is only 6 or 7 yrs old. So I can do another heat exchanger or do the whole thing. (No need to panic on carbon monoxide, have both battery and AC CO detectors in place and house is not tight.

If I replace, I want enery efficient both in terms of heat extracted form burn and for the blower and other furnace electronics. Since I recently got my hands on an extra oil tank would prefer to stick with oil (then I don't have to worry if gas is interrupted. Sound like Energy Kinetics out NJ way has some interesting stuff but they don't have any SE Wisconsin dealers.

Any suggestions from the energy conscious out there.

jh

jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), February 19, 1999

Answers

Don't know, but have heard gas lines are dangerous. Several ppl are happy with solar. But for converting your existing system to another fuel, or just repairing for what you have -- lots of savvy types here to answer this :)

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 19, 1999.

John, just a question. If it's hot air, do you have a back-up AC source to power your blower? If your system is like mine, it's completely useless when the power goes out because the furnace won't cut on if the blower isn't powered up. What do you think is the best way to solve that problem?

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), February 19, 1999.

uh, crank by hand?

-- duh (duh@uh.net), February 19, 1999.

Puddintame,

You've put your finger on the problem. I was hoping to go with a solar setup with batteries and sufficient capacity for well pump and hopefully furnace. Easy enough alternatives for light and cooking. If frig is out, will deal with it. In a normal Wisconsin, no frig will not be a problem.

So, depending on cost, new furnace could put a big 'damper' on photovoltaic plan. That's why energy efficient is important if I'm going to replace the whole furnace. Furnace guy tells me my current setup draws up to 8 amps. Also tells me about these great gas units that only draw 2 amps. Then explains that he doesn't have anything that efficient in oil.

That's why I'm asking for suggestions. I'm not convinced that there aren't high fuel efficiency/low current draw oil units out there.

I do have options for heat if furnace is out - the Petromax lantern I got earlier this week is definitely capable of taking the chill out of a room while providing light. And down in the basement, used only a half dozen times is a Kerosun Moolighter - should order a spare wick or two.

If I get really paranoid, some pretty classy gravity fed oil heaters are available - they need to be vented out a chimney but it doesn't take much effort to disconnect flue from the funace and reattach to the heater. One model even has a cook stove top under its decorative top. Last I checked, these were pretty much being overlooked for emergency prep and no delays were projected on a special order.

jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), February 19, 1999.

Hi John, have taken the liberty of forwarding this thread to the guy who supplied our solar set-up:

"Roy @ Four Winds" <4windpwr@infoblvd.net>

He's got all sorts of alternative energy stuff, as well as bulk foods. Shipped what he said when he said at the price he said. Never treated me like an idiot (which I am when it comes to electrical stuff). And still answers my questions with humor and patience.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 19, 1999.

Hi John, You've just run into one of the hard realities we face every day in the renewable energy industry...the lack of good and/ or affordable energy efficient appliances. Heating systems are especially bad due to the extended running times in most cases. Oil burners generally draw more power than gas...and hot air blowers use more power than the hydronic pumps in hot water systems. Unfortunately I've seen ultra-efficient gas furnaces which use very little power turn out to be a bad deal...electrically speaking...due to the fact that they utilize a small blower (50 watts) which needs to run 24 hours a day...that's 1.2 kilowatts per day. Added to the power they consume for the hydronics or main blower, electronics, etc. and suddenly they're not a good choice for an RE system. OK...bottom line, for a good start, you might want to explore some super insulating options for your home...and some strategically placed windows for solar gain, perhaps even a homebrew greenhouse/solar room addition with some thermal mass for heat storage, etc. This would reduce your heating usage at least...which in turn lowers your power usage (not to mention oil!)and if you get your place tight enough, might be able to reduce the size of the blower fan accordingly. And with that lowered power usage there are many more cost-effective solar and/ or backup power options available to you. Gimme a holler if you need some more info...and please have some load usage info handy if and when you do. Roy Four Winds Renewable Energy Co.

-- Roy @ Four Winds (4windpwr@infoblvd.net), February 20, 1999.

Old - thanks for the referral

Roy,

Thanks for the comments - but not what I wanted to hear... Heck, I'll even consider pellet or multifuel furnace. I've slowly been working toward reducing loads as things go. Have almost replaced every light with compact flourescents. When the frig goes, will get as effecient as practicle and available. Have replaced the worst offending window in the how family room, the patio door is next on the list as is the windows in small bedroom (have already knocked those walls out in that room and added an extra inch of aluminum backed foam.) Been holding off in ceilings because still have projects up there that will trample it down. Anyway I working on it as best I can - but I have to do something about the furnace - take oil smell when it kicks in is not only a pain but my wife is adverse to too thick of a black film on things... I'll give you a holler next week. Thanks

jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), February 20, 1999.

Old,

Just got a second opinion on the furnace - not a cracked heat exchanger, a warped plate instead. And this firm was able to point our the warp, the carbon accumulation that earmarked it, and presuming they can get the plate - a much less costly repair. Also highly suspicious that the cause of the problem was the prior mis-servicing.

Second opinion was definitely worth it. He even explained why the problem went away for a short while after it had be readjusted.

Roy,

In any event, if they can get the plate, looks like I may be keeping that high current drawing unit for a while. Heck, if I bump my solar budget by even half of what I thought the new furnace was going to cost I'd be able to beef it up a bit.

-- john hebert (jhebert@hotmail.com), February 24, 1999.