Posted by jtown on November 14, 2001 at 06:06:44:
In Reply to: Jtown, Ballpark gas usage posted by Joe Howell on November 12, 2001 at 13:29:26:
You should be able to get to the 375. What you have is high. The side arm doesn't help. Steel windows are very bad. On a cold day, touch your wall, glass and steel framing. Make sure your steel and finger is dry so you don't stick to it. I would build wooden storms (with a cross rail at the existing heights)to fit, keeping the fire exits operable and ventilating windows working. Replacement windows aren't hard to do. Once you see how, its $175 each at the lumber yard and a half hour each if accessible etc. Check for balloon framing and pack the bottom and top. If you have insulation to the top of your ceiling joists, run another layer staggered or at 90deg, or blow in, to insulate the framing and add to existing. Your basement ceiling can be insulated if you don't use the basement a lot. Where the side arm feeds to (addition?) I'd look at putting in a condensing furnace at 94% eff. And maybe a furnace for the house itself if the layout is wide open to minimize ductwork. If you have to sub this work then you have to look hard at paybacks etc. If you don't have a wood fireplace for the value of the house a gas one can make a good heater instead of the side arm. Plus you could have a back-up for no electric.