moving west somewhere - husband would like sunshine (Whitefish: crime, movies)

[GLS]

Originally Posted by jimj

Dresden,

.....The other downside to forced air is that it moves all the crud in your house around via the duct work which can and do get dirty. A basic example is because the air return is inside your house if someone is sick it and hacking the air return sucks that air in and will move all of that throughout the house as well as dust etc unless you put in one of the top of the line hepa filiter systems and it still doesn't get it all, yuk!. . ..

Does "forced air" become a more acceptable option if a person also wants air conditioning in the summer? I have two friends who recently built houses in the Ronan area and were told initially, "you won't need air conditioning". When I visited it was 100 degrees and everyone was running to buy fans at Walmart.

What's the best system if you want BOTH heat and air conditioning?

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by GLS

Does "forced air" become a more acceptable option if a person also wants air conditioning in the summer? I have two friends who recently built houses in the Ronan area and were told initially, "you won't need air conditioning". When I visited it was 100 degrees and everyone was running to buy fans at Walmart.

What's the best system if you want BOTH heat and air conditioning?

I like forced air and consider it my preference for distributing heat. You get heat in every room and you have a single source of generating the heat which is more efficient unless you are using electric. And yes, you can have air conditioning if you want (I don't know any other way of air conditioning besides window air conditioning units.)

[Dresden4]

Oh, that is huge information for AC! I did not even think about that! Great question, GLS! I guess forced air is the way to go if it gets that hot there! Back to being confused ...... Hahahaha!!!

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by Dresden4

Oh, that is huge information for AC! I did not even think about that! Great question, GLS! I guess forced air is the way to go if it gets that hot there! Back to being confused ...... Hahahaha!!!

I'd focus on where you want to live rather than the kind of heat systems in your house. Visit first, preferably in multiple seasons.

You don't need AC (I lived in Montana for 23 years without AC) but it's nice to have IF you can afford it. I'd think hard about that question - what can you afford with your lifestyle and income before you get hung up with the right kind of heat source and the like. For me, I don't need AC and don't choose to spend money on it. Of course, I suffer about one month of the year but that's a choice I make. (I'm in Seattle now but still don't have air conditioning and still suffer in July and August.)

With a limited budget (you started out at $200k and then said you could go up some, so I am guessing you might be looking at $300k now), it'll be more difficult to have extras in life like air conditioning, heated garages, outbuildings, etc. Wherever you live, I'd focus on the town and the place rather than details like air conditioning or not.

Another way of saying it is if I had some extra money, I'd buy a house on a nicer piece of property over one with fancy heating and air conditioning systems.

[Dresden4]

Yes, bigtrees, me too! I am going to focus on the town and areas of living first. I know we will not have tons of luxury items and I don't worry about that, as we don't have them now (well, the husband has large garage/workshop). I was just curious of the heating ways of the west and wanted to hear about what people did use. Mostly, I am simply excited to get out of here and am overjoyed just researching it and hearing from all of you! My husband is the sane, very logical, detail-oriented one of this family! I have just been over anxious!

[jimj]

I'd agree with Bigtrees on the A/C thing. We had the choice (and still do) to install A/C but it only gets hot here for about a month total and it's usually nothing that opening windows in the early morning to cool off the house won't cure bearing in mind your house is insulated properly. We have ceiling fans in all rooms and it usually stays pretty cool inside. We've even had people come over and ask if we had A/C. Besides that summer is so short I enjoy what heat we get!
As for forced air being the only way other than window units that's not quite true anymore. They have a couple of after market solutions that use the same compressor as central air, work the same and are ducted and made to install in houses that are already built with minimal intrusion. My neighbor (the builder) has installed them in both his houses since he doesn't do forced air and they work great and aren't too expensive.
I'd focus on finding the right location and a nice house/good deal before I'd focus on what heat source it has. If you get a real good deal these are things that can always be changed or improved.
I can also tell you that in order to get a house with ground source or radiant heat you're looking at a higher end house, the one that my neighbor is building right now is costing around 1.2 million and the one he built for himself with radiant heat is around $995k.

[Dresden4]

Hi, jimj! Thank you for that information! I do understand the heating is not the most important thing. I am plenty informed on that subject thanks to you guys! I threw the subject out there and it so happens that you guys really know your stuff and are kind to share and it appears you two have fun talking to each other on your levels about it! It makes me feel as though there is light at the end of the tunnel out of the SE just reading all these different threads and posts out west. I find it very interesting.

I only just found this city-data, by the way. I can see where it could be addicting!

I would also like to thank rangerider again for mentioning this area to check out in the first place!

I was looking at some satellite pictures of the area to see the view from overhead and it is very telling! You can really see the lows and highs very well.

Thank you everyone!

[rangerider]

Originally Posted by jimj

I'd agree with Bigtrees on the A/C thing. We had the choice (and still do) to install A/C but it only gets hot here for about a month total and it's usually nothing that opening windows in the early morning to cool off the house won't cure bearing in mind your house is insulated properly. We have ceiling fans in all rooms and it usually stays pretty cool inside. We've even had people come over and ask if we had A/C. Besides that summer is so short I enjoy what heat we get!

<snip>


I'd focus on finding the right location and a nice house/good deal before I'd focus on what heat source it has. If you get a real good deal these are things that can always be changed or improved.

I can also tell you that in order to get a house with ground source or radiant heat you're looking at a higher end house, the one that my neighbor is building right now is costing around 1.2 million and the one he built for himself with radiant heat is around $995k.

There are a couple things to think about when building here:

Like bigtrees said, AC isn't totally necessary. But I stand heat well and can say that. Most of this state has a problem staying warm - it's relatively easy to lose heat during the evening and night hours. The eastern part of the state, not so much - but it's still a relatively short season above the 45th parallel. For anyone who thinks it's hot here, go and spend some time in Texas, Arizona, or Mississippi - there among other places you'll find heat. Think about how to keep warm here rather than cool off. jimj's got the right idea by moving air around the house - I've been in some real hot climates where all they had was that and swamp coolers.

Don't forget the one source of heat that never varies in price, and that's the sun. Buy or build such that your place is oriented to the south - let the sun in those windows and you'll be surprised how little your furnace runs during part of the average winter day. Some areas are cloudy; it doesn't work as well. But you'll still gain a little especially if you're not facing north. Also, it pays to keep track of the topography to keep the winter winds away as much as possible. A good shelterbelt or stand of trees helps a lot, small rises and falls in the landscape do a lot to deflect wind.

jimj - slab on grades have to be excavated and insulated properly before they do a good job. Most aren't. And personally I think radiant heat is a pretty good option on two counts.

1) Physics - heat rises. When doing so it warms everything on it's way up, not to mention heating it's parent mass. It's also psychological - if your feet are warm you can run less ambient temp and be comfortable. I have a buddy who has a fair-sized airplane hanger with a good job of concrete, insulation and radiant heat. His heat bill is startingly low for a structure that size - but then he's got a lot of cash tied up in getting the right job done. If I were to build a conventional home I would probably opt for radiant heat because of...

2) I would get the basic infeed plumbing done and then do all the bedding, insulation, re-mesh, and piping myself. This is the labor intensive part of the job - just takes a lot of time. It's really not complicated, and a person might want a plumbing contractor to check the work before pouring the floor. I've helped do this and it saves a gob of cash on the installation. Basically just getting a proper bed of aggregate laid, rolliing out the re-mesh, and stringing flexible pipe 'till you're doing it in your sleep. I'm really no plumber of any sort, but this is more like legos or something. And then I'd pour the floor myself, but that's a more specialized skill. Even if a person stuck with just stringing the pipe it would still save a bunch. And beings I'm doing this myself, I'd also pour the floor - but then I'm in that business...

[Dresden4]

Great information, rangerider! You sound like a true tradesman! My husband built his garage/workshop except he did hire someone to do the foundation part first. All in all he is very handy - chops wood, replaces problem spots of rotten wood on the house, lays cable, put the deck on and much more. I help him where I can, but basically, he has his plan and sometimes it is best to stay away! He hates drywall work and always thinks his is bad but, it is always a very good job! He framed up an attic fan (because it is too hot here) that really helped. He likes playing with trucks and old cars too. This kind of man deserves to live in the west, right?! My sister's husband can not do anything handylike. That would be horrible! I feel sorry for her!

Cheers to you, rangerider!

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by Dresden4

All in all he is very handy - chops wood, replaces problem spots of rotten wood on the house, lays cable, put the deck on and much more. .... This kind of man deserves to live in the west, right?!

No, ma'am, being handy doesn't mean anyone "deserves" to live in Montana (anywhere else for that matter).