Tell me about your Rinnai Direct Vent Wall Furnace

[slyfox2]

A decent new wood stove will be way better than a propane unit and cheaper. My huge Pacific Energy Summit model heats my whole house on about 4.2 cords a year---which is about $932. And when I say heat, I mean 76F. Of course, I have a basement in the section I heat, and the walls have 4 inches of pink foam. I do have lots of windows, but now most of them are brand new. You can always put up temp night time foam panels on the windows if they are sealed tight.

You will need a real chimney with a SS liner, though. And, while I don’t have it, and really need to do it next summer, you need an outside air intake for either a stove or a propane unit. Otherwise it will suck air in from the outside through the walls and reduce your warmth in the house. I keep planning on doing it, but to do it I will have to drill a 6 inch diameter circle through an 8 inch brick and mortar wall that is next to my stove.

[OutdoorLover]

A wood stove or pellet stove can be cheaper to buy and is definitely cheaper to feed. A direct vent propane furnace is cleaner, safer, better regulated, and mainly - a lot less work.

[slyfox2]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

A wood stove or pellet stove can be cheaper to buy and is definitely cheaper to feed. A direct vent propane furnace is cleaner, safer, better regulated, and mainly - a lot less work.

Did you ever heat with wood? Extra work most surely; but compared to propane forced air or space heaters, there is no comparison. I would consider hiring someone to bring wood in for me if I was unable to do it.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by slyfox2

Did you ever heat with wood? Extra work most surely; but compared to propane forced air or space heaters, there is no comparison. I would consider hiring someone to bring wood in for me if I was unable to do it.

Sorry, but you're just not going to sell me on a wood stove for my primary heating. Everyone is different in their priorities, needs and leanings. I do like the charm, the cozy feeling of looking at a log or coal fire. If I had to pick something in that realm of solid fuel, it'd probably be a pellet stove with a big hopper, auger and electronic control. But day in and day out, I just don't want to mess with all that toting in fuel, toting out ash, keeping the appliance clean, having it get cold when the fuel runs out. Simple, clean, reliable heat, ideally with a programmable thermostat, is what I like!

[slyfox2]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Sorry, but you're just not going to sell me on a wood stove for my primary heating. Everyone is different in their priorities, needs and leanings. I do like the charm, the cozy feeling of looking at a log or coal fire. If I had to pick something in that realm of solid fuel, it'd probably be a pellet stove with a big hopper, auger and electronic control. But day in and day out, I just don't want to mess with all that toting in fuel, toting out ash, keeping the appliance clean, having it get cold when the fuel runs out. Simple, clean, reliable heat, ideally with a programmable thermostat, is what I like!

I’M NOT SELLING ANYTHING. I don’t give a rap what you use. But I have both a quality wood stove and a RINNAI, I can actually make a comparison.

I’m only saying that anyone who ever experiences a quality wood stove and knows how comfortable the heating is with it might change their mind. But since you live in a city environment, this would be a lot harder to do than out in the country.

[Jellybean50]

I'm still worried about being too old and/or too sick eventually to feed my wood stove, if i have one.

Are any of the Rinnai's run by electricity?

I LOVE my electric baseboard heat in NJ, but i'm told NO NO NO as far as trying to convert to it in Maine.

(with some type of backup of course, whether it's a generator or wood)

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by Jellybean50

I'm still worried about being too old and/or too sick eventually to feed my wood stove, if i have one.

Are any of the Rinnai's run by electricity?

I LOVE my electric baseboard heat in NJ, but i'm told NO NO NO as far as trying to convert to it in Maine.

(with some type of backup of course, whether it's a generator or wood)

These days for electric heat in cold climates, the thing to look at is the new generation of low temperature heat pumps. The best seems to be the Fujitsu Halcyon XLTH, works well down to -15F:
XLTH Low Temp Heating: Halcyon™ MINI-SPLIT TECHNOLOGY - RESIDENTIAL - FUJITSU GENERAL United States & Canada

See also:
https://www.efficiencymaine.com/heat-pumps/

I have seen these going into well built homes from a very reputable builder in Maine. The houses were very well insulated - 2x6 with rock wool + external foam board, and he was including a high output gas fireplace for backup.

[Jellybean50]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

These days for electric heat in cold climates, the thing to look at is the new generation of low temperature heat pumps. The best seems to be the Fujitsu Halcyon XLTH, works well down to -15F:
XLTH Low Temp Heating: Halcyonâ„¢ MINI-SPLIT TECHNOLOGY - RESIDENTIAL - FUJITSU GENERAL United States & Canada

See also:
https://www.efficiencymaine.com/heat-pumps/

I have seen these going into well built homes from a very reputable builder in Maine. The houses were very well insulated - 2x6 with rock wool + external foam board, and he was including a high output gas fireplace for backup.

Thanks, I will check them out.