ArticlesReader.com Menu
Newest Articles
Most Viewed Articles
ArticlesReader.com RSS
Submit Article
Login
Signup
Search the articles

Articles Main Categories
Advice
Animals
Automobiles
Business
Career
Communications
Computer Programming
Computers
Entertainment
Environment
Family
Fashion
Finance
Food
Health & Medical
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet Business
Internet Marketing
Legal
Leisure & Recreation
Marketing
Other
Politics
Reference & Education
Religion
Self Improvement
Sports
Technology & Science
Travel
Writing
Subscribe
Receive alert message from us when new articles submitted to our site for free.

Enter your name

Enter your email

Syndicate

















Related Products
Home::Home & Garden

Heating a New Addition

Author : New Jersey Home Inspector Michael Del Greco
Heating a New Addition

Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company

Putting an addition on your home, such as a bedroom or kitchen, is very exciting. It often affects your attitude and comfort level and can truly renew your spirit. One consideration when adding to your home or when creating a new living space from a previously unused area, such as a porch, basement or garage, is the extra heating that will be required.


Your current heating system is probably sized for your current living situation, whether the unit is original or is a replacement. There has probably not been any considerations for a future addition.


The first thing you need to do is assess your current heating situation. A general rule of thumb for heating requirements is that 40 to 50 BTUs (British Thermal Units) are required for every square foot of living space. So, determine the square footage of your current living space (before the addition) and divide it by the 40 to 50 BTUs. This, of course, will depend on the type of construction and geographical location.


To figure out how much more you would need, assuming what you have is enough, simply add the square footage of the new living space to your current number. When you have this total, you can figure out the amount of BTUs you\'ll need for the addition.


You may be able to use the same input size heater if you buy a more efficient one. If you replace a typical heater that is 60 percent to 70 percent efficient with a heater that wastes just 5 percent to 10 percent of its heat/fuel, and if it includes an outside air supply for combustion, you could buy a heater sized at approximately 25 percent to 35 percent fewer BTUs for every square foot of living space. More effective energy improvements may allow you to reduce the size even more.


Heater efficiency is based on burner efficiency, transmission of losses to the heater exchanger or boiler and flue or chimney losses. The quantity of heat lost up the chimney is rarely discussed by utility companies or fuel suppliers. However, it is significant. Approximately one-third of all heat generated by a gas-fired unit goes up the chimney. Oil-fired appliances have 5 percent to 15 percent more waste. However, oil costs less than gas to purchase.


When the distribution of air is from an existing situation, additional ductwork may be needed. The farther you travel from the source, the smaller the ductwork needs to be to increase/maintain adequate air velocity. Additional fuel and ductwork costs should be factored in. In some cases you may have to redesign some or all of the ductwork to assume equitable distribution.


Before you begin a new addition, consider the changes that will take place. Don\'t get discouraged, because these calculations are not so difficult to do. The half-hour you may put in will be well worth the years of enjoyment you will get from the new living space.



Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.

Spam emails More free articles

Related articles


  1. How To Save Your Fruit Tree Blossoms From A Spring Freeze.
  2. Planting Roses - Tips And Ideas To Ensure Beautiful Results
  3. Helpful Ideas For Designing A Flower Garden
  4. Fertilizing Your Flowers And The Importance Of Choosing The Right Flower Food
  5. Choosing The Perfect Flowers For Summer
  6. The Best Flowers For Spring
  7. The Great History Of Roses
  8. How to choose your garden furniture and make it last
  9. Garden Leaf Blower Maintenance
  10. Garden Composting Tips- The Art of Composting
  11. Types Of Lawn Mower Batteries
  12. Mulching Benefits / Organic And Inorganic Mulch Types
  13. Soil Basics - Creating Fertile, Healthy Soil
  14. Everyone Needs A Spaghetti Garden
  15. Fall Planting
  16. Soil PH And Its Effect On Your Garden
  17. Caring For Christmas Trees
  18. It's Time To Select Your Snow Blower
  19. How to make your landscape look good.
  20. Introduction to bonsai tree growing: an overview
  21. How to Grow Wildflowers
  22. Make Your Fresh Cut Roses Last Longer!
  23. Bonsai Soil And Additives
  24. Tips For Buying Lawn Tractors
  25. Gifts for the Gardener
More related feeds
Novan Solar System Chosen for New Colorado Springs Recreation Center
Novan Solar Inc. is the largest solar thermal company in Colorado and the Southwest. Novan specializes in turnkey solutions for large-scale commercial and industrial water heating needs in addition to supplying systems for residences. ...

City Manager's Report 101008
Durham was honored for taking an important step in becoming more energy efficient thanks to a new solar water heating system, the first of its kind to be installed in a City-owned facility. The new system is projected to save $2500 ...

Hydronic In Floor Radiant Heat: How It Works
If you are building or renovating your house, and you want to try a new, luxurious heating system, be sure to look into radiant floor heating. Because of it many advantages, you just might find that it becomes your favorite thing about ...

Geothermal Heat Pumps: Superior New Technology
GHPs utilize the relatively constant temperature of the ground or water several feet below the surface as a source of heating and cooling and are appropriate for both retrofit or new homes. In addition to space heating and cooling, ...

Stefanie Michaels: Hotels taking "Going Green" To New Tops with ...
Hasek also suggests that eventually cost savings may be passed onto the consumer, as the reduction in heating and cooling, and added insulation from organic rooftop coverings from green roofs, will help run hotels more efficiently. ...

Sunbeam Health at Home 756-500 Standard Heating Pad with NEW ...
Sunbeam Health at Home 756-500 Standard Heating Pad with NEW Arthritic Controller If your dumb enough to chew on a heating pad or use this for your kid than you never should have bought it. For the price, you cann't beat it. ...

Feel the heat
Paterson today revealed HeatSmartNY, a campaign that includes a website, hotline phone number, public service announcements and 630 statewide workshops to provide homeowners with tips to lower heating bills and information about the ...

Aesthetic appeal, sustainability combined in “Passive House” under ...
In all, these measures prevent the transfer of heat up to three times as well as typical new construction. In addition to minimizing thermal losses, Passive Houses are designed to maximize thermal gains. The Stanton house will take ...

4 br. | 2 ba. | $799 -- in Phoenix (Phoenix North)
NEW PAINT, CARPET, BRAND NEW KITCHEN (solid oak cabinets, counter tops, sink, new laundry facility AND a new bedroom addition to make it 4 Bedrooms. PROPERTY COMES W/ STOVE & REFRIGERATOR. This seller is a flexible investor that ...

Conservation Suggestions to Destination Clubs From the Veras Group
In addition, furnace filters should be routinely changed. Not only are there health ramifications for dirty furnace filters, but a clean filter can save over $60 in heating bills and maximize the heating unit’s productivity. ...

 


 

2007 articlesreader.com - All Rights Reserved