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Thread Number: 74115
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Furnace question for Easterners/Cold Country members~ |
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| Post# 978967 1/19/2018 at 11:45 (2,287 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR) | ||
I've attached a photo here of what I believe to be an original basement furnace of a
1936 build house I'm pondering. Anyone up here an expert on this stuff? I *think* it's a wood/coal burning unit but have no idea--haven't ever lived in a place that had anything but a modern-ish electrical model. I'd love to know all the details on what this is--who made it, etc. And even better would be a run down on reasons to keep vs. update to modern (if that is even a relatively straightforward project!).
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| Post# 978974 , Reply# 2 1/19/2018 at 12:15 (2,287 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
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| Post# 978991 , Reply# 3 1/19/2018 at 13:25 (2,287 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR) | ||
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Jim and Eddie--Thanks...
To answer some questions....I know nothing about the system except what the listing tells me: Forced air, gas and no cooling. I just keep looking at it and thinking it looks like a coal furnace on an old battleship! Yeah...loads of ductwork. I know enough from visuals only that the large brown painted assembly is the blower fan. That's all.
I added photos here of areas where the heating registers are shown. I did not want something with old radiators--this is a 2400sq ft. brick tudor two story (and that basement is probably another 1000/+ square feet). Attic area is maybe another 400-ish sq. ft. This is out near the OH/PA border. This place is on my short list for a pending trip back there to view things. I LOVE the house---just not sure about the neighbourhood (but the place sits on a 1/2 acre woodland). I keep looking at the listing every night and trying to stay objective about the whole thing--I need to go there and see in person. The place I want to buy is about a mile down the road from this one...but the condition of this old tudor really has my attention. It is immaculately maintained from what I can see. The kitchen--brilliant--and the Amana Fridge and GE range stay with the house. Loving the trash chutes on side of GE range and opposite end of countertop run. Those bath tiles/fixtures--LOVE (rare to see a ceiling mounted shower head in a 30s bathroom). I would change absolutely nothing about the place aside from the carpeting on the stairs and dining/living room...just for sanitary reasons. And probably scrap the wall paper in that black/white tiled bath. I'm betting the flooring underneath that carpet is as nice as the woodwork in the rest of the place. | ||
| Post# 978998 , Reply# 4 1/19/2018 at 13:53 (2,287 days old) by ken (NYS) | ||
Beautiful House
You can see previous owners loved and cared for it. I like it as is. Those baths are great. How sad it would be if all those original features were to be ripped out and trashed so the house could be "modernized". Worse yet start removing walls for that "open concept" that seems to be so desired today. Is the garage roof flat? I wouldn't guess so considering the location but if it is Id pay particular attention to it's condition. Very nice GE range. Looks to be around a 62-63.
This post was last edited 01/19/2018 at 14:28 | ||
Post# 979004 , Reply# 5 1/19/2018 at 14:10 (2,286 days old) by turquoisedude  (.) |
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| Post# 979005 , Reply# 6 1/19/2018 at 14:11 (2,286 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR) | ||
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Ken--roof, etc
Some pics of the roof of garage and view of the back 1/2 acre. There is a door at top of 2nd floor stair landing which leads onto this "deck"....not sure how good an idea it is to walk on it, but the fact it exists is nice! Agreed on the state of the place...I'm way too much of a preservationist to make those kinds of changes. I'm hoping that if I don't wind up with it, whomever else does will be as considerate of the time-capsule state of things and leave it as is! Most places this age have been ruined by now. This almost looks un-lived in. So damned nice.
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| Post# 979006 , Reply# 7 1/19/2018 at 14:12 (2,286 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR) | ||
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Paul~appliances... | ||
| Post# 979015 , Reply# 8 1/19/2018 at 14:51 (2,286 days old) by speedqueen (Metro-Detroit) | ||
Forced Air? | ||
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Post# 979018 , Reply# 9 1/19/2018 at 14:56 (2,286 days old) by GusHerb (Chicago/NWI) |
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OMG that ductwork is a masterpiece! The furnace was originally coal and now it's either oil or natural gas. The glazed structural tile in the basement is a really neat touch too. I would snap that house up and not change a thing!! | ||
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Post# 979028 , Reply# 10 1/19/2018 at 15:16 (2,286 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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 I was thinking gravity as well due to the size of the ducts and return, however in our somewhat smaller house, the gravity system was replaced with forced air and part of the large return system was left in place.
Also, we've been house hunting for a couple of months and I've noticed errors in listing information about things like heating systems, so the forced air description may not be correct. | ||
| Post# 979038 , Reply# 12 1/19/2018 at 16:13 (2,286 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
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| Post# 979041 , Reply# 13 1/19/2018 at 16:51 (2,286 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR) | ||
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Richard~the fridge is... | ||
| Post# 979049 , Reply# 14 1/19/2018 at 17:53 (2,286 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO) | ||
Just to look at it I would guess that it was originally designed to be forced or convection in a pinch. I could be wrong about that though. If air conditioning and a top of the line humidification system could be added without messing up the integrity of the system as a whole, one would have a great HVAC. The duct work is fantastic as well as the whole basement. Plenty of space for washers, dryers, an Ironrite and sewing machines.
I had a house with a flat roof over the garage. It’s a great place for private sunbathing, which has excellent health benefits done in moderation. The wooded lot would probably provide a lot of firewood though selective cutting for a long time. The wood framed doorways remind me of “Miss Daisies” house. I agree that very little needs to be done to the house. It’s almost perfect as is. The only question is “location”. Is it good? | ||
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Post# 979050 , Reply# 15 1/19/2018 at 18:12 (2,286 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA) |
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What a knockout! I'd buy it JUST for the furnace. | ||
| Post# 979053 , Reply# 16 1/19/2018 at 18:17 (2,286 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR) | ||
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True functional art... | ||
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Post# 979054 , Reply# 17 1/19/2018 at 18:27 (2,286 days old) by bendix5 (Central Point, Oregon) |
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| Post# 979056 , Reply# 18 1/19/2018 at 18:37 (2,286 days old) by speedqueen (Metro-Detroit) | ||
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Post# 979060 , Reply# 19 1/19/2018 at 19:06 (2,286 days old) by GusHerb (Chicago/NWI) |
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The blower is in the box on the right. Back then a blower was an add on. Wasn't integrated until they made gas and oil furnaces for the purpose. | ||
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Post# 979082 , Reply# 20 1/19/2018 at 23:18 (2,286 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD) |
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Notice against the back wall the three burner stove for the wash boiler from the days when laundry day started by putting the water on to boil. | ||
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Post# 979083 , Reply# 21 1/19/2018 at 23:21 (2,286 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD) |
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Is that a gas heater in the wall of the bathroom? | ||
| Post# 979089 , Reply# 22 1/20/2018 at 00:43 (2,286 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
 Nice house! I wouldn't mind having it, myself.
As for the furnace, I think I'd keep it. It has served well to this point, after all. A new furnace might be more efficient, but would it save enough to cover the cost of replacement? And let's not forget that a new furnace could well need more expensive parts more often (a sensor here, a control board there), and need replacement in 10 years...
Past this, it can be argued this system has some historic interest. I've posted this link before, but it might be worth posting again in which one person discusses his decision to keep an old gravity furnace in his house because of the historic value. In his case, he did change to a new furnace to actually heat...but left the old furnace more or less in place due to the history.
www.oldhouseguy.com/heating-old-o...
This above link includes a video showing the old furnace (with oil burner running), which I found interesting. | ||
| Post# 979090 , Reply# 23 1/20/2018 at 00:48 (2,286 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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Remember that the heat 'lost' from those uninsulated ducts actually warms the floor above so the heat isn't really lost.
Yes.
It could also help keep the first floor's floor (the floor itself) feeling a bit warmer than would be the case otherwise, making the house feel more comfortable. I've known people who've actively heated their basement for this reason alone. | ||
| Post# 979108 , Reply# 27 1/20/2018 at 06:43 (2,286 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR) | ||
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additional pics... | ||
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Post# 979118 , Reply# 28 1/20/2018 at 08:25 (2,286 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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You can also pose your query over at HeatingHelp.com | ||
| Post# 979158 , Reply# 29 1/20/2018 at 13:42 (2,286 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs) | ||
I wondered if you were still thinking of moving... I remember a year or so ago you were contemplating escaping the Phoenix heat and moving Eastward. That's a beautiful house and you are fortunate to be able to maneuver the interior. When I see a house like that, stairs up and stairs down, I think "maybe in my next life". 2 weeks ago I turned a very old 68, and like Roxie Hart said in "Chicago" I'm older than I ever intended to be. I don't like being below ground-level so basements scare me. The department store I worked at in SF had an enormous basement store. I never liked walking through there, especially with 7 big stories above in a building that was hastily slapped together after the 1906 Earthquake. If the bedrooms are upstairs...well I remember what happened to poor Blanch Hudson when she tried to take the express way down. Even Olivia De Havilland in "Lady In A Cage" had problems and she had an elevator!
I'm sure if you buy a home like that you'll be very happy. All that room and all that craftsmanship. I'm far from knowledgeable when it comes to vintage heating equipment especially in cold climates but that unit looks like it was designed to last a good long time. You can always tour the neighborhood and ask what neighbors are paying for heat. If they answer the door dressed like Nanook of the North I'd double what they tell you.
poor Olivia...
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Post# 979161 , Reply# 30 1/20/2018 at 14:03 (2,285 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD) |
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I would want to see the utility bills before seriously considering a place that large. I value comfort. | ||
| Post# 979166 , Reply# 31 1/20/2018 at 14:17 (2,285 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c ) | ||
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Welll Yes...it probably will use more gas....BUT it will run silently, dependable just about forever, If I was LUCKY enough to have it I surely would NEVER take it out!!!No silly computer boards and electronics to cause service calls all the time, just dependable quiet heat! | ||
| Post# 979167 , Reply# 32 1/20/2018 at 14:23 (2,285 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c ) | ||
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The whole pace Is WONDERFUL, especially that kitchen floor and those bathrooms! | ||
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Post# 979195 , Reply# 33 1/20/2018 at 16:52 (2,285 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Neat old furnace It was coal originally and was converted to natural gas long ago, it was always forced air.
It would be easy to add central-air- heat-pump and a back-up new condensing Nat gas furnace would be by far the least expensive way to heat and cool this old house which does not have much insulation.
John L. | ||
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Post# 979350 , Reply# 34 1/21/2018 at 15:59 (2,284 days old) by abcomatic (Bradford, Illinois) |
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Allen, Oh yes, I love this house too. There is even a steel beam to hold the floor up. Nice gas fired hot plate to heat the wash water and the concrete rinse tubs which are just begging for a wringer washer parked in front of it to do a weeks worth of laundry. Nice place indeed. Gary | ||
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Post# 979394 , Reply# 35 1/22/2018 at 04:53 (2,284 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN) |
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| Post# 979761 , Reply# 39 1/24/2018 at 17:48 (2,281 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
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If cost is not a factor, I would go with Mitsubishi Inverters.
The owner of the house where I live installed a 10,000 and 2 6,000 evaporators that run off of one condenser. And they heat as well. Two years now and I love the one in my space. Whisper Quiet and even the outdoor Condenser is nearly silent. | ||
| Post# 979762 , Reply# 40 1/24/2018 at 17:48 (2,281 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
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If cost is not a factor, I would go with Mitsubishi Inverters.
The owner of the house where I live installed a 10,000 and 2 6,000 evaporators that run off of one condenser. And they heat as well. Two years now and I love the one in my space. Whisper Quiet and even the outdoor Condenser is nearly silent. | ||
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