COPYRIGHT 2016 JAMES DULLEY ( www.dulley.com/sea/ ) - January 2016 - (graphics ref. No. 297 at www.dulley.com/sea/column/2016-jan.htm )

“Compare and select efficient type of heating system for your house”

Dear Jim: My heating and cooling system is 20 years old and it's time to replace it. I am trying to decide which type of system is best. What do you recommend? - Russ H.

Dear Russ: When changing the entire system, you have the option of many fuel types for heating. Electricity is the only cooling fuel option for an air conditioner or heat pump.

Operating cost and comfort are the primary factors in selecting a new system. Efficiency and relative cost of the various fuels determine the operating cost. Fuel prices can fluctuate dramatically over time as we have seen recently with fuel oil and propane.

A geothermal heat pump is the most efficient year-round system because it heats and cools using stored heat from the ground. I installed one in my own home last spring. Select a two-speed or variable-speed model for the best comfort. It continuously matches heating and cooling output to the house needs.

The initial cost of a geothermal system is substantially more than other complete systems, but the utility bill savings easily pays back its higher cost. There still is a 30-percent federal tax credit for geothermal heat pumps installed before 2017.

Install a heat pump instead of just a central air conditioner even if you plan to have a fossil fuel furnace (called a hybrid system). The installed cost of the system with a heat pump is not significantly more expensive and your annual utility bills will be lower.

The advantage of a heat pump is it heats very efficiently during mild spring and fall weather. During these times, it runs instead of the furnace burners to heat the house. When it gets much colder, the furnace takes over. A heat pump cools as efficiently as a central air conditioner during summer.

If natural gas is available in your area, a condensing furnace generally is the most cost effective choice. With the glut of domestic natural gas from fracking, there should be an adequate supply at reasonable prices for the foreseeable future. Efficiencies are as high as 97 percent.

Since natural gas is not available in many rural areas, a propane or oil furnace provides equally comfortable heating. A propane furnace is almost identical to a gas one, but propane is typically more expensive to use and can be in short supply as it was several winters ago. Oil is readily available, but oil furnace efficiency is not as high and they require more extensive maintenance.

Also consider alternative fuels such as firewood, corn, pellets, etc. for supplemental heating. Newer models are convenient to use and the fuel is renewable. For example, new dual-fuel wood furnaces automatically switch to gas or propane when the wood burns out over night.

To compare operating costs, use the following heat contents and your local fuel costs: natural gas - 1,025 Btu/cubic foot, oil - 138,700 Btu/gallon, propane - 91,000 Btu/gallon, electricity - 3,414 Btu/kilowatt-hour, firewood - 22,000,000 Btu/cord, and corn - 448,000 Btu/bushel. Divide your local cost per Btu by the various system efficiencies to compare operating costs.

Dear Jim: Since we put several inches of insulation in our attic, I notice straight dirty streaks along the ceilings in the bedrooms. Could the insulation cause this? - Charlie W.

Dear Charlie: The attic insulation may cause your problem. It is called pattern staining and is caused by an inadequate amount of insulation.

The attic floor joists are cold because their tops are not covered with insulation. The ceiling areas directly under the joists get cooler causing slight dampness. More dust sticks there causing streaks over time. Add more insulation to cover the joists.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Publication Name, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.