Print

[formflier]

OK...here is my situation.  I currently have a ranch style house.  Basement has 18-1900 square feet of concrete.  The floor has the hydronic heat throughout.  I have an electric boiler that currently heats it.  Love the system.  In the past I have had houses and heated with wood using stoves and inserts...so I am familiar with splitting, stacking, maintaining a fire..etc etc....and I generally enjoy it and the exercise associated. 

The main floor of the house is also around 18-1900 sq feet.  There are a few open stair wells and other options for heat to flow up.  House is well insulated.  Upstairs has baseboard electric heat as primary heat.  Entire house has propane furnace as a backup.  My electricity is on "off peak" so I get a cheaper rate but power company can turn off when they want.

I live in Fargo, ND area.  Kinda rural.  Have plenty of trees on my property and have options to get "free" wood.  Basically just my labor.

The garage I am talking about is an attached 2.5 car garage. 

Anyway I would like to add a loop to my hydronic system so that I can heat the anti freeze fluid with wood to replace or supplement the electric.  Goal being to save money by using less electricity.

What I need opinions and information on is whether or not I would be better off to get a sheltered unit and put it outside my house close to my garage or if I should get an unsheltered unit and put it in the corner of my garage.

My garage is somewhat insulated but not heated.  One of the benefits I am hoping to get is some heat in my garage.  Also can keep a few days wood in the garage so reloading will be out of the snow and I can wait until relatively good days to reload the garage supply of wood.

Questions.  How much heat do the unsheltered units give off by radiation...as in how hot are they to stand next too. 

I do not have a flue in the garage and obviously would have to add one.  I think I would rather go up, make a turn and go out a wall and then go up on the outside...rather than straight up so I can avoid penetrating a roof...but looking for comments on that as well.

[gspren]

  It depends on wether or not you mind some smoke and dirt/bugs in the garage. I thought about all of the possible ways to do it and I want a sheltered unit under a roof. I may or may not put a side or two on the roof but I do not want it heated or enclosed enough to worry about the smoke and ants.

[RSI]

What brand(s) are you looking at?
How much is the space in the garage worth to you? If you end up having to build a new garage later it will cost a lot more than just putting it outside. Class A chimney is also quite expensive.
If there is no insulation on an unsheltered unit it will put off a massive amount of heat. It will be a like giant radiator.
Also, you will probably have smoke finding it's way into your house from the garage from when you fill it

[merrellroofing]

  It would be easier and cheaper to go thru the roof.  Just center the outlet between the trusses and go straight up.  Extra 90s and pieces and parts for the class A will add up pretty quick trying to go thru the wall.
  I had the same thoughts you did, but from what I have seen, they all smoke pretty good when you open the door and unless you have a good fan and vent system you might get smoked out. 

[Bull]

I would go with an outside unit and put a water to air heat exchanger in the gas furnace and run a duct to the garage. Then a water to water HX for the basement hydronic system. Set the unit outside of the garage close enough for your wood storage.

[RSI]

I wouldn't run a duct to the garage. It will mix the air in the house with the garage and will get exhaust fumes, ect in the whole house. Using a water to air modine would be much better. No antifreeze would be needed if the water was kept circulating.

[Bull]

I would not put a return in the garage just a supply line.

[RSI]

The air has to get back somehow. Either it will find it's way back to the house or will leak outside and new air will have to leak into the house. If new air is getting pulled into the house by the furnace, it will take a lot more to heat and the air in the house will get really dry.