I just purchased a house with about 1450 square feet upstairs and 950 square feet downstairs. My heating system consists of a gas furnace that uses forced air, which distributes heat throughout the home. Interestingly, the downstairs also has radiators in the rooms, while the thermostat is placed upstairs. Since my wife, baby, and I are home a lot (we work from home), they mostly stay upstairs in the bedrooms and living rooms, while I only use my office downstairs during working hours. I'm considering the idea that since heat rises, keeping the radiators on at the desired temperature could actually lower our heating costs because: 1) radiators operate at a lower cost than the gas furnace, and 2) the radiator heat might help warm the upstairs, reducing the workload on the furnace. Could you help me identify any flaws in my reasoning?
2 Answers
It's important to consider where the heat for those radiators is coming from. If they're electric, running them constantly might not be the most cost-effective solution. If you're thinking of using them more often, it'll depend on electricity costs versus gas. Also, any heat that does get upstairs from them will help lower the furnace's workload. Just keep an eye on your bills to see how it shakes out!
If you're ever up for a bit of DIY, a wood stove can be one of the cheapest options. Of course, if you're busy working from home and taking care of a baby, that might not be super practical. But if you already have fireplaces, maybe consider using them when you get a chance! Just make sure you keep the flues clean, so they’re safe to use.
That's true! We actually have two fireplaces, one on each floor, but it's tough to keep them going with everything we have going on. Thanks for the suggestion!
Good point! I'll definitely watch the bills. Thanks for the advice!