My wife and I are building a new home. I am going to put in electric
heat, cant really afford to do much more, but i want to put in duct
work for future propane heat, central air. Is there anything I should
know or expect to be asked by the contractor when I propose this?

"ryan" wrote in message
m...

My wife and I are building a new home. I am going to put in electric
heat, cant really afford to do much more, but i want to put in duct
work for future propane heat, central air. Is there anything I should
know or expect to be asked by the contractor when I propose this?

Compare energy costs -- electric heat is usually the most expensive form
available. You'll probably be better off with oil.

"Andrew Koenig" wrote in message ...


Compare energy costs -- electric heat is usually the most expensive form
available. You'll probably be better off with oil.


I know this. I will end up with propane. But to save money now, which
is important, I'm putting in the electric (long run, more expensive,
upfront though it's much cheaper. I expect to add central air and
forced hot air later, just want to do the ductwork now. just wondering
if there is anything i should look out for in doing this.

In article , ryan says...

My wife and I are building a new home. I am going to put in electric
heat, cant really afford to do much more, but i want to put in duct
work for future propane heat, central air. Is there anything I should
know or expect to be asked by the contractor when I propose this?
===
Make sure he doesn't schedule the drywaller before the ductwork is completed
(and make sure you know when the drywaller is scheduled). Ours was supposed to
be ducted and wasn't. We came by the site and the drywall was already up. No big
deal for us as we have a very uncomplicated floorplan that can be easily
retrofitted. We haven't done so however, as our propane heat has turned out to
be very cheap.
===

"ryan" wrote in message
om...
"Andrew Koenig" wrote in message
...


Compare energy costs -- electric heat is usually the most expensive form
available. You'll probably be better off with oil.


I know this. I will end up with propane. But to save money now, which
is important, I'm putting in the electric (long run, more expensive,
upfront though it's much cheaper. I expect to add central air and
forced hot air later, just want to do the ductwork now. just wondering
if there is anything i should look out for in doing this.

This is Turtle.

If your just doing the duct work now. i would just install a what we call a 12"
X 12" blank box with no holes in it and when you do go for central system. just
cut the right size hole in the box to get the right amount of air to each room.

Now if your talking about having a all electric heat and cooling system
installed right now. Here is the list.

1) Have a Manual J heat load run on the house and get the right heat and
cooling size of equipment to use.

2) Have a Manual D run on the house to know the right size ductwork to put in
each room.

3) Tell the man that it will be later switched to gas heat and have the area
set to have the room for the longer area for the furnace and coil to be
installed.

4) Explain what you are going to do later so he can set it up for this.

Now I install these systems and Most of the time there is not more than about
$500.00 difference between the two. Maybe the gas line run to it may cost more
but your not talking about a big difference or a big ticket item here. E-mail me
if you would like to discuss it.

TURTLE


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On 18 Aug 2004 09:49:58 -0700, someone wrote:

My wife and I are building a new home. I am going to put in electric
heat, cant really afford to do much more, but i want to put in duct
work for future propane heat, central air. Is there anything I should
know or expect to be asked by the contractor when I propose this?

If you are going to put in the ducts now anyway, then the price to add
the furnace also, probably won't be much different from the price to
buy the electric heaters AND the wiring to drive them. You are going
to pay up front for electric units and electric wiring that will just
be wasted.

So skip the A/C for now, that's a significant expense and a whole
other system. But furnaces themselves are not that expensive.
Re-check your numbers, are you sure you are saving anything
significant with your plan???

-v.

Thanks to everyone for the help!

Ryan