[AT] OT-LP Gas fireplace insert

[George Willer]

John,

I've built about 50 dwelling units (just a wild guess) with electric cable
ceiling heat and at the time (mid 60s to mid 70s) with electricity costing
~$.01/KWH it was the most economical system to install and operate, if
properly insulated.  I've also built quite a few Rumford masonry fireplaces
using 12" by 12" flues.  I shudder to think of using ceiling heat nowadays
with a fireplace even with that small flue.  That double sided one must have
a flue at least 16" by 16".  Even with a reasonably good damper the heat
loss must be like leaving a window open.

The most economical thing you could do would be to seal the flue TIGHTLY so
the electric could do its job with smaller loss.  It isn't very likely if
the necessary stack loss is considered that the propane heater can save you
money.

I learned long ago that the house should be considered like a hot air
balloon that's too heavy to fly.  A balloon with a hole in the top would
require excessive fuel to fly.  The chimney your propane heater will require
since it's inside your home and not on an outside wall, even though small,
will be much like a hole in the top of the balloon.  STOP THE LOSS HOWEVER
YOU CAN!

George Willer  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-
> bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of John Slavin
> Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:46 PM
> To: AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
> Subject: [AT] OT-LP Gas fireplace insert
> 
> Hello everyone:
> 
> I have a standard wood fireplace in my house that I haven't used in
> years.  Our heat is electric cable heat in the ceiling.  The
> fireplace in see-through with an opening in our living room and our
> bedroom.  Our house is a smallish ranch style and the living room is
> really a great room for the living room/dining room and open to the
> kitchen as well.  I'm thinking of adding an LP Gas fireplace insert.
> I'm thinking that would do a good job of heating our primary living
> areas since they're all open, with the electric heat as more of a
> backup.  Anyone have any experience with these and have any thoughts
> or recommendations?
> 
> John Slavin
> 
> ps:  Tractor connection:  I bought a 500 gal. LP Gas tank at my
> uncle's estate sale.  Tractors sold really high I thought.  I think
> every tractor brought more than he paid for it.  Newest tractor, an
> LT-90A AGCO that was 2 years old, sold for $50,000.00.  At a
> consignment sale the week before, good equipment sold the same way,
> HIGH.  One guy was heard to say that everything seemed to be selling
> for 50% more than what it could be bought a year ago.  Land prices
> are the same way.  Check out this site:
> 
> <http://www.kansascityfed.org/home/subwebnav.cfm?
> level=3&theID=9754&SubWeb=12>
> 
> there is an excel file called Land Values-KC
> 
> It's for land within the Kansas City Federal Reserve area, and it's
> insane how much land has gone up the last year; twenty percent
> increase in value in the last quarter of 2007 alone.  If any of you
> would like to read it, but don't have excel, let me know.  I can get
> it and print it as a pdf file, assuming you have the free Acrobat
> Reader on your computer.
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