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What type of system would you recommend and why for a modest house in coastal Maine. South of Penobscot Bay.
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My personal favorite is radiant floors (very comfortable) heated with natural gas if you can get it (cheap). But what is important to you?
Warm feet and uniform temperatures? And no visible vents or fixtures? Can't beat radiant floor.
Lowest possible installation cost? Electric baseboards. But they'll cost the most to operate.
Do you want air conditioning too? That may push you towards forced-air heat because you'll need the ductwork for the A/C anyway.
But window-mounted A/C units in one or two particular rooms may provide enough comfort in your coastal setting and leave your heating options wide open.
Try to find someone who can discuss the heating system as a part of whole house. Spending more on insulation and tightening up the house lets you spend less on a smaller heating system. More importantly, it saves money every year in lower operating costs. Sometimes the homeowner doesn't have enough money initially to go that route (or just wants a lot of windows), but ideally you are presented with a spectrum of options and assisted in selecting what is right for you.
If any vendor is completely sold on one type of installation, find someone else. No one system is ideal for everyone. (Even if it is the only one that contractor knows how to install :-). -David
*Is this to be a year 'round residence? In either case, all year or summer only, I agree with Dave: Gas -fired boiler with tubes in the floor. You said the house is "modest". I take that to means practical. Central AC for a coastal Main house would not be practical. The design (ASHRAE 2001) conditions for Portland, Maine are 86 degrees/48% RH, and that's only 0.4% of the time. With open windows and a breeze, maybe a ceiling fan or two, quite comfortable.
*Double ditto...I've a beach house up in Moody/Wells, not too far from your location. When renovating, I pulled out the first floor baseboards and installed staple-up RFH on the underside of the first floor only.The first floor ceiling is open rafter bays...the second floor T&G plank flooring is nailed directly to the top of the floor joists. From below, looking up at the first floor ceiling, the joists are stained, as is the bottom of the second floor T&G floor planking. With no additional heating upstairs, the second floor does stay comfortable in the winter.Adding A/C was not a consideration...
*My folks like in the Midcoast region year round. While radiant floor might be the ideal, they are quite happy with oil fired FHW (in a pretty tight house.)A/C is not at all necessary - so long as your windows have screens to keep the blackflies out, the salt air heeps the home quite comfortable.
*.....and a woodstove too. No power for 26 hours here starting on Sunday. Some places were out for more than 48 hours.