Looking for advice. Building a 2700 sq ft vacation home in rural Northern Vermont. Home will be used about a month by up to 10 people, mostly in the summer but occasionally in winter (temps down to -20 F). Need to keep house from freezing in winter. Only utility is electrical ($.19 kwh) but could install propane. Will have efficient wood stove. For cooling in summer, plan to use Mr. Cool heat exchange system. This can supply some heat also but efficiency drops with temperature, so likely not sufficient for vacant winter low level freeze protection. Ample room in basement.
Questions:
1)For water heating (including possibly radiant heating) I assume propane makes more economic sense and heats faster.
2)Water heating for 2 bath/showers and dishwasher could be (2?) tankless water heaters. Do these require more maintenance than other methods? Is one large heater better than 2 smaller ones given distribution requirements?
3)Are tankless water heaters good for radiant heating system or would it make more sense to do a boiler, possibly with an indirect water heater tank?
4)Is there another option that would be better?
5)Any sizing suggestions?
Questions:
1)For water heating (including possibly radiant heating) I assume propane makes more economic sense and heats faster.
2)Water heating for 2 bath/showers and dishwasher could be (2?) tankless water heaters. Do these require more maintenance than other methods? Is one large heater better than 2 smaller ones given distribution requirements?
3)Are tankless water heaters good for radiant heating system or would it make more sense to do a boiler, possibly with an indirect water heater tank?
4)Is there another option that would be better?
5)Any sizing suggestions?
