Relax fella. You're not blocked, I suspect from most folks. It's just that I suspect most of us know that insulation is key. And technically, somewhat off topic for this thread (or, at least, only tangentially related).

My home is inadequately insulated for sure. I've added a bunch of insulation, but it still needs a bunch more. Unfortunately, to do it all and do it how I want would be an enormous project that would probably cost thousands to get done quickly, so I'm doing a bit at a time. We're not done yet, but keep chipping away at it.

I do the same using an thermal imaging camera ( the one we use for fires...) The cold spots and drafts jump right out at you, and show the temperature differentials .

.

I have one of the FLIR that plugs into your cell phone. I did it when I moved in. I need to do it again now that we've added insulation and done some work. But then I have spots that don't require a fancy machine because I know about them.

Those FLIR setups for your phone work pretty good.

.

Yeah. Well at this point I don't rule out anything.
Cough.
(and my attitude towards foreign infiltration is the same as before)

Checking building insulation and heat envelope is 'tangential' to energy costs?

when a question has been asked "what does it cost..." then advice about how to change your home to change what it costs is not related to the question asked, yes, tangential. Related, but not related to "what it costs today" instead, related to "how you can change things to change what it costs". 2 different, but adjancently related things.

"Hey, how are you doing?"
"I'm great"

vs

"Hey, how are you doing?"
"If you work out more, eat better, and try to maintain a positive attitude, you'll be happier"

You see how the second is not really an answer to the question.

I have a 2200 sq. ft. home built in 2005. It’s well insulated. It has a newer modulating gas forced warm air furnace. We’re home all the time, with the thermostat at 71F the gas bill for the winter is $150-200 a month.
We also have a gas stove and gas water heater.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1736556427.jpg

First I spent money on a Jotul woodstove and installation in a fireplace hearth.
Then I needed to feed it, so I bought two chainsaws and a gently used splitter.
Then the stove is finicky about the moisture content of the wood, and tarps are unreliable and a pain. So I built a 5 cord woodshed on a slab, with a splitter bay. I stack the wood on plastic pallets to promote circulation. Firewood seasons reliably now, and it is not difficult to store firewood for two seasons ahead.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1736556427.jpg

Cost- oil is about $900 (300 gallons) a year, mostly used in shoulder months or when winter daytime temps exceed 40. One annual tank fill in the off season cuts back on stress of trying to get a delivery in a cold snap. I have 2x275 gallon tanks.
Wood costs next to nothing now that I am set up, and is probably saving me another $1500 in oil each year. So I am probably $10k in the hole at this point. I can’t be more self-sufficient for home heating, which is valuable to me.

Electricity here is about .30/kWh delivered, which stunts payback for heat pumps. We also get -10 lows every few years, which pushes their limits. And I don’t live within several miles of a natural gas main. Wood it is, at least while I am under 50.

So it was unwarranted advice.
Good to know. My apologies then.
A post about heating costs, alluding to a complaint about high heating costs by it's very nature, should not result in a helpful post on how to fix any potential high costs.
I will not make that mistake again. With you or others.

Since your local guy is up to speed on mini-split, I would get a quote and compare costs. I envision maybe one upstairs and one downstairs outdoor compressor units with multiple evaporator registers based on your room needs. Many of the modern evaporator registers are flush ceiling mount so blend in nicely and each room can be controlled separately if you wish. This is how 90% of the rest of the world does it and nearly all are moving away from common ducting due to higher efficiency and personalized temp control.

Getting the right replacement system is always a tradeoff between home layout, system design, specific wants, proper sizing, and upfront cost vs annual energy costs. Not easily done without a thorough inspection and some spreadsheet calcs.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1736610996.jpg
I never use my furnace in the winter. Wood heat. Granted our winters are mild. At 2700 feet elevation we can get cold but not east coast or mid west cold.

I have baby winters.

my bill was $308 (last). I blame my wife's showers and my inability to turn off lights.

Steve (Masraum) do they not have natural gas down in your part of Texas?

I'm WAY out in the country. My only options would be propane via a tank (wish the place had come with that for heat, cooking and water), electric, or wood. I'm sure it must have had a wood stove at some point, but I suspect that's been gone for 30-35 years.

Our old place in the 'burbs had gas.

LOL! This is so true in so many instances. Drives me crazy.

My house is about 3000 SF Just my wife and I We have 2 zones with the highest setting in each being 67 degrees. I have gas fired hot water baseboard heating. Total gas bill during the winter months is about $350 a month most of that being heat. If my kids were still here it would be much more. ConEd keeps raising the rates constantly.

Okay, your price is gonna climb if they have to do a full on duct system. The mini split where one outdoor unit feeds several indoor units will probably be cheaper.

Our plan was to have them reuse the existing ducts. I'm sure they aren't perfect or even necessarily good, but they've been working for the past 30 years. I will end up calling and having about 3 different estimates and recommendations before we get the work done.

This is inspiring. I'm entertaining the idea of buildiing a similar though smaller version. I especially like the storage bay for the splitter.

If ya need any advice, PM and I'd be happy to help in any way I can.