RT : Squeaker-based insulation, 
Squeal-based insulation, dimmable home LEDs, wood-burning furnaces--lots of techs and ideas I don't find at home. 
New video: Louisville Home Inspector - ventilation for gas fired furnaces and the highest heater 
Unripe Home Tip : Change your furnaces air filter to reduce utility bills, prolong its lifespan and prevent sneezing from allergens!The Furnace Book: The Heart of Your Home
 List Price: Price: $24.89 You Save: $6.36 (20%) |
Customer Reviews
Home Furnace PlacementI only have glanced through the volume. I am disappointed that it does not have many pictures to go along with the reading material. It does have pictures, but not enough for my preference, especially since the post is not low priced. If you like to read and decipher, then this may be good for you. After I read it, I will revaluate, but at the moment disappointed.
Badly Written and Incomplete
I'm very balked in this book. It is very poorly written. The descriptions are inadequate, the grammar is poor, and it is incomplete. An example: "Your moving may be in flexible conduit." does not have a noun and is therefore not a sentence. The illustrations are poorly annotated. Some are annotated with the names of components, but without arrows, its the reader's think as to what they pertain to. Some of the photo illustrations are not light enough, or have glare from flash reflected from sheet metal ducting. This record REALLY needs some schematic diagrams to explain the heating system fundamentals. Also, the electrical connection genre does not include a schematic diagram. There are no pictures or diagrams of either the power connections or the thermostat connections. I'm not kidding.
I'm contemplating installing a furnace and had hoped that this work would provide the tricks of a seasoned HVAC pro. As a mechanical engineer, I already understand the theory of operation, but unquestionably would like some tips.
There is one bright spot. The author spends most of the 46 pages of this book (excluding forefinger and glossary) describing the ductwork and furnace removal, replacement and mounting aspects. There is also some interesting message on designing the heating runs.
For me, this was not worth the price of the book. Also, heater manufacturers have downloadable positioning manuals on their websites that do cover the deficiencies of this book (electrical, safety, startup, etc).
Misadvertised
I was at most looking for information on how to add a couple of duct branches off the main duct. I went right to the part of the book that explains how to do this, the epilogue. This section could have been written in French. For a novice, the terms heat runs, chest lines, square to round and round to square mean nothing. I looked in the furnace terminology, scanned the end up of the book and the index. There was no reference to this anywhere. This book was a waste of $26. If you don't know anything about furnaces or ductwork, don't waste your folding money.
Less detail than expected
I was a undersized disappointed with this book because it lacked detail. In particular, it did not cover high efficiency furnaces at all. The book is 52 pages and only scratches the top of a new installation. I don't think that this covers everything a novice would need to know to properly install a new gas furnace.
This Words Help Saved Me $8100.
Although I don't trade in the trades, I'm the kind of guy that spent his youth tearing apart engines and working on cars. Satiate it to say I know my way around mechanical things. I live in Atlanta where all two story homes have a separate HVAC system for each bowl over. You can imagine my wallet shock to find both my 22 year old HVAC units needed replacement with a median extract of $11,500. My research on the internet provided information that I could buy the exact name brand equipment online for $3400. That said, I had no dream how to install it or should I say I had no experience in installing HVAC. That's when I learned about The Furnace Book. Paul King walks you through the faultless process of retrofitting your replacement units to your existing duct and vent system. The pictures are excellent and the gazette metal advice is invaluable. It's written in a step by step manner that laymen can understand. This volume is an excellent resource where you are shown the secrets of the trade. I know of no other book like it and would commend it to anyone not up to par to understand the process of installing new HVAC equipment. As you can see my savings on the project were $8100. I would have to say The Furnace Order would be cheap at twice the price.
