Hi all, I’d like some input on heating my home in the sketch. It seems to me that the main room and kitchen would stay warm but the bedrooms would be cold. I’ve kicked the tires on a heat pipe system running the RMH in the basement (which is only under the 4th bedroom).  Am I over thinking? I’d like to put the bench against the center wall that separates the living room and kitchen. If this has been covered in another thread I’d appreciate a link. TIA!

Anyone?

Posting as png for easier visibility.

Lots of questions... What is your current heat source? What is your climate?

An RMH in a little-used basement is a bad idea. It needs to be in a place where it will be easy to see and tend, and it will be much less effective in a remote location. Between kitchen and living room is good. It would not do much for BR1 and master BR at least. BR3, BR4 and W bath might be okay. If you already have hydronic heat, a supplemental heater embedded in the RMH mass might be a good solution. We need more info for a good answer.

Thanks Glenn, I’m not good at attachments. Currently we’re on forced air, full electric with a heat pump. We’re in eastern Nebraska, zone 5.  I recently bought Ernie and Erika’s book and am now thinking that a 4” system in bedroom 4 might be an option. 

A 4" J-tube system is about the smallest that will function, and is tricky to get right. It would only be capable of heating one modest room, not a whole house, and would need almost constant tending. I think you would need at least an 8" J-tube system to heat a whole house in zone 5.