Remote Living > Heating
Buried culvert type tube for heating/cooling house
Harold in CR:
Thanks Mary. You just answered my next part of the project question. ;D
I was hoping to make the air tubes as a closed system also ??
Ok Mary, you got my interest going. How about if I buried a stainless milk tank and plumbed out of that. I'm just not convinced about Pex absorbing coolness from the ground, but running it from a tank of liquid would be easier to install.
bigrockcandymountain:
I have a single loop of 1/2 pex and a 8" x8" radiator that used to preheat the incoming air to a heat recovery ventilator. It worked ok in the fall, but as the ground around the loop got cooled, it worked less and less. It still had some value though. It's only maybe 30' of trench, so 60'of pipe though. I run methanol washer fluid in it so it doesn't freeze. The new HRV doesn't shut down when it gets cold, so it is no longer needed.
To heat and cool an average house i would think you'd be looking at more like 500' of trench or so.
I have a friend that did 6" clay tile pipe about 600' with an air intake on the end and a fan to suck the air into his house. He says it blows nice and cold in the summer. I'm not sure it moves enough cfm to cool the whole house though either.
I'm not sure what the ground temperature is there, but here it is about 45f 7c
It is too cold to be much use for heating unless you use a heat pump.
Harold in CR:
Clay tiles (tubes) could be a possibility, ground is red clay/dirt composition, maybe someone makes them locally ? Ground temp possibly around 55 deg @5' depth ? Haven't tested yet.
Not trying to heat or cool directly, just integrate as much as possible to lessen expensive means to heat or cool. Closing doors to bedrooms, bathrooms will lessen amount of CFM to be treated and still, "creepage" or cooler/warmer air under doors etc. should still help somewhat. Addition of solar power to cut electric bills should also help greatly.
Solar panels on roof might shade the "vaulted" roof/ceiling inside, but, a fitted second roof of 1x6 rafters, as such, and sheetmetal, insulated on underside would prevent excess heat and help longer lasting asphalt shingle roof deterioration.
MattM:
I'm in Florida's panhandle. Insulation is the single best investment you can help with. Sealing off the attic is probably the next, because your ductwork for some awful reason, is up there in southern states.
Harold in CR:
MattM
You are in the same latitude as my son, being 30 miles north of Florida, near Dothan Al. He has a typical, for the area, manufactured double wide. It has vaulted ceilings and that's why I'm considering the roofover with styrofoam panels maybe between the rafters.
Been wearing out youtube for different examples and found that vertical drywells ? might be a good option for closed loop liquid system. Ground MIGHT be denser red clay, so, doubtful surface water, but, having thoughts about enhancing those.
The bulk milk tank idea I mentioned, I forgot they are insulated. ::)
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