A pleasant surprise

[oggbashan]

What the home shows call "Radiant Heating" is tubing that goes under the manufactured flooring -- similar to the hypocaust system you described but using hot water in tubing winding through or under the sub-floor instead of hot air. It is NOT the same thing as "Radiant Heaters" that heat with Infrared.

They've shown several different sources for the hot water ranging from the hot water heater doing double duty to solar collectors but the basic installation of the tubing under the flooring is about the same.

It has been used in an energy efficient home in Cornwall. The water is heated by solar power and/or heat pump and circulated by thermosyphon assisted by a pump driven by solar power. The pipes have to be much larger (1 inch bore or larger) than are used for underfloor heating. Normally those are microbore and the hot water is circulated by a high pressure pumps.

Og

 

[SeaCat]

I've heard of it, but I don't htink I have ever heard of using it in a trailer. It doesn't sound like it would fit in the flooring system.

Then again, I've never seen the actual construction of a trailer, so I would know jack-all

I don't know how thick the system would make the flooring but it could probably be used.

Our floors here were three layers thick, (I'll get back to that in a minute.) and we still had over 8 feet of clearance to the ceilings.

We started working in here by reinforcing the roof.

Our next step was to tear out the rugs, which is an ongoing project. (Almost done.) Under the rugs we found what we expected to find, a Plywood floor. The only problem was I could look down alongside the edges of the Plywood and see Linoleum underneath. So we tore out the Plywood and saved it. (Good one inch Plywood.)

Here we found a stained and torn Linoleum floor covering. We removed that to find Plywood. This Plywood was put in piece meal so I worked up a piece of it and found yet another floor. This one was the original dark green pebbled Linoleum.

We took that out and found the original underflooring. I know it was the original because I had to cut out several sections that were rotten. (This is a good thing as it allowed me access to under the trailer so I could repair some ductwork and do an inspection. There is now a Hatchway through the floor of the back room.)

This has had to be done in each room, which is why the work has been taking us so long. Finally though we are on the last of the rooms for this part of the reconstruction. I finished today remounting the registers for the Air Handler.

It seems that the people who lived here before us would decide they didn't like their floor and would just cover it over.

The Trash Guys don't complain though. Everything is either bagged or cut up into easy to handle pieces. If the pile is too large I call them the day before so they can send an extra vehicle, and I help to load it. Besides, a couple of times now they have found a case of Bud sitting on top of the pile as a partial payment. (I want to keep them happy because before too long they will be finding a Tub sitting by the curb. )

Cat

 

[Weird Harold]

I've heard of it, but I don't htink I have ever heard of using it in a trailer. It doesn't sound like it would fit in the flooring system.

Then again, I've never seen the actual construction of a trailer, so I would know jack-all

I don't know how thick the system would make the flooring but it could probably be used.

Actually, it was more a suggestion for Cloudy's cold floor problem, rather than Seacat's trailer remodeling.

However, "This Old House" used a retro-fit variant of the sytem on one of their projects that mounted under the sub-floor, between the joists, so it didn't raise the level of the floor at all. There's no reason that style of installation wouldn't work in a mobile home or "manufactured housing." The only "space" problem in a trailer that particular system would present is finding space for the boiler and circulation pumps.

Most of the retrofit installations that "This Old House" and "Hometime" have shown add an inch or inch and a half to the floor thickness when they're installed on top of the existing sub-floors. (Using 1/2" or 3/8" tubing.)

Most of the new-construction installations they've shown are embedded in concrete sub-floors.

I don't think the system would be worth the expense and trouble of retrofitting it in Florida but I'd definitely consider it for more northern climates, like Cloudy's where cold floors are a perennial problem.

 

[SeaCat]

Actually, it was more a suggestion for Cloudy's cold floor problem, rather than Seacat's trailer remodeling.

However, "This Old House" used a retro-fit variant of the sytem on one of their projects that mounted under the sub-floor, between the joists, so it didn't raise the level of the floor at all. There's no reason that style of installation wouldn't work in a mobile home or "manufactured housing." The only "space" problem in a trailer that particular system would present is finding space for the boiler and circulation pumps.

Most of the retrofit installations that "This Old House" and "Hometime" have shown add an inch or inch and a half to the floor thickness when they're installed on top of the existing sub-floors. (Using 1/2" or 3/8" tubing.)

Most of the new-construction installations they've shown are embedded in concrete sub-floors.

I don't think the system would be worth the expense and trouble of retrofitting it in Florida but I'd definitely consider it for more northern climates, like Cloudy's where cold floors are a perennial problem.

Harold,

I can think of several places where a system like this would be nice in trailers. As you stated one of the problems would be where to put the pumps and heater. Another problem would be insulation under the flooring. It could be done but it would be a pain in the butt to do.

For where Cloudy is heading, oh yeah that would work. In fact if I were to move up north again I would insist on that being part of the house.

Cat

 

[Weird Harold]

I can think of several places where a system like this would be nice in trailers. As you stated one of the problems would be where to put the pumps and heater. Another problem would be insulation under the flooring. It could be done but it would be a pain in the butt to do.

The biggest drawback to in-floor radiant heating that I can see is that it isn't a "dual mode system" that handles both heating and cooling -- or at least it would be difficult to adapt to efficient cooling as well as heating. It's an ideal system for colder climates where the primary HVAC concern is heating but doesn't seem cost effective where cooling is the predominant requirement, like in Florida.

The retrofit installation I mentioned earlier that fits between the joists didn't look like all that difficult an installation -- it used standard fiberglass insulation batting between the joists to avoid heating the basement instead of the room above.

The wide variety of installations featured on This Old House, Hometime, and similar shows, make it look like a system that is adaptable enough to include in almost any construction or remodleing project with a minimum of additional effort -- especially if you're already working on the sub-flooring anyway.

Like most renovation projects, the the PITA factor can be minimized by planning ahead for things like insulation requirements.

 

[SeaCat]

Well I have just been informed by my father that we are expected to stop by their place tomorrow when we head noth to pick up the rest of the flooring. My mother has already started a large pot of Pumpkin Soup and he wishes to give me some advice/hints on putting in the flooring. (He also wants to lend me his drop saw.)

Needless to say we will stop by my parents place. (Hell we planned on it even before he E-Mailed me.)

Cat

 

[Boxlicker101]

Well I have just been informed by my father that we are expected to stop by their place tomorrow when we head noth to pick up the rest of the flooring. My mother has already started a large pot of Pumpkin Soup and he wishes to give me some advice/hints on putting in the flooring. (He also wants to lend me his drop saw.)

Needless to say we will stop by my parents place. (Hell we planned on it even before he E-Mailed me.)

Cat

Maybe you can stop by and see your nephew while you are there, and slip him a hack saw blade.

Then snitch on him for having contraband.

 

[SeaCat]

Well we got the flooring and visited with my parents. Another 400 pounds of wood laminate are now in my front room.

Dinner at my parents was enjoyable. (Pumpkin Soup with Venison Sausage and Garlic Bread.) My father and I talked over what was needed to install the flooring and he offered to come down and help me start it. (Hell he demanded to come down.) I now realize there is yet another tool I need to get. A Table Saw. (Oh boy, another power tool. ) This is going to look nice and be easier than I had anticipated.

As for visiting my Nephew, well he's about six states north and cooling his heels in a local lock-up.

Cat