Quote:
Originally Posted by mackstann
Deep underground, the energy loss (in both summer and winter) is fairly minimal because the ground is only about 20 degrees away from the typical indoor temp. The top part of the wall is the most important to insulate. As you move down, it's less beneficial. Once you get to the floor, it becomes hard to justify economically --
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I agree. In most houses the walls are mostly underground.
In my home, it's those upper 3 or 4 feet of basement wall that get the coldest during winter.
(I've done a few measurements. I've seen upper walls get down to 25F).
If the walls were mostly exposed outdoors, you really need insulation!
Moisture can be handled by one of these gismos..
I'm using a heat pump hotwater heater. And, I have a theory that having a slab that
is a bit warmer than the ice-cold air from the heat-pump, makes the basement air temp
recovery time a lot faster.
One other thing I was wondering about.. If you have under-slab insulation,
will the load-bearing of the slab be less?
Will it support a heavy milling machine? Or big hot water tank?