PEX for cooling sub-floor - Page 3

ldjessee · 04-11-14, 11:02 AM

Hello,

In my dream home (I keep working on it in my head, because without goals, which way do you go?), I was thinking of having both a few loops going deep (at the same time drilling well, drilling a few more spots for running cool/heat loops). I also planned on having a few surface loops, especially under the driveway and sidewalks.

And, a few solar hot water panels.

The house would have concrete floors (if the home would have a second floor, there also). I would zone the pex loops in the concrete floors, running multiple zones.

I was thinking of two large (100-200 gallon) water tanks acting as heat batteries. One tank would be dedicated for high temp (hot water, heating) and the other would alternate with seasons (low temp for cooling, high temp helping with heating).

PV Solar to help with fluid pumps, so that in the winter, pump warm water from the panels (once the water batteries were up to temp) to melt snow off the drive way.

Start with preheating from the deep ground loops, run through the solar hot water, then through the loop under the driveway. Once it is cleared, it will actually start absorbing heat, and could become a heat source instead of a heat destination.

In the summer, dump heat both deep and shallow loops.

I am hoping this is not too scattered, but I had always planned on having air ducts, as I love radiant floor heating ('discovered' it when I lived in Korea), but prefer AC air... Plus moving the air around (especially from south to north or the reverse) and upstairs to downstairs (or the reverse there also).

Zoned air ducts and zoned PEX system.

NiHaoMike · 04-11-14, 11:41 AM

What about use an evaporative cooler to cool the water in the tubes along with a mini split to handle the dehumidification?

Mikesolar · 04-12-14, 09:35 PM

Forget about using solar to melt snow. There might be enough panel area for DHW and some space heat but heating will suck up all the heat you can generate in the winter.

Otherwise, good luck. It's is a fun project.

04-11-14, 11:41 AM	#22
NiHaoMike Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,154 Thanks: 14 Thanked 257 Times in 241 Posts	What about use an evaporative cooler to cool the water in the tubes along with a mini split to handle the dehumidification? __________________ To my surprise, shortly after Naomi Wu gave me a bit of fame for making good use of solar power, Allie Moore got really jealous of her...

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04-11-14, 11:02 AM	#21
ldjessee Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 27 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello, In my dream home (I keep working on it in my head, because without goals, which way do you go?), I was thinking of having both a few loops going deep (at the same time drilling well, drilling a few more spots for running cool/heat loops). I also planned on having a few surface loops, especially under the driveway and sidewalks. And, a few solar hot water panels. The house would have concrete floors (if the home would have a second floor, there also). I would zone the pex loops in the concrete floors, running multiple zones. I was thinking of two large (100-200 gallon) water tanks acting as heat batteries. One tank would be dedicated for high temp (hot water, heating) and the other would alternate with seasons (low temp for cooling, high temp helping with heating). PV Solar to help with fluid pumps, so that in the winter, pump warm water from the panels (once the water batteries were up to temp) to melt snow off the drive way. Start with preheating from the deep ground loops, run through the solar hot water, then through the loop under the driveway. Once it is cleared, it will actually start absorbing heat, and could become a heat source instead of a heat destination. In the summer, dump heat both deep and shallow loops. I am hoping this is not too scattered, but I had always planned on having air ducts, as I love radiant floor heating ('discovered' it when I lived in Korea), but prefer AC air... Plus moving the air around (especially from south to north or the reverse) and upstairs to downstairs (or the reverse there also). Zoned air ducts and zoned PEX system.

04-12-14, 09:35 PM	#23
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	Forget about using solar to melt snow. There might be enough panel area for DHW and some space heat but heating will suck up all the heat you can generate in the winter. Otherwise, good luck. It's is a fun project.