Radiant Heat in a Trailer
- Thread starter kchester
- Start date
Being a mechanical/plumbing contractor I see a few hurdles.
You best have a big supply of propane to feed the water heater!
Will need pump
Will need expansion tank
Will need air bleed
Will need makeup water provisions
Will need chemical for loop to prevent it from freezing.
Heat rises, so you're already starting on the wrong side.
Radiant heats the media around the loop, in most cases concrete, and then transfers that heat into the space. What are you going to embed the piping in? If your plan is to just circulate hot water overhead your results are going to be lackluster at best, will have a huge delta for the heater to overcome, and a big void in your pocket book after the install, and each time you pull up to the propane refill station.
I think you are way over/under thinking about a way to heat a trailer.
You best have a big supply of propane to feed the water heater!
Will need pump
Will need expansion tank
Will need air bleed
Will need makeup water provisions
Will need chemical for loop to prevent it from freezing.
Heat rises, so you're already starting on the wrong side.
Radiant heats the media around the loop, in most cases concrete, and then transfers that heat into the space. What are you going to embed the piping in? If your plan is to just circulate hot water overhead your results are going to be lackluster at best, will have a huge delta for the heater to overcome, and a big void in your pocket book after the install, and each time you pull up to the propane refill station.
I think you are way over/under thinking about a way to heat a trailer.
My father is an electrical engineer and a plumbing contractor so I am relying on his expertise to help with the design. (actually it was his idea)
We would use a 50k btu insta-hot water heater with glycol in the lines so there would be no freezing issues.
We are talking about spray foaming the ceiling and then use Aluminum reflectors with Aluminum core pex to transfer as much heat as possible
The idea is that it is radiant heat and it would radiate all the way to the floor instead of trying to heat air up and force it around the trailer.
I am thinking it is a lot to overcome as well, but its fun to kick the idea around as radiant heat is much more efficient form of heating than forced air, but not sure if in this application due to the amount of time that the trailer is actually being heated.
We would use a 50k btu insta-hot water heater with glycol in the lines so there would be no freezing issues.
We are talking about spray foaming the ceiling and then use Aluminum reflectors with Aluminum core pex to transfer as much heat as possible
The idea is that it is radiant heat and it would radiate all the way to the floor instead of trying to heat air up and force it around the trailer.
I am thinking it is a lot to overcome as well, but its fun to kick the idea around as radiant heat is much more efficient form of heating than forced air, but not sure if in this application due to the amount of time that the trailer is actually being heated.
Another issue that comes to mind is weight. Between the piping, the foam, the fluid, etc, etc that you would need to install your system on the ceiling, you're talking about a lot of weight. All that weight may overload what the trailer manufacturer designed that roof to hold. In addition, even if the roof can hold that weight, you'd be making your trailer top-heavy which could effect the handling.
Why don't you install your system in/on the floor? Seems like that would overcome many of the concerns listed here.
Why don't you install your system in/on the floor? Seems like that would overcome many of the concerns listed here.
