Will this work to heat up my basement a little?
#1
12-10-10, 06:31 PM
Will this work to heat up my basement a little?
I have water baseboard heat for the house. The basement is unheated. All of the water pipes are running through the basement and there are a few bigger water pipes. I know that you need the aluminum fins and the covers to get the heat off the pipe. Someone mentioned to me that I can just make a U shape out of thin aluminum like flashing material and drap it over some of the pipes and it would direct some hEAT off the pipe in the basement and maybe warm it up a bit. Do you guys think that would work?
#2
12-10-10, 07:56 PM
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In a single word, no. It is the numerous small passages created by the closely spaced fins that heat the air and cause the air to rise. Without the fins you have nothing. The sheet-metal cabinet directs the airflow.
#3
12-11-10, 06:11 AM
Can you add those fins to pipes and not have the covers? I'm just seeing it there is a way I can get a little heat in the basement without adding more baseboard.
#4
12-11-10, 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by 71GTO
Can you add those fins to pipes and not have the covers? I'm just seeing it there is a way I can get a little heat in the basement without adding more baseboard.
#5
12-11-10, 08:20 AM
Aluminum fins soldered to copper pipe? not likely... or even possible? All the fin tube that I've seen has the fins slid over the pipe, friction fit.
While it is true that you might get some minimal additional heat off a piece of flashing bent over the pipe, it probably is not worth the effort... as has been stated, the heat is drawn off the fins INSIDE the cabinet by the chimney effect that is created when the element is enclosed in the cabinet.
If you don't mind experimenting, a roll of flashing is cheap enough, why not just try it and report your results? BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU CUT THE BAND ON THE FLASHING ROLL! IT WILL UNWIND LIKE A CLOCK SPRING! QUICKLY! DON'T CUT YER JUGULAR! (or anything else!)
While it is true that you might get some minimal additional heat off a piece of flashing bent over the pipe, it probably is not worth the effort... as has been stated, the heat is drawn off the fins INSIDE the cabinet by the chimney effect that is created when the element is enclosed in the cabinet.
If you don't mind experimenting, a roll of flashing is cheap enough, why not just try it and report your results? BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU CUT THE BAND ON THE FLASHING ROLL! IT WILL UNWIND LIKE A CLOCK SPRING! QUICKLY! DON'T CUT YER JUGULAR! (or anything else!)
#8
12-11-10, 08:48 AM
I don't think he will get the amount of heat he is looking for from the pipes, but if he were able to I think it could cause an issue. The way I see it, He is already getting all the heat he will from the pipes. Unless he introduces airflow, then I don't see how it could be more.
#9
12-11-10, 06:10 PM
Thanks for all the info. If it helps any I know my heater is a bit oversized for the amount of baseboard I have. I have debated about adding actual baseboard heat in the basement, when I had my heater replaced two years ago I asked the place how much and I think they said $1000 to add basboard in the basement. My wife would rather spend the money in other areas of the house. That is why I was looking for a cheapy way just to get a bit of heat down there.
#10
12-11-10, 10:15 PM
Maybe post some pics of the heater setup. Possibly there's some place to add a loop of simple coil fan for some forced-air into the basement etc ?
Is this a boiler ? Is the boiler room warmer than the other basement rooms (at the very least you could push that room air out and around perhaps ?)
Is this a boiler ? Is the boiler room warmer than the other basement rooms (at the very least you could push that room air out and around perhaps ?)
#11
12-12-10, 05:15 AM
It is a boiler, there is no boiler room. it is a 90 year old house. There is just a big open basement and the boiler and water heater are out in the open. There are pipes going everywhere for the heater. What would you want to see in the pics?
#14
12-14-10, 02:48 PM
don't mix fin tube baseboard and cast iron rads...
Baseboard is so cheap... that would be my first suggestion.
Just go bite the bullet and get some baseboard heaters.
Baseboard is so cheap... that would be my first suggestion.
Just go bite the bullet and get some baseboard heaters.
