Replies

1. 
   whancock64 | Oct 05, 2002 03:04pm | #1

   That's not exactly how I'd heat the floors. It also sounds like a lot of money compared to the cost of knocking a couple vents and adding a humidity controlled fan to one.

   Look for the radiant floor heat for warming the floors. My folks have gas furnace, but also have radiant heat in either the ceiling or floor depending on the room. The floors in the baths are nice and warm in winter. There's is an electric system.

   PS: They are on a slab down south..

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/6/2002 11:42:53 PM ET by Wilburn Hancock

2. 
   BossHog | Oct 05, 2002 05:32pm | #2

   I think venting a crawl space is a bad idea. Insulating is fine though. Then just open a vent from your HVAC system into it, and it will take care of itself.

   Make sure it has a vapor barrier donw first.

   A cat that jumps on a hot stove will never jump on a hot stove again. Neither will it jump on a cold stove.

3. 
   rjw | Oct 05, 2002 06:56pm | #3

   I'm with Boss Hog on this one, although different climates could require different approaches .

   In mt area (NW Ohio) conditioned crawlspaces make a lot of sense from a moisture control point of view, as well as comfort.  I don't know how they affect the fuel bill, but a warm floor = warm feet so maybe you can keep the thermostat lower!

1. 
   antlerchaser | Oct 05, 2002 09:29pm | #4

        Thanks guys, I should have mentioned that I live in Northern WI.  The way I see it, you should be able to treat a crawl space the same as a basement ( which is heated )  .  My main concern is possible moisture problems.  I still plan on having the addition conventionally heated with forced air and woodstoves/fireplace but I feel heating the crawlspace will be more benefitial than not.  Acually, I can remove the old basement windows and let the warm air from the basement go into the crawlspace.

                                   I keep a low temp dehumidifier in the basement all the time.  Any thoughts?   Thanks, GG

1. 
   Piffin | Oct 05, 2002 10:30pm | #5

   This is a subject that could open an entire can or worms but as long as you put down the VB, the rest is a pile of variables to your choice. Like Boss said, venting is an arguable issue in this location.

   Have you asked the contractor why he didn't? He may have good reasons based on local conditions and his own theories..

   Excellence is its own reward!

4. 
   dualpurpose | Oct 06, 2002 08:57am | #6

   Problems with heated crawls are many and the benefits are few in my opinion

   a few of the problems mold, pest and insects, increased heating cost, odors and moisture problems.

    Questions to ask your self for heated crawl

   vapor barrier does it completely cover the ground and foundation ,for a heated crawl all below ground surfaces must be sealed, water moves thru concrete foundation very easily

   Can you insulate to a level below the ambient ground temp, many areas this is below the required footing depth

   heated crawl should have both supply and return connected

   Heated crawls where the rage NW  in the early 80's , I constantly get call out to chase down odor, mold, and high heating bills.  After 20 years of use what I see is a dark warm enviroment often with high mosture, I could not ask for a better enviroment for mold, fungus and rot.

1. 
   rjw | Oct 06, 2002 04:13pm | #7

   FWIW, in NW Ohio I see the exact opposite; conditioned crawls have very litttle mold, mildew or moisture problems, even when there is a lot of moisture (e.g, plumbing leak puddles on the plastic) in the crawl.

   I'm in about 5-10 crawls a week.

   I recommend against a return from the crawl, though.

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Oct 07, 2002 06:34am | #8

   all of our crawls are insulated at the wall now.. by  code you have to insulate either the floor .. or the wall.. and 30 years of crawling around in crawl spaces finding all of the insulation hanging down from the joists and full of mice .. convinced me that insulated crawls are superior..

   vapor barriers  on the floor goes without saying..

   and if there is  a moisture problem,  the low temp dehumidifier is a good ideaMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   antlerchaser | Oct 08, 2002 04:24pm | #9

   Thanks for the reply Mike,  on the subject of mice, do you think I would be better off with blown in foam in a crawl or conventional fiberglass?  I have had problems with mice but have poisoned the tar out of em .  I will be having a company spray foam on my ceiling so it would'nt be that much more to spray the walls in the crawl space. The walls in the crawlspace are studed with treated 2x6 over poured walls.

       As far as the return air is concerned I suppose I could leave it out and watch it as I could always add it later. Will surely report any problems I encounter to this forum however.  Thanks to all !!!

            Thanks again,  Good Guy

   Edited 10/8/2002 9:46:58 AM ET by good guy

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Oct 09, 2002 12:13am | #10

   my guess is the foam would be less of a problem with mice that figerglass.. is there an additive they can put in the foam to prevent vermin ?

   with EPS they can add borates ,  this is marketed under the name of " PerformGuard"..

   most of the job site foams are polyIso.. and i have never seen any literature that says they do NOT support vermin.. so i would assume that vermin can live in the foam.. and if they can.. they will...ask you foam installer about vermin (mice, termites, carpenter ants , larvae )Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore