Silly heating question

[Haaamster]

I have a gas Truma boiler,it is not a central heater it supplies hot water direct to the sink,shower then wash basin via plastic type pipes which I think are pretty standard in motorhomes.
Right time for a silly question.
Is it possible to re-route the plastic piping under the van floor before it reaches the first sink or attach an additional pipes before the first sink and the wash basin therefore creating a kind of underfloor heating pipes.
What problems might I be creating besides potential leaks under the floor, is it safe to leave a water heater on for hours at a time,will there be any pressure issues? somebody must have tried something like this surely.
There told you it was a silly question.

 

[Guest]

Right time for a silly question.
Is it possible to re-route the plastic piping under the van floor
There told you it was a silly question.

Hi, this is not a silly question at all!

basildog is correct, also if you route the pipe under the floor, it will freeze solid during winter conditions

 

[Haaamster]

Both good points, ***** the pipes would be internal just under the existing floor so no problem there, now if I introduce a pump and run the return to the boiler intake via a T piece would this create a ring. It would mean hot water going back to the boiler but surely that would be advantagious.

 

[Haaamster]

Ok so I have drawn up a diagram that will explain better than I can in words,will this work?

Sorry it's a bit small but I don't know how to re-size :rolleyes2:

 

[Deleted member 5816]

Both good points, ***** the pipes would be internal just under the existing floor so no problem there, now if I introduce a pump and run the return to the boiler intake via a T piece would this create a ring. It would mean hot water going back to the boiler but surely that would be advantagious.

The hot water heater is not a hot water boiler it is designed for occasional use only price a new Truma and see the price. If you really want to go down this road pipe the heating pipes from the engine.
Have you not got Ebspacher heating or the equivalent

Alf

 

[bigmillie]

Not sure of the heat output of your water heater but I expect that it would be hard pushed to heat a number of radiators

Regards Charlie

 

[Haaamster]

Hi Alf, no eberspacher i'm afraid although this would be the ideal solution. I have seen them on ebay but it's not a place I like to shop really,got ripped off the only time I ever used it with a cut and shut car :hammer:
Using the engine heat might be an idea, my brother has a 16 seater minibus that has a run from the existing cab heater to 3 blown air type heaters but will only work when running the engine obviously,not ideal for a planned ski trip
The fact that the boiler or heater is for occasional use only did occur to me which is why i'm asking for advice.
Bigmillie i'm talking about those small fin rads that are fitted in up to date motorhomes,
Don't worry I won't go ahead with anything till i'm sure of the answers, these are just strange ideas rolling around my noggin at the moment.

 

[Deleted member 5816]

Did you not fit the underfloor heating mat from B & Q then

Alf

 

[Haaamster]

No Alf talked it through with people on here and decided against it, not really suitable for under laminate floors.

 

[Apache Two]

Hi Alf, no eberspacher i'm afraid although this would be the ideal solution. I have seen them on ebay but it's not a place I like to shop really,got ripped off the only time I ever used it with a cut and shut car :hammer:
Using the engine heat might be an idea, my brother has a 16 seater minibus that has a run from the existing cab heater to 3 blown air type heaters but will only work when running the engine obviously,not ideal for a planned ski trip
The fact that the boiler or heater is for occasional use only did occur to me which is why i'm asking for advice.
Bigmillie i'm talking about those small fin rads that are fitted in up to date motorhomes,
Don't worry I won't go ahead with anything till i'm sure of the answers, these are just strange ideas rolling around my noggin at the moment.

Just bite the bullet and buy yourself a propex hot air heater. I have just done this and must say that it's the best £xxxxx I've spent...
Having gas bottles on board and the winter fast approaching I did just this ....Purchase a Propex HS2800
You won't be disappointed......

 

[Haaamster]

Hi Apache, I know deep down that blown heating is the way to go but these heaters are way out of my price range at the mo. I do have a big chunk coming to me from an endowment but that not till late next year and I am planning to go skiing either Jan or Feb so I need a solution sooner rather than later.

 

[bigmillie]

Just had a look at a wet system for motorhomes the boiler is rated at 6kw on gas 3kw on elec



I have a old (1986) Autotrail which has a Carver gas heater 1000 model I think this keeps me lovely and warm on its med setting the van temperature was 22C outside temperature -6.8 (Luterbraun Switzerland end of November 2011)


I also have a heater in the hab section its a old morris car heater with fan fed from the engine heater supply this works fine when travelling but as you say not much good for static use

regards Charlie

 

[vwalan]

hi .a few years ago i helped a friend fit an aldie wet system into their truck . it did hotwater and also had a pumpsystem that fed water through 15m copper pipes . to alumnium finned sections these acted as radiators . seems a good system. used to see them in the reimo cat. have also another friend as an aldie water system with blown air for heating in a static caravan . both seem good . not cheap but work. personaly i use a thermex catalitic black heat heater in my truck find it ideal. have also fitted and used thermax blue flame heaters but not keen for continuase use. always be carefull if using gas heating thats not flued from outside and used exhausts go outside. the thermex catalitic does have cutout safety for this.

 

[Apache Two]

Hi Apache, I know deep down that blown heating is the way to go but these heaters are way out of my price range at the mo. I do have a big chunk coming to me from an endowment but that not till late next year and I am planning to go skiing either Jan or Feb so I need a solution sooner rather than later.

Hi again.
This unit is not that expensive look around and you might be surprised at the price less then £700
And the nice thing about this unit is it's cheap to run on gas and don't drain the batteries..I wild camp all the time and use only battery power never needed to use EHU to charge the batteries yet.daily run of 20 miles to and from work is plenty to charge up leisure battery.