Baseboard hydronic heating, is it workable ? Anyone tried or are using it ?

[scanzel]

I like the idea of quiet heat and would like to know if anyone is using home style hydronic baseboard. I retained most of my windows in our bus because we like the view. I will be using a Proheat X45 for heating. I also like the small hydronic space heaters but do not have many areas where they can be installed so I though the baseboard would be great under all the windows. Thoughts ?

[luvrbus]

I had it on my bus the trouble is it takes up space for the air to circulate I lost about 4 inches on each side so the air could draft over the coils a fan type make take a little less space I loved the system no fan running just a nice even heat through out the coach

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Steve,

Great way to heat if you have the room for the radiators. However, if you can not track the entire length

of your bus you might end up lacking heat output! If this is the case, you would be better off with fan coils.

I have found 28,000 btu fan coil units on jegs.com for $129.00 with 2 outlets. "pretty reasonable"

A company called Runtal sells a 1" thick baseboard hydronic flat panels that would take up almost no room

but at a very high cost. "about 3 times the cost of normal BB rads"

Another down side of normal home style BB rads is that they vibrate and clang while driving down the road. I

took mine out last year and installed 3 fan coil units with aqua stats to control the fans.

Good Luck
Nick-

[gumpy]

I installed a Webasto system for a friend in AK last year. We put in a single baseboard heater about 10' long as a start. He indicated it would keep the chill off
down to about 30 degrees. I expect it would not be near enough for me.

He's going to add more baseboard and some powered toekick heaters. For his uses, which won't be much below freezing, that should be sufficient.

[luvrbus]

I didn't use the house type I bought the finned tubing and ran it the full length of the bus on both side tied into the factory defroster only thing I would do different is use 1x6 instead of the 2x8 on each side now days I couldn't afford solid oak 2x8 on each side like I did then 

[wg4t50]

My setup uses the Aqua Hot, it uses 5 radiators all out of site in bottom of cabinets and basement with electric fans on 4 thermostats.  Plus a circuit that includes the engine for preheat on cold starts and it then adds to the hot water system whilre driving.
Bottom line, very fine down to -2 f so far, that is the coldest have had it in so far.
No idea whet is better, most are less costly.
We are happy campers, so far.
Dave M

[luvrbus]

I like the radiant heat being a light sleeper I didn't have the fan noise, I have a new heat exchanger with fan 6x6 in square I will make you a deal on if you need it or if it will work for you

good luck 

[TomC]

Just to throw a wrench into everything-propane heating is still the cheapest both to purchase and to maintain. I don't like propane-my only propane items are the furnace and the stove. I have a solenoid turn off at the tank and a carbon monoxide sensor close to the stove. With a 20 gal propane tank, I fill it once, maybe twice a year. I also live in L.A. and don't do any serious winter anything. A 40,000btu furnace will cost about $700. My first furnace lasted 15yrs, when I left it on and the fan ran for two weeks straight. Rather then replace the fan motor, I just bought a new one since there had been improvements in the design and sound output. You can hear the furnace run, but not that loud. When in 30 degree weather, it runs for about 5 minutes then off for 20 minutes. I'm repeating the heating system in my truck conversion. Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

I had propane fired boilers I didn't care for the diesel fired systems

[Boomer]

VanHool had that type in their seated coaches for years.  Real dirt catchers.

[PP]

I don't care what anyone says, I love my propane catalytics. In conjunction with 3 electric baseboards (currently on a 30AMP Pod so we can only run one at a time with the water heater and fridge also on electric) we stayed comfortable down to minus 7 a couple of weeks ago. With all 3 cats going we use about a 1 1/3 gal of LP a day. Most times we only have 2 going on low to maintain and go through 9 gals in 16 days. Real numbers. LP right now is costing us $2.40/gal.
One caveat-you have to have ventilation for the cats or your windows will be solid ice in the mornings. Each cat has it's own vent plus we leave the kitchen and bathroom vents open and use the fans in them when showering or cooking.
Will