Woke up this morning thinking about snow, the brownstone and having to shovel the steps. Getting the ice and snow off of those steps can be 
a real pain, and typically you will leave snow and ice all over them, making for a treacherous run to Whole Foods for your favorite organic, free-range, hot cocoa potion and a bucket of Tiger Balm for your back.
Having spent some time in the north of Sweden, where the snow is towering over your head, I remembered that they had heated walkways nearly everywhere. The snow fell (and fell and fell...) and quickly melted.
Aha! We're installing radiant heat, powered by a Solar Thermal Hot Water system. Why couldn't we extend some of that to the front steps? To be even more efficient, there could be a switch that would allow the front steps system to activate. Wouldn't exactly be fast, but might be smart. Have to think through when I would want it on/off more. Anyone have ideas?
In review, a radiant hot water heating system distributes warm (~ 130 degrees) water through flexible PEX tubing typically installed under the floors. The amount of water carried in the tubes acts as one large heat mass; efficiently warming the house and retaining it's heat for long periods of time.
Less water heating = less fuel used = less costs = green building!
I can see a system that has a heat exchanger carrying an antifreeze liquid through PEX tubing mounted in these aluminum plates to 
direct the heat to the bottom of the stone steps. Remember, it doesn't have to heat the steps to 72 degrees, just 33 degrees. Also, the heat exchanger is necessary because you can't have water running to the outside pipes, unless you want to have a sprinkler system under your steps after the first freeze...
We hope to have the bulk of our hot water generated by our solar thermal evacuated tube system, but might not even need to use it for the steps if we can just have the heat exchanger interface with the incoming city water (which is between 50-60 degrees).
I'll have to talk to Contractor Sam and Ellen & Jen the architects about it. They just LOVE to hear my latest... um... innovations... alway bringing up that "what's your BUDGET" thing. ;-)
[where: 10032][where: Harlem][where: Sugar Hill]
Jan 27, 2009
Brownstone Heated Front Steps
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7 comments:
Sounds like a great idea. Some of the radiant heat manufacturers (can't recall which) actually list that type of installation. May have been one of the electric ones, but since you're going with hot water, the heat exchanger + antifreeze would be the way to go, I think.
I know it can be done - they have heated driveways in rural PA - but I don't know how expensive it would be
my main concern is will the radiant heat be able to warm up the masonry of the steps sufficiently. e.g., Can I get them from 20 degrees to above 32?? Might have to test it somehow.
Definitely will have to well-insulate below the tubing so that all of the heat transfers upward.
Solar Thermal Experts: let's hear from you!
This could be a great idea...but sounds expensive and I wonder what it might do to the masonry. But if it could work in Sweden, I'm sure it could work in a NY winter.
Yes, I've been thinking through the expense side on this. Seems it could be reasonable, as we're just adding a small zone to the planned system for the radiant floor above. Can't be more than 25' of piping extended.
*IF* the piping can deliver enough warmth through the masonry steps and *IF* we can insulate the underside of the steps enough to direct the heat upward.
IF, IF, IF.... ;-)
Just the steps to shovel? No driveway? For how many days of the year? I'm thinking that it is not worth it for the materials and high probability of headaches, even if the energy is free.
just the steps.... not many driveways left in Manhattan, sadly! Unless you lived like the founder of Dow Jones: Dow-Jones House
You may be right on the "not worth it" for time/materials.
I may just have the installers leave an allocation for an additional zone so I can take a run at it myself if the mood strikes me. I'm happy to pay for my time experimenting... ;-)
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