Big project update - Lateral-g Forums

caper150 · #1 10-13-2009, 09:58 PM

Each line is one continous 250' loop that can be shut down individually. I have it hooked up to a water heater, last year there was no insulation in the ceiling so it do not work properly. This weekend I putting in R40 in the ceiling and turing on the heat to start warming up the slap. Hardest part is getting it up to temp, once it's at temp I'll know if the water heater was a good idea.

heres a couple of pics of how things look now.

**waynieZ** · #2 10-14-2009, 07:23 PM

Nice work, you have a nice shop to work on your projects.I'm always over at Garagejournal. I go over there and drool over shops like yours.

**GregWeld** · #3 10-14-2009, 10:51 PM

Darryl --

Without trying to write a book -- you're dealing with BTU's -- and it takes "X" amount to "heat" your shop... Your water heater is rated in BTU's... probably like 100,000 ?? Most slabs that are going to be heated - have foam insulation barrier - so your heat doesn't all get soaked up by the ground underneath. Do you know if you have a layer of this in your floor?

Is the heater electric or natural gas?? In the Pacific NW - our electric rate is pretty "cheap". I have a 30X50 Shop with 21' ceilings. I heat it with just leaving the fluorescent lights on. I have 12 - 8' long - double tube H.O. T12 bulbs. My electric bill runs about $300 a month in the winter. That includes all the other electric stuff going - compressor - welders etc.

Something that might help to get you up and running... try leaving all your shop lights on 24/7 -- Fluorescents actually put off some decent heat... if left on to help out they might add a heat level up high in the ceiling - which lets the heat from your floor not dissipate so quickly.

Once all your toolboxes and the cars get up to "temp" they'll also act like heat sinks - helping keep the shop toasty...

Just a thought is all.

**GregWeld** · #4 10-14-2009, 10:52 PM

PS -- Your shop looks great! Congratulations!!!

tony byram · #5 10-17-2009, 10:32 PM

What a great looking shop! DROOL!!!!!!!

**tones2SS** · #6 10-18-2009, 09:47 AM

Nice shop!!
Enjoy.

**GregWeld** · #7 10-19-2009, 08:00 PM

Remember to let us all know how your floor heat works out!! I'm real interested to know how that works for ya.

I wanted to heat my floor - but since I live "in the city" of BlahView... those Azz'z wanted to make me put in a drain and running water as part of the "code"... Well (deep subject!) since my WIFE made me lower the shop so much -- It ended up BELOW our sewer line -- so that would have meant I had to dig a trench all the way down the driveway (during the construction process so that wasn't that big of a deal) and DIG UP THE STREET in order to hook up directly to the sewer... The estimate for all that work was about 15 grand -- so that means it would have cost 20! And I said.... fugidaboudit.... I have Natural gas run to the shop... and figured I'd just hang a Reznor.... But as I told you -- I found if I just leave the shop lights on 24/7 - I don't need ANY heater - Heck no! I have to open the door and the skylights and let some heat OUT!!

EEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Another little "PS" === When building - I called the cable company and told them I wanted "TV and Internet" out there -- so they sent a truck by. The sup tells me it'd be easier for "them" if I'd just lay a 1 1/2" conduit in the electrical trench while it was still open -- and then call him personally and he'd come back and "blow" a line from the "pole" directly to the shop. NOW - I asked him directly -- "are you sure?" cause I don't want a separate service! I already have full service at the house. "no problemo" he says.... so I do what he told me to do - and he blows a cable in.... NOW come hook up time --- I can get TV -- but no Internet -- so a call to the cable company - and you KNOW what they told me - SO SORRY CHARLEY -- you'll have to pay for that!!! You need a "modem" and blah blah blah. I tell them my story - and raise the issue up a couple "levels" to the sups... "tough" is pretty much the response....

SO........ Since I was once a licensed HAM (WB7UWC) I know a little about "radio".... So I ordered a couple of directional YAGI antennas - and a repeater... and a "wifi access box" -- all cost about $250. Built a couple of stainless steel "stand offs" and wired this bad boy up... so the "net" comes into the house - and I "beam it" over to the "shed" -- FREE... all wifi == no fuss no hassle no bill.... HA HA HA HA -- they're such morons some times.