Cold air convection system

Back

 

Forced cold-air convection heating system

 

 

Principles

To heat a building with a radiant heat source and a high ceiling, convection is all-important. 

Cold, stale air sinks to the bottom of a building like water sinks to the bottom of a container.  To heat/freshen a room, it is much more effective to drain/evacuate the sunken cold air from that room than to inject desirable (hot/fresh) air.  Draining undesirable air pulls desirable air from adjacent rooms into the room being drained.

 

 

Procedure

Start with a radiant heat source like a wood stove

Connect coldest area(s) of house to hottest with 2Ó plastic pipe

Install thermostatically-controlled fan(s) at the end(s) of the pipe(s) in cold area(s)

Push coldest air into hottest area(s).   Cold incoming air will mix with the hot air and make warm air. 

Distance ÒkÓ should be as great as possible while still creating mild turbulence in the hottest area(s). 

 

Requirements

Wood stove or other radiant heat source.

Tight envelope.  Random cold (outside) air entry points must be sealed for convection to be effective. 

 

Advantages

Huge savings in cost over forced hot air systems.  1/5 the cost of installation, 1/3 the cost of operation. 

Zone control.  Remote rooms can be left alone, or each can have its own drain.

Can be installed easily into existing buildings.