profdant139 wrote:
westend, a heat exchanger with a fan would be more effective. But also more work! (And the fan would use a little electricity and would make a little noise.) I am trying this halfway measure just to see if it works at all. If it does, maybe I will try something more elaborate -- maybe an old-fashioned radiator??
Yup, no free lunch, lol.
Forum member smkettner, along with others, have blazed the ground with hydronic heating. I am considering it as it's very efficient and quiet. I haven't pursued it seriously since my furnace/heater is silent and operates at fairly low consumption. I'm also thinking of stretching out my solar output, using a heating element in either the water heater or my fresh water water tank. I have a steel tank so am able to store quite a few BTU's in that tank.
Just with a few minutes searching:
Heat exchanger $18.
120 mm computer fan $10. Misc. plumbing and wiring may push this project North of $50, might be worth it. This assumes that a pump won't be necessary because the exchanger is close to the tank and there will be circulation from heat differences.
Good luck with the passive model, it may be just what you need.
