Heat mobile home With hot water heat?

Question

Keep floors warm

Answer 1

Criag G.,
If you have a hot water heating system already chosen for this adventure, I'm sure it would work. The only thing about a hot water heating system is the heat is very subtle, I prefer a more robust type of heat. Being that you are wanting to install this in a mobile home should not make a difference.
TDCWH

Answer 2

Yes you could do this and I have even done it for some people. There Is a big BUT though. You have to remember in MOST Mobile homes your domestic water lines run under the floor of the home. They are usually very close to the heating duct work this prevents them from freezing. By putting hot water heat in you are putting your domestic water lines at a risk of freezing, so they will have to be moved also. This always makes it interesting when a door is in the way. To convert your Mobile home over will be very costly, with lots of labor involved. Not to mention a hot water boiler will take up a lot more room than your traditional heating system in a closet.

Answer 3

I agree with Padid and TD above. Although a radiant heat floor COULD be installed in a mobile home, I would strongly advise against it. First thing that would concern me is that most mobile homes are built with 5/8" particle board floors. And while PEx plumbing is very safe in regards to leaks, it only takes one mishap to ruin your floors. Future floor repairs (standard equipment on mobile homes) will be much more complicated.

You also should consider building codes. Depending on your current gas usage, you may not be able to supply a boiler of tankless water heater with your gas service. Gas heater, main water heater, dryer and stove, and you are probably already maxed out.

Then there is the cost. Retrofitting an above floor system is ruled out due to doors, cabinets etc. Installing the PEx under the floor would require removing all of the vapor barrier and insulation. Materials alone to replace this material would be over $1200 for R-19 insulation and mobile home belly wrap material (see link below for belly wrap). Expect to double that amount if you want a contractor to install it. The PEx pipe and manifolds could run you $2500, using 1/2" pipe, 12" o.c. and double looped on the walls. Again, you could double that to have the pipe installed. An efficient tankless water heater system would cost less than a boiler, but a good one the right size installed, could run $1200.

This kind of money could buy the best insulated mobile home roof available for your home and possibly end that money pit forever. (see link below) If you don't have dual pane vinyl windows, this would also be a better place to put heating money.

If you do choose to pursue a radiant heat floor, check out the link below. It tells you how to compute the amount of btu's, pipe etc.. and offers a lot of information about radiant heat floors.

Answer 4

Dumbest thing I ever heard if you live in a freezing climate. Nothing like trying to thaw frozen water pipes.

Answer 5

so this means you'll be taking cold showers in the winter...