Quote:
Originally Posted by BulletOwner1
Oh, we also used a small electric heater to supplement the furnace. Notice - I said supplement not use in place of. You still need to run the furnace in order to supply that heat to the underbelly for the tanks.
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True. If the furnace isn't running, then no warm air will be produced and find its way through the 2" ducting to the underbelly.
I am wondering, however, how "warm" the air is by the time it travels via an uninsulated duct into what is essentially an uninsulated underbelly and to the uninsulated tanks. In addition, we have numerous small openings in the coroplast where water lines and electrical wires enter/exit. Some of these are plugged with foam but the underbelly is not airtight by any stretch and allows cold, outside air to find its way into the underbelly and to the tanks.
In theory, the idea of the furnace pumping warm air into the underbelly and keeping things from freezing sounds good. It would be interesting to take temperature measurements at various spots within the underbelly. I would guess that they are not at all "warm". I can't see this system being very efficient or effective.
If you are interested in finding out more information about insulating the underbelly, the "go to" member is
geo.. He has been deservedly dubbed the "Lord of the Underbelly" for his extensive work in this area. Look up geo and search for his posts on this topic -
Insulating the underbelly.