heating advice

Al_7

We have a unique problem. We own an under ground home in Michigan's upper peninsula. The house was built in the early 80's. The heating system is propane forced air. All duct work was run under the concrete floor. And...you guessed it...every spring when the snow melts, the ducts pick up water and spray areas of the floor. I want to replace the existing system with something else. The domes are 24' square and only 2 are finished living space. What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for any advice,
Al

Al Letellier

underround home

Best advise you'll get from anyone is to find a heating professional or an engineer who has had experience with your style of home. It presents problems and situations that many contractors have not seen or had experience with. The heating system in your home is extremely important to your overall comfort. And where can you be as comfortable as at home. Do it right and get professional help.

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Wayne_12

drainage issues

Al, Under floor air distribution systems with moisture entering through seams in the duct work. Thats a tough one. All concrete house limits access to duct repairs and overhead options.

What options are there to keep the water away from the house?

You do want to gain control over the moisture/water entering the house and the indoor air quality and mold issues.

Steve Miller

go hot water!

I'd ditch the scorched air and go hot water. It's a lot easier to retrofit baseboard than run duct work overhead and have to build soffits and stuff. That can't be good for indoor air quality with the moisture in the ducts. Looks like you came to the right place for advice. Good luck!

Steve Miller

go hot water!

I'd ditch the scorched air and go hot water heat. It's a lot easier to retrofit baseboard than run duct work overhead and have to build soffits and stuff. That can't be good for indoor air quality with the moisture and possible mold in the ducts. Looks like you came to the right place for advice. Good luck!

Doug Wagoner

Underground duct systems

should be graded to a sump area under the heat source. All of the underground systems I have been involved in had a pump to keep the water out of the ducts.

Steve Ebels

From the U.P. eh?

Take it from a troll (someone who lives under the bridge) Fill the ducts with cement and end your problems. Go with a panel rad system plumbed in with Pex tubing. You'd be able to get it just about anywhere in the house w/o major upheaval. We just did a retrofit from baseboard to panel rads on a house that froze up completely and irrevocably this past winter. Where the tubing was exposed, it was an easy task to just cover it with a small chase. Panel rads work great on a constant circulation system and offer room by room tempurature control options not easily done with other forms of heating equipment. Where exactly are you at in the Upper?