Preheating water by running pipes through attic?

My brother-in-law and his wife are planning to retire and build a custom
home with as many energy-saving and eco-friendly features as possible.
Since they're likely to be stuck with HOA rules about exterior
appearance, solar panels on the roof are probably out, but they were
wondering about simply running water pipes through the roof space.

Does this have possibilities?

Perce

Posted by on August 5, 2008, 6:59 pm

> My brother-in-law and his wife are planning to retire and build a custom

> home with as many energy-saving and eco-friendly features as possible.

> Since they're likely to be stuck with HOA rules about exterior

> appearance, solar panels on the roof are probably out, but they were

> wondering about simply running water pipes through the roof space.

> Does this have possibilities?

> Perce

I am inclined to think that you're pulling our leg, but here is my
answer anyway. You did not tell us where the house will be built. If
ever winter temp drops below freezing, the copper pipes will bust like
you have never seen, sort of like cutting butter with a knife. Get
the picture?

Posted by Nate Nagel on August 5, 2008, 7:08 pm

hat@uark.edu wrote:

>>My brother-in-law and his wife are planning to retire and build a custom

>>home with as many energy-saving and eco-friendly features as possible.

>>Since they're likely to be stuck with HOA rules about exterior

>>appearance, solar panels on the roof are probably out, but they were

>>wondering about simply running water pipes through the roof space.

>>Does this have possibilities?

>>Perce

> I am inclined to think that you're pulling our leg, but here is my

> answer anyway. You did not tell us where the house will be built. If

> ever winter temp drops below freezing, the copper pipes will bust like

> you have never seen, sort of like cutting butter with a knife. Get

> the picture?

With creative use of tees and valves, this doesn't necessarily need to
be a problem. Just need to remember to drain down the "attic loop"
before the outside temp. gets near freezing.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Posted by Percival P. Cassidy on August 5, 2008, 7:30 pm

On 08/05/08 06:59 pm hat@uark.edu wrote:

>> My brother-in-law and his wife are planning to retire and build a custom

>> home with as many energy-saving and eco-friendly features as possible.

>> Since they're likely to be stuck with HOA rules about exterior

>> appearance, solar panels on the roof are probably out, but they were

>> wondering about simply running water pipes through the roof space.

>> Does this have possibilities?

> I am inclined to think that you're pulling our leg, but here is my

> answer anyway. You did not tell us where the house will be built. If

> ever winter temp drops below freezing, the copper pipes will bust like

> you have never seen, sort of like cutting butter with a knife. Get

> the picture?

No, I am not pulling your leg. This is what they told me they are
thinking of. And, yes, I should have said where: "Hotlanta" area.

And also I omitted to repeat in the body of the message the word I used
in the subject line: "preheating." They are not thinking they are going
to get water hot enough for washing dishes from such a system, but they
are hoping to use less gas to heat their water.

Perce

Posted by Steve Barker DLT on August 5, 2008, 7:40 pm

Hot water really only costs about $15 a month anyway. So how much do they
plan to save. Even if you had 200' of 1/2" pipe up there, you're only
talking about preheating 2 gallons of water. Now if you put a properly
supported 50 gallon tank up there..........

s

> On 08/05/08 06:59 pm hat@uark.edu wrote:

>>> My brother-in-law and his wife are planning to retire and build a custom

>>> home with as many energy-saving and eco-friendly features as possible.

>>> Since they're likely to be stuck with HOA rules about exterior

>>> appearance, solar panels on the roof are probably out, but they were

>>> wondering about simply running water pipes through the roof space.

>>>

>>> Does this have possibilities?

>> I am inclined to think that you're pulling our leg, but here is my

>> answer anyway. You did not tell us where the house will be built. If

>> ever winter temp drops below freezing, the copper pipes will bust like

>> you have never seen, sort of like cutting butter with a knife. Get

>> the picture?

> No, I am not pulling your leg. This is what they told me they are thinking

> of. And, yes, I should have said where: "Hotlanta" area.

> And also I omitted to repeat in the body of the message the word I used in

> the subject line: "preheating." They are not thinking they are going to

> get water hot enough for washing dishes from such a system, but they are

> hoping to use less gas to heat their water.

> Perce

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