Replies

1. 
   gerketo1 | Aug 12, 2010 06:25am | #1

   Don't do it

   One word….Condensation

   Your floor would be constantly soaked (in the summer).  Add sawdust to the equation and it would be a wet, stinky, moldy, mess.  Also it would do very little if anything to cool the space.  Think of what happens when you pour a glass of beer in the summer.

   However, the shop may be a good candidate for a water source heat pump (geo-thermal).  Probably a lot more money than you want to spend.  With this system and like all air conditioning systems the condensation occurs at the air handler where it is controlled and piped away delivering cool dry air.  Google it and you will discover how it works.  Geo-thermal systems are very cool, Pun Intended.

   Take care

2. 
   zolton | Aug 12, 2010 07:45am | #2

   Cooling

   The previous post explained quite thoroughly why running cold water though an in-slab hydronic system is a bad idea.

   Instead of a geothermal heat pump though, you can achieve cooling and dehumidification at the same time by sticking a window air conditioner either through the wall or in a window - for about 1/100th the cost of a geothermal system. The new units have better controls, are quieter, and are more efficient than ones built 7-10 years ago. And, for under 300 bucks or so, they're ideal for this type of situation.

   Zolton

1. 
   gerketo1 | Aug 13, 2010 02:08pm | #4

   Way Cheaper

   Zolton is correct.  A window shaker is WAY cheaper.  Just using the geo-thermal as an example of a water source solution.. 

   Not sure about "100 times" cheaper but....you get the point.

3. 
   tenfingers | Aug 12, 2010 03:10pm | #3

   To avoid the cold floor / feet hurt, condensation, mold problems. Why not run the cold water through a junk yard radiator with a fan blowing through it. If you filter the air before the fan, the radiator and your lungs will stay cleaner.

4. 
   gearhead_jd | Aug 17, 2010 03:41pm | #5

   Water for cooling ?

   I retired from a career as a Stationary Engineer in 2008. I still carry a EPA "608" Universal Refrigeration liscense. I ran a lot of systems like you discribed. They are called Chilled Water Systems. The difference is they use a refrigeration machine called a chiller as a cooling source. The water is pumped through a "radiator" as someone else on here mentioned. It is called an Air Handler. While these are great systems for very large structures (this is the common way high rise buildings are cooled), they are expensive to build and maintain. Even with a ground source for the water, you would have piping, pumps, controls,and water treatment issues. No, you would not have problems with condensation because the water would be contained in the coils of the air handler. You are better off going with a direct system such as the "window shaker". Although you would not have as good temperature control, it is much cheaper. I hope this is helpful...J.D.