Can You Use a Car Heater to Heat Your Home?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of using a car heater to heat a home, specifically through a system involving a 19 kilowatt wood burner and a wetback for hot water circulation. Participants highlight the complexity and potential inefficiency of using a car heater, which operates on a 12VDC system, in a residential setting. Concerns are raised regarding fuel supply, exhaust management, and the practicality of using a 12V fan compared to a standard 110VAC fan. Overall, the consensus suggests that the proposed method may not be the most efficient or practical solution for home heating.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of wood burner heating systems
  • Knowledge of wetback technology for hot water circulation
  • Familiarity with 12VDC versus 110VAC electrical systems
  • Awareness of local building codes and bylaws
NEXT STEPS
  • Research efficient home heating alternatives, such as high-efficiency wood burners
  • Learn about the installation and benefits of wetback systems
  • Investigate the differences between 12VDC and 110VAC fan systems
  • Review local building codes related to home heating modifications
USEFUL FOR

Homeowners, DIY enthusiasts, and individuals exploring alternative heating solutions for residential properties.

hammo
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car heater to heat house??

Hi everyone. So i had a brain wave and thought id put it out there for help or advice. I have just moved into a new house and thought id start looking into heating for the upcomming winter. I thought about buying a new 19 kilowatt wood burner to heat the living area of the house and to heat the downstairs bedrooms i thought about using a wetback on the wood burner to circulate hot water through a copper pipe to the bedrooms and to pump the hot water through a car heater in each room so the 12 volt fan would blow hot air into the rooms and thus work better than a normal hot water radiator...So what do you think?/?
 
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Welcome to PF, Hammo.
There is one important thing that you didn't specify. Did you buy the house, or just rent it? That will determine the limits of what you may do.
 


yes we now own the house so anything is possable?
 


Not necessarily anything. That depends upon where you live. You also have to consider the bylaws of your particular area. Those can range from none to very strict.
As for the plan itself, you seem to be making it more complicated than necessary. Why would you use a car heater, which relies upon the running of the engine to be functional, in a household system? That would bring in the whole problem of fuel supply and exhaust evacuation that is not normal in a home environment.
If you were referring strictly to the air circulation problem, there is no advantage to a 12VDC fan over a 110VAC one unless you are running strictly upon battery and/or solar power. If you run it through a converter from the mains, you will be losing efficiency.
 

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