Tarm in woodshed, without anti-freeze?

[MrEd]

Is this crazy to even consider?

I would love to put my tarm in a shed, about 35 feet from my house. It would store the tarm, and wood etc. Keeps the mess, fire danger, dust out of the house; keeps my garage available as a garage, and makes putting up wood more convenient..problem is I don't really want to go with anti-freeze/heat exchanger solution. Even though know it would work, from what I hear in talking with folks, its not the best way to use a tarm.

If I built a really insulated shed, perhaps a really think cement slab with radiant heat, and had a backup heat source (electric?), could I get away with no using anti-freeze? or is the risk to big?

I know I can keep the tarm itself from freezing up, but the underground pipes would be the more likely place I'd run into problems.

Opinions?

 

[Nofossil]

I'd consider it myself if I couldn't put the boiler in an ideal inside site. I don't think you need to go the the extent of a radiant slab. If the shed is well insulated and the pipes are buried below the frost line, you should be fine. Storage in the shed would about guarantee it.

 

[NHFarmer]

You could use an electric baseboard as backup in the boiler room.Also could heat trace the pipes.Probably won't need to use them but better than using antifreeze.

 

[jebatty]

Just a thought that I have been considering. What about a T fitting on the boiler return with an electric hot water heater element installed? With a thermostat set to turn it on and the circ pump when temp fell to, say 40, off at 50 or so. Any thoughts?

 

[MrEd]

Geez, I may need to rule out this option. Found underground/insulated pex, 1 1/4 diameter, for just over $28/foot...yikes, that alone may rule out this option. Even for my relatively short approx 50 foot run we are talking about almost $1500...can't see how that price is justified.

Are there cheaper alternatives?