Hot Water baseboard pipes

Tom:
I am pleased to see you were a man ahead of your times, I always knew it.The attached diagram shows where the previous owner ran the pipes to thehot water base boards in a wooden box. The box troth travels the exteriorof the family room in the basement of a raised ranch. This raises aquestion about the pipes that carry the hot water. In a normal house theyare in the wall, I suspect. Is that lost heat and would it be better toexpose the pipes more.In my design should I open the box to allow the heat to be used? Theprevious owner did not put any insulation around the pipes nor insulationagainst the outside stringer. Box is 12" X 7" using board lumber.What is the best way: insulate the pipes until they reach the baseboardsand allow the thermostat to control the zone or let the heat flow as itgoes?I have lived in the house 10 years and finally decided to examine the bestway to handle this issue.I have had a pellet stove on order but decided to put it off and seal thehouse. I thought it would be like putting a patch on a leaky raft. Oncesealed I will go for the stove if needed.Thank you for your time, keep up the much needed work
Bruce Boyd

Hi Bruce,
Good question. I think you would be better served to insulate the pipes.This way, you are controlling where the heat goes. You want the heat in theroom you are in, not to be going somewhere where you might not need it.That being said, you should use pipe insulation to cover the pipes and thenre-enclose them (if you want to). I would also see if I could install somerigid insulation against the wood framing that the pipes are near.
Tom