Radiant Heat in a Brownstone
Is there anybody who has installed radiant heat on a brownstone? I am considering radiantec.com and would like to know if anybody has used them. I would install the radiant heat under the original subfloor. Also, any opinion on the Polaris heater? If you didn’t use Radiantec, any opinion about any other radiant heating company?
Is there anybody who has installed radiant heat on a brownstone? I am considering radiantec.com and would like to know if anybody has used them. I would install the radiant heat under the original subfloor. Also, any opinion on the Polaris heater? If you didn’t use Radiantec, any opinion about any other radiant heating company?
6pslope, I was at a previous client’s townhouse yesterday, we did a 4mil renovation that was completed in 2003. It was the first job in the city we used radiant (Hydronic) heat. It was interesting to hear his opinion 7 years later. He said that he would not install radiant heat again. The GC took serious precautions for anything that could go wrong – like insisting that we integrate 1/4″ groove at each oak board to accommodate any expansion / contraction (they are 7†fumed oak floors). Even though the system went through rigorous testing it developed pin hole leaks and the floors had some movement when I was walking on them yesterday.
If you are using forced air for AC, I would recommend spending the extra money you would be spending on radiant heating on a superior variable speed air handler (where the fan speed ramps up and down quietly) and humidification system.
Typically we only install small radiant heat in bathroom to ward off cold stone floors. We have also had good luck with a radiant electric (supplemental) system called ZMesh. We have had this installed in a living room or dressing room where you might be walking with bare feet on wood floors. The great advantage of ZMesh is that you can nail through it, just be careful if you have metal joists and nails that protrude through your sub-floor, it will short out the system.
I (personally) installed radiant heat in a 2 story addition 6 years ago and used the radiantec control panel. I was not satisfied with their underfloor material or with the method they were using to install it. I don’t know how much they have changed it since then. The control panel works fine. I thought they made it sound a little simpler than it was and minimized the amount of time to install. They were available when I called for installation advice.
I used Wirsbo pex (radiantec sold some brand x) and Thermofin extruded aluminum transfer plates which I really liked. The plates work well and were an easy install.
Thanks for the comments. I am also planning to get central AC.
There is a video from another company: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFYEJhwj__o
Anybody has any experience with radiantec.com products?
6pslope-Make sure they show you and that you understand the system they are going to use. Both of the systems above work very well, the Roth is probably slightly more efficient because of the continuous aluminum and the insulation. If you are able to insulate in the joists below they will work even better.
dt-yes can heat well from below but it is less efficient depending on how much wood flooring you have above.There was a recent thread about this.
Has anyone done this from below? I don’t want to tear our all the tile in my kitchen to do this, but would love to install it from the basement.
This cost us about $10K for three floors, about 2100 square feet.
I am not an air conditioning person.
Related question: How do you plan to air condition the place?
What are psf prices for these systems?
Yes, we installed it on our three floors and love it. We used this system which installs easily over a sub floor:
http://www.roth-usa.com/usa/pdf/5A_RadiantPanelManual-Sep04.pdf
It is quiet and very efficient