Hydronic Radiant Heat
I am a homeowner working on a renovation of a house and preparing the radiant heat system. I have spoke with two contractors and the two offer completely different approaches. The two have been well recommended in the Brownstoner. I would like to hear more opinions, to help me decide the right way to go….
I am a homeowner working on a renovation of a house and preparing the radiant heat system. I have spoke with two contractors and the two offer completely different approaches. The two have been well recommended in the Brownstoner.
I would like to hear more opinions, to help me decide the right way to go.
The two discussions:
– What to use under the hardwood, aluminum plates to reflect and expand the heat?
– The most efficient heating system. Also, one of them tells me the high efficiency water tank (Polaris type) will save me money and the other one is telling me that a high efficiency boiler (Buderus type) will be better. Any opinions?
I am sending pictures from my radiant project – this is an economical and efficient way to install radiant. By the way very DIY!
http://www.summitsurfaces.com/berkshires.html – click on the smaller photos in the lower right corner that looks like a race track course.
We are running a Viessman for efficient, the controls and the warranty on the stainless heat coil.
Enjoy life
Brewse
Do some reading (search for radiant panel association and click through everything) because you’re getting some bad info here among the good.
I installed radiant in a new 2 story addition 5 years ago (3 sides exposed and a lot of glass) using similiar design concept as in your pic. No need for additional heat source. First floor heat installed OVER slab with sleepers and second floor between joists. Oak finished floor over both.
I found warmboard way too expensive for my application. I used 2 different types of Themofin (linked by rex). Easy DIY install. The target temp of the floor is 85-87. The water temp is 120. No burned feet but nicely comfortable.
These are good http://www.radiantengineering.com/ThermoFin/1-ThermoFinUSpec.pdf . But you have to understand that unless you are pouring a slab there is no way to do radiant heat cheaply. If you don’t use a transfer plate you just won’t get enough btus without very hot water which is not good for wood floors, makes tile floors uncomfortable and cuts down on your efficiency. If you super insulate your house, always a good idea, it might work, but chances are you will be disappointed, many are.
The Triangle tube boiler is the best for the money. I also like the Weil-McClain Ultra
Be wary of whoever recommended the Polaris especially if was an open system. They are not a good idea and illegal in NY
use radiators… you cannot get decent heat out of a half assed radiant design..if you cannot afford radiant do not do it
Thanks for all your comments.
I think warmboard is very interesting, but it’s out of my budget. Any advise about the best alternatives to warmboard?
We used warmboard (under mesquite hardwood floor, with Munchkin boiler & indirect HW tank). Warmboard is a great product, certainly no need for any additional baseboard etc heating as well.
I’m a pretty big fan of Warmboard as well. It replaces your subfloor so if you’re installing new subfloor it can save the time of installing another layer of tube track on top, and it’s got a continuous layer of metal to reflect the heat up.
My two bits: Whatever system you do decide to use, be aware that the static head and flow through a radiant floor system is quite a bit different from a conventional hydronic radiator system. You’ll need to make sure that your pump is sized right, and, if you have a zoned system, you’ll need to make sure that your controls account for head differentials between loops.
And SteamMan is right about the synergy with solar thermal. For a radiant floor, you need only raise the water temperature to about 85 degrees. Any more and you’ll get a hot foot.
Finally, be aware that not all wood floors will perform well over radiant subfloors. A dry wood is better than one with lots of moisture content, and if you use an engineered wood floor, make sure there is no formaldehyde or other smelly glue binder used.
Good luck!
Second on Buderus and Viessmann. I also have to recommend Triangle Tube. Fact is that the indirect tanks I typically propose for installation are Triangle Tube regardless of the boiler. I also like the that the heat exchanger in the Triangle Tube boiler is stainless steel just like the Viessman at a fraction of the cost. Although the Viessmann has greater functionality. If cost is a concern, go with the Triangle Tube.
Please be aware that radiant flooring with a mod/con boiler (which is the system you have described) lends itself extremely well to solar thermal.
Feel free to take a look on our website for more info on solar thermal. Clicking on my name above will lead you to the link to our solar site.
Good luck with your project!
-SteamMan