| Radiant Heat not as great as it could be
I spent the last three weeks installing about 700 feet of 1/2 inch Pex pipe between the first floor joist of my (not new construction) home. I installed in basement by stapling pex up to the floor. I have five loops running off my boiler with a separate zone and circulator. I have tested the supply water at anywhere from 125-165 degrees. Full circulation and have purged all air from each loop. I have a layer of reflective insulation (the thin kind that looks like bubble wrap covered in a reflective layer) and then stuffed R19 insulation under the reflective layer in between the joist. I have an inch to two inches of space between the pipe and insulation.
Here are concerns. I have never had radiant heat. It is not my only source of heat as I have forced hot water baseboards also. After about 2.5 hours the floor only gets to around 68 degrees. I am measuring surface temp with infared. I have hard wood and ceramic tile. I expected the floor temp to be higher. I have come this far and am wondering if it was worth the financial and time investment at this point. Is it worth even installing radiant heat without the heat plates? My joists are 12 inches on center. Where is the best place for a non contractor to get heat plates?  |