Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - More questions on radiant floor heat
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juliamarie
02-15-02, 10:23 AM
I have learned more on this from the web. It does sound like the best heating option. I have decided this is the way to go. Contractor's plumber suggested ceramic tile as floor covering, which would be fine. Can wood or laminate also go over it, or is there more heat loss with these? Also, since this is new construction, the cost won't be that bad if its done when the slab is done. Any opinions on slab vs crawlspace? My house now is on slab and the reason I don't like it is the floor can feel a little cold, but I guess that wouldn't be a problem with new addition and floor heat. Does that slab ever crack from settling, and what can happen to the tubes if it does? How long do the tubes last? Can one water heater be used for both my existing hot water supply and the floor heat?
resercon
02-15-02, 11:12 AM
Radiant floor heat has been around for some time. Many of the concerns with this type of system has been addressed by manufacturers over the years. Examples copper tubing and electric heating elements. Copper tubing has been replaced with plastic tubing that has been throughly tested. Electric heating elements are encased in fiber meshes that reinforce them and prohibit them from breaking.
Most people don't even know the variety of kinds of radiant floor heating. For example, geothermal radiant floor heating and forced air radiant floor heating. On top of that most people don't know the difference between conductive, convective and radiant heat transfer. How every system uses these to some extent, but one is always dominant. People hear radiators and they immediately think the heat transfer is radiant. Wrong, the dominant heat transfer is convective. What makes radiant so unique is that it doesn't use a medium to transfer heat, like conduction (the material itself) and convection (air) from one object to another. Example, the Sun.
When it comes to what impedes radiant heat, anything that has the characteristics of a radiant barrier. This would explain the reason why a radiant barrier is usually installed underneath a radiant floor. That is because the heat will radiate in every direction and it's intent is to radiate into the living space. So whatever product you intend to install over the radiant floor, it's impedence would depend upon what it's made of. Most manufacturers are aware of this along with other concerns with their product and radiant floor heat. I strongly recommend you contact the manufacturer of any product you intend to install over the floor and inquire about it's compatibility with radiant floor heat. Also ask about their warranty if applied.
Most people don't even know the variety of kinds of radiant floor heating. For example, geothermal radiant floor heating and forced air radiant floor heating. On top of that most people don't know the difference between conductive, convective and radiant heat transfer. How every system uses these to some extent, but one is always dominant. People hear radiators and they immediately think the heat transfer is radiant. Wrong, the dominant heat transfer is convective. What makes radiant so unique is that it doesn't use a medium to transfer heat, like conduction (the material itself) and convection (air) from one object to another. Example, the Sun.
When it comes to what impedes radiant heat, anything that has the characteristics of a radiant barrier. This would explain the reason why a radiant barrier is usually installed underneath a radiant floor. That is because the heat will radiate in every direction and it's intent is to radiate into the living space. So whatever product you intend to install over the radiant floor, it's impedence would depend upon what it's made of. Most manufacturers are aware of this along with other concerns with their product and radiant floor heat. I strongly recommend you contact the manufacturer of any product you intend to install over the floor and inquire about it's compatibility with radiant floor heat. Also ask about their warranty if applied.