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Radiant heat question Just Me 11-19-2006
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Posted by Just Me on November 19, 2006, 5:46 pm


Hi,

I have a question for anyone having actual experience with a floor based
radiant heat system.

I'm planning on installing a hydronic between-the-joists system. It will
use PEX fastened to the underside of the subfloor. The person who'll be
helping me with the install, and has installed these systems before says
that the aluminum heat diffusers you can apply along with the tubing are
useless, especially if you're using water heated to about 100F. I've been
reading Siegenthaler's book on the subject and he's absolutely in favor of
their use.

Does anyone have any comments? My biggest concerns are 1) will the system
be more efficient and able to react faster when needed, and 2) will you get
hot stripes on the surface of the finished floor without them possibly
leading to premature degradation of the hardwood flooring finish.

FYI, I plan on using mostly hardwood flooring (some tile). Subfloor is 3/4"
advantech. House is mostly one floor with a full basement. Joists are 16"
on center.

Thanks for your input.



Radiant Heat 468x60
Posted by buffalobill on November 19, 2006, 7:41 pm


guessing: your local answer may be directly related to your climate and
temperature swings of the basement.
nice cutaways at:
http://www.healthyheating.com/Page%2055/Page_55_g_radiant_sys.htm
no mention of the diffusers at:
http://www.neoheat.com/expert-zone/wet-systems/neoheat--flow-range-design.html

Just Me wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a question for anyone having actual experience with a floor based
> radiant heat system.
>
> I'm planning on installing a hydronic between-the-joists system. It will
> use PEX fastened to the underside of the subfloor. The person who'll be
> helping me with the install, and has installed these systems before says
> that the aluminum heat diffusers you can apply along with the tubing are
> useless, especially if you're using water heated to about 100F. I've been
> reading Siegenthaler's book on the subject and he's absolutely in favor of
> their use.
>
> Does anyone have any comments? My biggest concerns are 1) will the system
> be more efficient and able to react faster when needed, and 2) will you get
> hot stripes on the surface of the finished floor without them possibly
> leading to premature degradation of the hardwood flooring finish.
>
> FYI, I plan on using mostly hardwood flooring (some tile). Subfloor is 3/4"
> advantech. House is mostly one floor with a full basement. Joists are 16"
> on center.
>
> Thanks for your input.


Posted by RicodJour on November 19, 2006, 9:13 pm



Just Me wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a question for anyone having actual experience with a floor based
> radiant heat system.
>
> I'm planning on installing a hydronic between-the-joists system. It will
> use PEX fastened to the underside of the subfloor. The person who'll be
> helping me with the install, and has installed these systems before says
> that the aluminum heat diffusers you can apply along with the tubing are
> useless, especially if you're using water heated to about 100F. I've been
> reading Siegenthaler's book on the subject and he's absolutely in favor of
> their use.
>
> Does anyone have any comments? My biggest concerns are 1) will the system
> be more efficient and able to react faster when needed, and 2) will you get
> hot stripes on the surface of the finished floor without them possibly
> leading to premature degradation of the hardwood flooring finish.
>
> FYI, I plan on using mostly hardwood flooring (some tile). Subfloor is 3/4"
> advantech. House is mostly one floor with a full basement. Joists are 16"
> on center.

With hardwood floors you want to try to equalize the heat distribution
underneath the floor. Hardwood floors expand and contract with
temperature and humidity and the radiant amplifies the expansion and
contraction. The hotter areas will have larger gaps and that can tend
to look off. Use the diffusers.

R


Posted by marson on November 19, 2006, 9:46 pm




> Just Me wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a question for anyone having actual experience with a floor based
> > radiant heat system.
> >
> > I'm planning on installing a hydronic between-the-joists system. It will
> > use PEX fastened to the underside of the subfloor. The person who'll be
> > helping me with the install, and has installed these systems before says
> > that the aluminum heat diffusers you can apply along with the tubing are
> > useless, especially if you're using water heated to about 100F. I've been
> > reading Siegenthaler's book on the subject and he's absolutely in favor of
> > their use.
> >
> > Does anyone have any comments? My biggest concerns are 1) will the system
> > be more efficient and able to react faster when needed, and 2) will you get
> > hot stripes on the surface of the finished floor without them possibly
> > leading to premature degradation of the hardwood flooring finish.
> >
> > FYI, I plan on using mostly hardwood flooring (some tile). Subfloor is 3/4"
> > advantech. House is mostly one floor with a full basement. Joists are 16"
> > on center.
>
> A commonly used system in my area is to suspend the tubing between the joists.
It is critical that the joist cavities are insulated with reflective
insulation. Haven't used it myself, so I'm not exactly answering your question,
but this is what I am hearing from our plumbing supply house in Duluth, MN. If
it works here, it ought to work anywhere.

> R


Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on November 19, 2006, 10:58 pm



> The person who'll be helping me with the install, and has installed these
> systems before says that the aluminum heat diffusers you can apply along
> with the tubing are useless, especially if you're using water heated to
> about 100F.
> Does anyone have any comments?

Heating engineers spent a lot of money on R & D to come up with the ideal
method of heating the floors. What has your friend done for testing? Use
the diffusers.



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