Best Of
Re: Softwood flooring over low temperature radiant?
I'm not sure that the difference between hardwood and softwood thermal conductivity is going to make much difference — but if I were trying to get anything like an average of 20 BTUh per square foot out of the floor I'd surely use aluminium plates along with the tubing. And make sure that the underside is adequately insulated!
Your other considerations up there… well, yeah. People will put thick carpets down and then wonder why they are cold. Not sure what if anything you can do about that!
Re: Keeping insects out of furnace vent
I've had my Lochinvar Knight for more than 17 years with a concentric vent/intake. Never had a problem with anything in the vent but things might be different where you are. I did add an intake filter several years ago to keep the bugs and dust out of the burner. Works great, also the vent runs inside of the 6 inch intake for about 12 feet or so and preheats the combustion air nicely. Like anything, annual maintenance is always a good idea.
Larry
Re: How well is my heating working at lower water temps?
You want a multi stage thermostat running that fan. When you need more heat, run the fan higher. When you need less heat run it slower.
Re: How well is my heating working at lower water temps?
The Amazon link below may work for that purpose. I've used a digital temperature switch before similar to this one but was only 1 channel. This one has 4 channels....
Easy Operation,Zigbee WiFi Temperature Switch
https://a.co/d/al8HJmo
bjohnhy
Re: How well is my heating working at lower water temps?
Interesting…. W1-W2-W3 terminals on the air handler can be staged by the water temperature on the hydro coil.
I'm sure that there is a digital control out there somewhere that can be adapted to do something like that however, I'm not a digital kind of guy. The only thing I can think of is some analog temperature switches that are set for 2 different temperatures. When W1 is closed by the thermostat that will activate low speed on the fan. As the outdoor temperature drops, the fan coil temperature will rise. When that coil reaches a set temperature the make on temperature rise switch will jump W1 to W2 and increase the fan speed. Then the second make on temperature rise switch will be set at a higher temperature to jump W1 to W3 and bring on the highest fan speed needed when the outdoor temperature is much colder.The net result will be staged but will give you the benefit of the variable speed fan as the water temperature changes in the fan coil. Selecting the proper temperature switches with a small differential between off and on action is going to be critical. Like a 3° differential switch would be much better than a 10° differential switch
Re: Navien NHB-150 or the Thermostat or Both
You might. I'd replace the thermostat first, though, particularly since you have it, and then worry about the boiler. It may be that the reset curve isn't right.
Re: Ghost or Gravity feed - not fixed with replacement TACO FLOCHEK
Pop the top and clean the weight , shaft and seat with fine steel wool .. . Could also be a strand of teflon tape laying in there . It looks like a 1" flow valve . If it were 3/4" I would recommend up sizing to 1" …. Sometimes ,with long runs and high risers , two flow checks are needed ..
Big Ed_4
Re: Ghost or Gravity feed - not fixed with replacement TACO FLOCHEK
Its probably the flow check
Re: Ghost or Gravity feed - not fixed with replacement TACO FLOCHEK
are the return lines above the circulators hot? You could be getting some ghost flow up the return.
If you have isolation valves at the pump turn them off if the returns are hot and see if they cool off?
hot_rod