install price comparison-floor vs baseboard

Robert O'Brien

more expensive by many times,as well it should be.it's superior in every respect.You can't pay for a Hyundai and drive a Mercedes.

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Paul Fredricks_4

install price comparison-floor vs baseboard

Is it possible to compare prices to install radiant floor heat vs hot water baseboard? For a new house (approx 3,800 sq ft)... I am considering hot water baseboard.... but was wondering if radiant floor heat is comparable to 1) install and 2) more or less efficient and 3) more or less to operate over the years we'd use it. Thank you.

Brad White_184

It is possible to

discuss such things but not in this forum. It is a wise "house rule" that respects everyone's cost of doing business and their locales which have disparate costs of doing business.

Cost aside, radiant heating is to most respondents the most comfortable heating system available. It is more efficient than your typical baseboard system because it uses lower water temperatures (low 100's versus 180F for example).

It is proven and given a choice, I would find a way to make it happen.

Paul Fredricks_4

price comparison issue

Okay Brad... I apologize, didn't appreciate the "cost" issue might be sensitive and/or proprietary.... was really just inquiring in general terms.... but I can see from your answer there might be differences comparing systems. Thanks.

Brad White_184

No apologies needed, John

You did not know and how could you? Just framing the discussion should anyone else get into the mix unknowingly. As Robert said, yes, it will cost more but as you astutely grasp, the differences are not in cost.

hot_rod

depends on the installation

a radiant concrete slab, for example can be cost competitive with hw baseboard in some cases.

The number of zones, type of equipment and how complex the floor plan for pipe routing all need to be considered.

As a general rule of thumb a properly designed and installed radiant system will be a bit higher cost.

Panel radiators could be another nice option. They operate at a bit lower temperature than hwbb, a good match for mod con equipment, and are easily zoned.

Keep some solar options in mind for DHW and heat assist.

hot rod

GW

HR

How are you and happy new year; my best to Ellen

Can you share your experience with solar assist?

I've done one job where the Viessmann solar control had to be manually switched to have either DHW priority or Space heating priority... I want to set up this system at my new building. Pls fill me in on how you handle the swithc-over

gary

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GW

Best of luck

You can ask contractors in your area to give you prices for both, the sad part is you likely won't know if you're getting a hack system or a top level system. You'll just know that it's "radiant" and you'll know what kind of boiler it is. What takes top heating guys years to master can not be explained on a proposal, nor here on the forum. If you buy on price alone, you may be sorry. Heating is like any other industry (the good, the bad, and the gross), but it's unlike, let's say plumbing, where it's possible to have a butchered piping installation and still have it work right.

Gary

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hot_rod

Thanks Gary

Happy New Year!

You know, Viessmann has some excellent info available right here at heatinghelp under "resources" then "green" at the top of the page.

I like the dual coil tanks for a simple way to harness solar and move some to the heating load. I'll bet the Viessmann Vitosol controller would sort out all of the control logic for you.

For me I use the poor man approch with some setpoint, differential, and 3 way zone valves.

You always need a solar storage tank. Ideally a solar or indirect tank would handle solar harvest and DHW preheat. With a dual coil the heat load could be pulled off the top coil as long as the tank temperature is sufficient or the solar gain matches the loss(s)

Be realistic in your solar heating expectations. Unless your ship has come in and you can afford to be a solar snob... figure on about a 30% solar assist to your heating load. Beyond that it gets very expensive. Panels, tanks, dump zones etc need to be engineered if you do large, large arrays.

Start with SDHW solar domestic hot water. This is an excellent return on your solar dollars as it is a year around use. Aa simple single panel and 60 gallon tank can provide enough for 2-3 or more folks.

Build onto that system as money and experience comes along.

The Viessmann literature here is excellent, www.apricus.com is another excellent site for understandable solar talk. www.solar-rating .org explains how panels are rated and has good solar maps and info.

Attend the AHR show in NY in January. An excellent solar "piece" will be released there. A free giveaway! I've seen a sneak preview, It has clear cut solar info and a bunch of piping schematics that will be very familar.


Good for you considering "green collar" work.

hot rod