Remodel: Forced air or radiant baseboards?

Rich L.

Jens, Check out this thread to address the comfort issue:

http://forums.invision.net/Thread.cfm?CFApp=2&Thread_ID=53874&mc=22

This is a very recent discussion on the comfort issue on this site.

If it were me I would definately go with the high performance modulating condensing boiler. If you add an outdoor reset controller to the controls you'll see even higher efficiencies.

Good luck, Rich L

Jens

Remodel: Forced air or radiant baseboards?

I need to install a new heating system to my 2000 sq ft house in Albuquerque, NM. Currently there is forced air with ducts in the slab. The ducts are disintegrating, and as a bonus we have radon seeping up through them too. So, since my house is one story, flat roof, no crawl-space, I have the following options:

1. Install a new forced-air packaged unit (heat and cooling) on the roof with new ducts. The quotes run from $17k-$25k.

2. Install gas boiler and hydronic baseboard radiant panels (SlantFin), and probably an evaporative cooler on the roof. The quotes for the heating run from $10k-$15k.

So my questions are:
1. I assume the house will be more comfortable with baseboard?
2. Is it more economical to use radiant heat compared to forced air, assuming the boiler and the furnace have similar efficiency ratings?
3. The $10k quote for the radiant installation had an option (+ $3500) to upgrade to a high efficiency Buderus (94%) 105,000BTU boiler. The quote includes a Weil-McLain CGa (83%). Is it worth the extra money for the 11% improvement?
4. Any opinions on the SlantFin baseboards (Fine Line 30).
5. Any suggestions on integrating this with solar or other renewable energy sources?

Thanks for your time!

Chas_4

Panel Rads

I replaced my first piece of fin-tube with a panel radiator. Jaw dropping performance. We dont discuss price here so.. suffice it to say that a 12 foot run of fin tube is about the price of a nice steak dinner. And The panel rad was about a years worth of dinners assuming one a month. Worth it? I dunno, it sure looks nice in the spot I have and the sofa is against the wall! Not something you can do with fin tube since it consumes so much wall.

Jens

Panel Radiator

Chas,
What brand of radiator did you use? I think it may be worth the money up front....

ALH_4

Panel Rads

Panel radiators are my personal favorite heating method. Depending on the brand and size of panel rad and where you buy your steaks, it may only be 4-6 months worth of dinners. My favorites are made by Veha.

One other thing to consider if you are paying for labor to install the baseboards is that baseboards take more time to install. Panel radiators install very quickly if roughed in correctly.

Chas_4

Runtal.

I bought a 12' Runtal. Its a baseboard I guess.. but its 3" off the floor and it looks / feels like a panel rad. Its in series with two other pieces of fin tube and at 180 degrees its a tad out of balance. Im going to put a TRV or bypass or something on it. I have a 20' single zone run to do next. Im looking forward to having that uch capacity. It will be almost two times oversized for the room it heats.

tim smith

RE: panel rads etc

I like the Runtal's best for looks and quality but they are the most expensive of the bunch but not alot more. Buderus or other mentioned above ok also. 2nd, I would definately go with the condensing boiler, just the afue difference is not all you get, you get the outdoor reset etc. Look at the Triangle tube Prestige boiler for this. Nice. 2nd, vs the overhead hvac unit, you will find a night and day difference in comfort with wall panels vs overhead ducts. Overhead ducts may create a 10 degree floor to ceiling diffence in temp where you won't see that with wall panels. As far as cooling, maybe look at variable speed a/c units if you really want a good cooling system that is efficient but again, will spend quite a few $$ on this or the more economical idea you have is swamp cooler. Good luck, sorry .03 worth this time. Tim