Radiant wall vs panel radiators

dave123

For a new radiant installation done as part of a remodel, would more people prefer to install a radiant wall, or a panel radiator? I know most will say the radiant wall will create more comfort at a lower temperature than a panel radiator, but it also seems like quite a bit more work in the end, and runs the ongoing risk of nails/screws etc.

I lived with steam radiators for many years in the 1990s, and really liked them. They seemed fine to me as a heat source. I was thinking that hot water radiators would be about the same as they were, so I was wondering if there's enough of an improvement, in the opinion of those who've had them, to make the wall installations worth the extra work.

Appreciate any opinions.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

I like the radiant wall, just keep the tubing above nail height.

dave123

Above nail height? I thought it was to stay below nail height.

Solid_Fuel_Man

He means above where baseboard will be installed.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

What about driving nails for framed pictures? I'd keep the tubing above six feet.

Or put or wherever you want to and get an infrared camera.

hot_rod

I like the bottom 4 feet or less and put a wood wainscot over it to avoid any nailing.

Larry Weingarten

Hello, I put radiant tubes vertically in my walls and just put a dark plug top and bottom, in the wood trim so I'd know where not to pound nails. This may not work so well using a serpentine shape for the tubing.

Yours, Larry

dave123

I appreciate the answers, but I'm still not sure if there's enough of a difference between panel rads and a radiant wall to make it worth the extra trouble. Can anyone speak to that?

psb75

You can run lower temp. water through the radiant wall tubing than the panel rads for the same comfort and better efficiency. And you won't have the panel rads in the room as obstructions for a cleaner, more spacious feeling. Its probably easier to put a couple panel rads in (labor-wise) than the equivalent amount of radiant tubing. If it was a "finished" remodel--def. panel rads. For a "new" remodel, I'd do radiant walls.

hot_rod

It depends on how much you need to do to the wall to install the radiant and finish it.

Typically a layer of insulation board over the wall, transfer plates and tube, fur strips, re-sheetrock. Or use a wood finish over the radiant.

The panel rads involve mounting brackets and running pex to the locations.

Is it work would be doing yourself? To hire it out, certainly the radiant walls involve more trades and $$.

If you like the looks of the panel radiators, that would be quicker and less $$.

They can powder coat panel rads too any color of finish you chose, also. At the EEE show, QHT inc.had some nice looking red ones on display.

Steve Minnich

I love radiant walls, ceilings, and floors for their comfort and low supply water temperatures.

I also love seeing heat emitters; old cast iron radiators being my favorite.

It really comes down to personal choice based on aesthetics, space, risk, and how efficient you want to be.