Ventilating an Attic With Radiant Heat

Mike Prest

I'd like to ventilate my attic more to cool it in the summer and prevent ice dams in the winter. I added plenty of insulation so the attic is well insulated. My question is whether this will affect my radiant heat pipes. Some are exposed in the attic, especially the tubing that runs into my ceiling. Do I need to wrap them to keep them warm and prevent heat loss? I expect my attic to get colder with the extra ventilation but I don't want to ruin my radiant heat. Thanks - Mike Prest

hr

Generally

pipe runs in the attic are at the bottom portion of the insulation layer?? Anti freeze is one option. I have heard of guys installing freeze stats on attic mounted air handler hydronic coils to protect them in freezing weather.

Anti freeze would be safer in the event of a power or fuel outage or pump or zone valve failure.

Nothing worse than a broken water line in the ceiling. Can often ruin the entire sheetrock celing and floor below. Ugly, makes me shiver just thinking about it.

hot rod

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Dave_4

insulate & heat trace

bundle the supply & return pipes together, use armaflex pipe wrap to insulate(plenum-rated up to 1 inch pipe insulation)add an emergency manual drain valve & look at heat tracing using a self regulating cable (with battery backup)

glycol is easier, but messier if it leaks...

http://www.tycothermal.com/northamerica/english/heating/

Bob Bona_4

but

if you decide to go with antifreeze, be prepared for a lifetime of monitoring the fluid. Left alone in a hydronic system, antifreeze will break dowm/become diluted.Then corrosion starts. Use it only as a last resort.

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