Proper way to insulate plates

Wayco Wayne

where I am putting in plate under a floor. I am a recent convert from staple up without plates where we would insulate by leaving 2 inches on top of the batting so we could warm up the small air space and let that heat the floor. Now that I'm using plates is it better to push up the batting all the way or is there benefit to leaving the 2 inch gap still??

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Tim Doran

Insulation

Hi Wayne,
Nice to meet you at the gathering. When using plates it is best to insulate up tight to them. No air space is required.

Tim D.

Wayco Wayne

Thanks for

the fast response Tim. Good to meet you also. It's funny being able to put faces to the names out there. I'll bet when we go to the next Wetstock, no one will recognise me without my sling.

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mike terry

shiny layer

Im finishing up my first staple up job.ITs in my home,i used heat tranfer plates i have been putting batts of r19 and probably haveing so spaces with a 2 inch gap and some with no gap at all. is that layer of reflective substance gonna make a huge differance?.....i guess i need to start a new thread in this one

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Insulating Plates

You want to stop convection as much as possible. Rigid insulation is preferable to fiberglass as the glass still lets air flow.

The most effective insulation will be narrow strips between the tubes and a full sheet over this.

If you insulate away from the plates, some of the heat that previously traveled to the floor via conduction will have to get there via convection--this slows the process remarkably and results in a lower ultimate surface temperature.