Rugs and Radiant ??

Frank_3

I think the final answer is to look for either slab rubber or frothed polyurethane. These links give some information but I've tried internet searches previously without too much luck.

<a href="http://www.pmmag.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/0,2379,4625,00.html" target="_blank">Carpet and Radiant Heat</a>

<a href="http://www.cpninc.com/radiantfloorheating/accessories.html#5" target="_blank">Infloor Carpet Cushion, R .31</a>

<a href="http://www.carpet-rug.com/drill_down_2.cfm?page=6&sub=9" target="_blank">Carpet Cushion Council, telephone number</a>

<a href="http://www.pmmag.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/0,2379,4439,00.html" target="_blank">Radiant Trends, mentions R .2 padding</a>

ScottMP

rug pad

We installed a nice radiant floor for a customer in a solarium last summer. Do to all the glass I designed runtal panels with a two stage thermosate.

Much to my dismay when I returned a few months later there was a large rug covering the floor.

Now its the middle of a cold spell and the room is having a hard time , no big supprise.

The owner would of course really like to keep her rug. Its a coarse open weave type of rug. The under pad is a thick felt style.

What could I recommend to replace the pad ?

I would like to see the rug go away completly but would a different pad help ?

I know some one has the answer.

Thanks

Scott

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Boonierat

Rug pad

Mr. Milne:
I just ran a Radiantworks calc on your scenario.
I went from a hardwood floor at 97 degrees to..........
Thick carpet and a 1/2" thk. hair/jute pad and the water temp jacked up to 161, still satisfyting the load. I switched the pad construction to bonded urethane at 4Lb./Cu.Ft. density and the water temp slid down to 147, same thickness. Carpet I selected was 3/4" thick nylon level loop, 86 tufts @ Sq. In. 1/8" dia. If you have Radiantworks I can e-mail an attachement to you so you can view the actual scenario.
Looks like bonded urethane might be the less of all evils.
Carpeting is not fun in radiant but do-able. I used a make believe 24 x 24 room with 48 linear feet of exposed wall, 2 x 6 construction, 30 square feet of thermopane glass and one outside door. 8' ceiling height, standard junk.
Let me know if I can be of further help,
Nels

hot_rod

Area rugs dilema

Same experience here. Problem is the rug only covered part of the tiled concrete slab. I bumped the temperature but the tile area around the rug were much too hot to be comfortable.

We reached some middle ground by removing the pad altogether. As I understand it the pad extends the life of the carpet, mainly. Important feature, no doubt, with expensive collector type rugs.

At some point the homeowner has to make a choice, either bring the floor coverings back to design spec, add additional heat, or adjust the carpet and pad.

Take a copy of the design from Radiant Works, or whoever's software you prefer and show them the difference from a "numbers" standpoint.

In my case the husband, an architect, understood the concept and negotiated a floor covering adjustment with his wife Better him than me!!

hot rod

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ScottMP

Thank You Frank

The P+M article is a good start.

Scott

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GH

RUG OVER RADIANT

I am reminded about a job that is a staple up and this happend also.
because the plywood puts up such resistance to heat the room was
trying hard to heat even with the larger boiler. Than carpet was installed
with out a pad and it was hopeless. We took the system out and at the
time we pumped gyp . Put the same carpet back in and it worked fine.
This also allowed us to turn the water temp down at the boiler 20%
this saved the project .