Radiant Baseboard Panels

Andrew_5

Has anybody used these type of thin baseboard radiant panels:

<a href = "http://www.pathcom.com/~kovacs/rescom2100.htm"> Rescom 2100 </a><p>
<a href = "http://www.aimradiantheating.com/store/slimline.html"> AIM Radiant </a><p>
<a href = "http://www.hydronicalternatives.com/html/radiantpanel.html"> Hydronic Alternatives </a><p>

I understand that if run at 180F, there is a burn risk for the very young and elderly, but what if they are run at 160F, like the Rescom 2100 recommends? What about expansion noise, anybody care to comment on that? How do they look, with different splice plates, going around corners, etc? I like the concept of radiant panels that look like baseboard, but am worried about some of the potential drawbacks, and any comments would be appreciated. The other option I have explored is narrow profile fin-tube, although I would prefer a radiant solution over convective.

<a href="http://www.sterlingheat.com/html/designline.htm">Sterling Design Line<a><p>

Thanks

joel_19

panels

I have these in my home. They look very good if that really low profile is a must. I also have installed them in customers homes. The 180f thing isn't a problem, cast iron, steam, runtal ,Buderous all get hot like that.I wouldn't worry about the kids. You must cover all the walls inside an outside ,you must run a sophisticated weather responsive controll. I run a Viessman for two temps and a Tekmar for a third curve trying to even things out and stop the noise. If doing it again I'd use fosta pex over regullar pex to help with exspansion. No matter what you'll still get exspansion noise. I'd prefer 2 tube high runtal myself i think it looks better and your heat output is greater as you have more mass. That way you can cover just the outside walls and still lower your water temps even further for greater eff.

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Andrew_6

Joel, thanks for the feedback. I'd really prefer not to have expansion noise, and really high-tech controls wouldn't make sense since most of the rest of the house will still be conventional cast iron rads. That's why I was considering fin tube with constant circulation, or these baseboard panels with constant circulation.

As far as the Runtal, which ones do you mean by the two-tube rads, the ones that are two small flat plates on the front, about 8" high, I think? The drawback of the Runtal rads, of course, are the high prices.