radiant heat under the floor

RoosterBoy

hi i was wonder if this would work if puting PEX-AL-PEX tubing under my floor joices but under the floor 2" so the tubing dose not touch the sub floor then put a Reflectix Insulation under it so it's like im makeing heated foor ducts and the insulation will send the heat back up.

im just worried that if i staple it directly to the subfloor that i will get strips on my hardwood floor

here i just found this website http://www.aimradiantheating.com/store/underfloor.html

just like that. will that be ok? i want to ask the pros here first insted of takeing the companys word for it

thanks

Unknown

That depends

First off, you need R value under tubing hung that way, not just reflective insulation. Reflective insulation loses reflectivity over time as dust accumulates on it. Also its R value isn't the greatest and is not adequate especially if you are over an unheated space.

Secondly, it's very possible that this installation method is not good enough to meet a decent heat load. Don't know what your heat load is so it's hard to say. It also requires very hot water temperatures which can be bad for all kind of things like joists, subfloors, or flooring.

Third, you are better off using some kind of aluminum transfer plate 90% of the time. These are questions a proper heat load calculation can answer for you, however. Which should *always* be done before you install a single foot of pipe. Radiant is an investment.. even cheap radiant is an investment.. and you don't want it wasted by installing a system that does not work.

Long story short, suspended tube is the weakest, least efficient form of radiant there is. It can work, but it should only be used if you can verify that it's ok for your installation. A good rule of thumb I feel is 15 BTUs/sq ft heat load or less, under tile or wood. Less for carpet. And if your loads are that low, consider radiant ceiling instead, it'll probably be cheaper and better and your floors aren't going to be "toasty" at those low heatloads anyway.

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hr

Check the Wirsbo

sizing tables for suspended tube. They allow you to chose floor covering r-value. Very important!

I feel their tables and output figures are fairly realistic. None of that 40 btu/ ft claim

hot rod

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RoosterBoy

what should i go with

what would you recommend for me im having my buderus boiler installed with hydro air my new part of the house that needs to be heated is 24x24 with 4 3x3ft windows and 1 slider 6x6ft r19 in the wall and r19 in the attic should I go with under the floor or baseboard or ceiling heat
I cant run duct work on that side and im getting a boiler so I may as well make good use of it if I go baseboard I need low profile and I need to paint it a wood color

thanks

hr

What's the space

going to be used for? floor coverings? Need ac ability?

I'm not a huge fan of radiant floors covered with carpet. If tile or wood are the floor coverings I always prefer radiant.

I'm not sure radiant floors in a bedroom are needed. Considering all the furnishings, bed, dressers, etc I like a fast responding easily setback baseboard system.

Regardless have a heatloss calc done to assure the system you chose will comfortably heat the space.

hot rod

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