Radiant under floor

Steve_75

I have heard that,under hard wood floors,running the tubing about 2-3 inches down on the joist with refelective foil and insulation was better then directly under the floor using the aluminum plates . The theroy being that this creates a more uniform heat space with the insulation holding the heat in. I plan to insulate and use reflective foil regardless but the idea of not creating heat spots is appealing under the hard wood. One other question - anyone put radiant heat under bamboo floors?
Thanks

Mike T., Swampeast MO

A suspended tube application does result in more even heat distribution, but the real problem is getting sufficient heat out of the system. Foil facing sounds like a good idea, but unfortunately it tends to get dusty--greatly reducing its ability to reflect radiant energy.

Bamboo flooring is an extremely stable product very well-suited to underfloor heating.

Steve_75

Thanks for the input. For now I have used the plates under the tile bathroom - any other thoughts on direct to floor vs attached to the joist?

Cosmo_3

No worries

Use the plates, and make sure to use outdoor reset to control water temps and you will never have a problem. Make sure to include a floor sensor to control (limit) heat when heat gain such as the sun, and/or recessed lights, fireplaces etc is present. Make sure your floor surface temp required at design temp is less than 80 degrees F. Don't worry....get Educated!


Cosmo Valavanis
Dependable PHC Inc

Jed_2

85°F is O.K.

As long as the wood flooring is properly acclimated. If it's Engineered flooring, all the better.

jed

hr

Quality transfer plates

8" on center provide a good temperature spread. Constant circ with resert control makes a sweet system.

Thicker gauge transfer plates, better move the heat to the outer edges of the plate than thin flashing gauge material. They also contact the floor better and encase the tube tightly. All these features are important to move the heat from the fluid stream to the floor panel efficiently!


Looking at the required temperature difference between suspended and transfer plates can help with your decesion.

There is a time and place for suspended tube. Save the suspended tube for applications requiring below 15 BTU/ ft. output, in my opinion.

Good for floor warming zones running off a hw baseboard system where you already have the needed temperature to drive it

hot rod

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Cosmo_3

Yes 85 is the limit

Set by the hardwood flooring institute, however I have yet to design a floor temp this high. When I need a surfce temp of over 80F I then look to adding more heat, such as radiant in the wall, or a panel rad.

The best heat transfer plates I have found so far are from Thermofin. However when not available in time for a quick job Wirsbo Joist Trak also a good product thought not as thick as the Thermofin.


Cosmo Valavanis
Dependable PHC Inc