Rubber Smell

J Matthers_2

I have radiant in Warmboard. In one room I am getting a "hot rubber smell" and have attributed it to chemicals in a wool area rug that my wife loves and won't do without. At first I thought there was a rubber backing but it is all fiber. The rug smells like rubber - must be chemical. However, I realized that when laying the tube in the Warmboard, My helper grabed the wrong caulk and the tube was put in with latex caulk and not silicone. As soon as I saw his mistake it was corrected and this was the only room with the latex. Has anyone experienced somthing like this? I'm wondering if it is perhaps the latex that the smell is coming from and it has imparted it on the rug. If I can talk the wife into removing the carpet for a while, perhaps I can narrow things down.

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Tell us

what temperatures you are running through the Warmboard; probably quite high with that wool carpet, huh?

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JimGPE_3

Suggestion:

Can you squirt some of the "wrong" caulk on a piece of hot water piping in the basement and let it cure for a few days, then take a sniff? That should tell you if it is the caulk off-gassing.

J Matthers_2

caulk

I have geo so the water is 125 max. It is only a 6x4 carpet, so it does not cover the whole floor. I attempted to explain the r-factor and the carpets effect on the radiant, but my lovely wife didn't want to hear it...she likes the rug.

My next step in the process of elimination is to test the caulk. At the same time, when we go skiing next week I think I'll remove the carpet just before we leave.I'll give the room a sniff test when we return.

By the way, my helper when the tube went in was my ten year old son. I really couldn't get down on him. One of these days I'll post the pics of him laying down tube with me. He is now 12 and leaning over my sholder correcting my spelling.