Slab installations

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to run basement heat in the summer? Doesn't seem like a good use of energy.

Consider a small dehumidifier instead. They do give off some heat, also if located in the space.

Sometimes it's nice to have a cool spot to hang out. My dogs and potatoes love the cool basement area of our home :)

hot rod

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Slab installations

My brother inlaw was up in Northern Wisconsin looking at new log homes. There is a very high end builder who is using all radiant.

He claims that the heated slab in summer will reduce the humidity in the basement if left on. Is this true?

ALH_3

Well

It will probably reduce the relative humidity since it will be pretty warm in that basement.

It won't actually remove any moisture from the air.

-Andrew

Constantin

Look here...

Have a look at this neat primer on construction by Building Science Corp.

I think you will find that insulating below the slab to decouple the slab or the floor from the ground will avoid the dampness issue without the need to resort to a dehumidifer or heating the slab in the summertime.

freon12

In theory he is probobly running the heat and making the a/c run more to dehumidify the basement.

I ran across a few house's that had such bad moisture in the basment and they had 4- 65 pint dehumidifiers running. so we installed a small evaporator and a contstatnt prssure expansion valve and set the coil for 33 deg. and we got about 15 gallons a day for the 1st week and it was alot quieter than 4 units running...

We removed the moisture for a price instead of the home owner figuring out where all the moisture is coming from... didnt want to ruin his landscaping...which seems to be the popular excuse.
After this guys house the word was out..and we did about 7 or 8 more after that...

Weezbo

you cannot water proof from within the envelope...

what i mean by that is a vapor barrier and waterproofing and then insulation then the slab is going to keep the wicking of water down to a dull roar. if it is Green crete get rid of the moisture to the space at that time to the best of your abilities...an erv or hrv ought to be able to keep the space healthy.... logs have moisture to be sure and take a while to "dry..."....years....that is because of the cellular structure of plants.if indeed he is a High end builder pumping heat to the floor in the basement sounds like an inappropriate response to the control stradgey of humidity .