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Domestic water lines in a radiant slab

I have been searching for information on installing pex domestic water lines in a radiant slab on top of the insulation and wire. Will this adversely affect the temperature of the hot and cold water. I would think with domestic flow rate at 60 psi through a 1/2" pex line and a relatively short run of 30' the cold water from the utility and the hot water from the tank should be within a couple of degrees at the point of use. Have any of you out there had any experience with this?
Thank you

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,162
    I've never been much of a fan of water lines in or under a slab -- not because of the temperature problems; you are right in that after you run the water for a minute or two it will drop or rise to be pretty close to the source -- but because if anything goes wrong with the line at some future point, you have no good choices as to repair.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Jean-David Beyer
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    See it done all the time
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,561
    It makes sense to insulate the lines otherwise it is not a problem.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
    RobG
  • Jon Poland
    Jon Poland Member Posts: 9
    Worried the thickness of the insulation will lead to future cracks in the floor
  • Jon Poland
    Jon Poland Member Posts: 9
    I've talked to a fellow contractor that said he heard of a case of the hot water not getting hot enough on a long run?
  • sonofaplumber
    sonofaplumber Member Posts: 52
    The cold water does come out quite warm for ~2 seconds (15' run) with 1/2" pex. Never really cools off to the 45 deg ground water temp either.

    I don't mind it but if the dog could talk I bet he'd tell you he doesn't really like his water bowl luke warm.

    If your concerned with it just insulate the cold line.

    -Joel
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,561
    I would not run it in the slab. It will exchange heat for sure. Just trench it in the insulation underneath...
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
    SWEIGordyRobG
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,021
    usually there is a drain line running to where the water lines are headed. and they are in the gravel below the slab, run the pex water alongside the drain lines.

    At the very least below the foam insulation.

    If you run them in the slab you end up with lines crossing over one another, and with insulation it is up into the slab too much.

    Insulation tends to make them float in the concrete pour also, really fasten them down if you go that route.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,162
    Gordy said:

    See it done all the time

    True. So do I. I still don't like it!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,722
    There was someone recently with a thread about this very topic.
    http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/154967/takes-too-long-to-get-hot-water#latest
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546

    Gordy said:

    See it done all the time

    True. So do I. I still don't like it!

    Jamie I'm not a fan unless there is no other way which is far, and few in between.

    If it were me, and no other way I would sleeve the lines so if there is future problems a new one could be pulled, with no fittings buried either, and insulate it. Being it will be pex.
    Ironman
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,273
    I agree with Gordy! One way is to use PVC electrical conduit to make a chase you can pull insulated line/s through, under the slab. This will likely become plumbing code someday and it makes future repair simple. Thermal performance will be better also.

    Yours, Larry
    Brewbeer
  • Jean-David Beyer
    Jean-David Beyer Member Posts: 2,666
    I have hot and cold water lines in my radiant on grade slab. My house was built in 1950, so the heating and domestic water are all 1/2 inch copper. (Modifications not in the slab are now 3/4 inch copper for the most part.)

    I to not much care for it, because the cold water gets too hot in winter and the hot water comes out colder than it needs to mainly in the winter. I have a mixer valve from my indirect and I adjusted it to 125F so that it comes out at 120F at the nearest hot water outlet (my shower).

    If you have a choice, do not run your domestic water through the slab.