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What's wrong with this picture?

cabowen
cabowen Member Posts: 20
edited January 2019 in Radiant Heating

I came across this estimator for heat loss in a home. If the max output recommended for infloor radiant is 35 btu/hr per sq ft, then it would seem that infloor radiant would not be enough to heat a home in most of the US....!!!

Comments

  • 1Matthias
    1Matthias Member Posts: 148
    Wowza. I've seen some bad info on the net before, but...wowza.
    CanuckercabowenRich_49rick in Alaska
  • cabowen
    cabowen Member Posts: 20
    LOL, yeah, it must be published by the heating oil industry.....

    Maybe someone can clarify something for me...when calculating square footage of a home for heat loss estimate purposes, does one use just the foot print, or add in square footage of the (heated) basement and second floor? I have seen both and would think that just the food print wouldn't sufficient...Thanks.
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,506
    Probably not updated since the 1920's
    steve
    IronmanRich_49
  • GroundUp
    GroundUp Member Posts: 1,889
    Square footage of the footprint is nearly irrelevant in heat loss calculations. 1000 sq ft with 8 foot ceilings and no windows will not have the same loss as 1000 sq ft with 20 ft ceilings and 200 sq ft of glass. Each surface (wall, floor, ceiling) has its own loss whether to outdoors or to the ground below which are calculated individually and eventually the cubic footage of the entire area is added in to get to the final product
    BrewbeerGordyIronmanRich_49
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    In other words, just do the freakin' heat loss calculation already!
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    ratiocabowen
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    It’s for boiler sizing only. That way you are always sure that it’s not the boilers fault. 200k boiler with 60k radiant emitter potential. :(
    cabowen
  • 1Matthias
    1Matthias Member Posts: 148

    Probably not updated since the 1920's

    I've worked on houses from 1899 that have had lower figures than this suggests. This is just silly.
    cabowen
  • rick in Alaska
    rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,457
    You can tell this is from a long time ago. Alaska and Hawaii are not even on the map!!!
    Sigh.
    Rick
    ratio1MatthiasErin Holohan HaskellKNPV_PSD