Custom made radiant heat panel?

Cyclist77 · January 29

So since my background is woodworking/finish carpentry I had a crazy idea. Why not fabricate a radiant heat panel for a wall? Use plywood with the appropriate size groove for the pex and cover it with sheet aluminum and set it a nice frame. Rigid insulation on the backside.

Crazy idea??

mattmia2 · January 29

There are systems to do that. It is typically just put under the finished wall material. The output per square ft of radiant isn't a lot so you typically need to cover most of the walls or ceiling.

Larry Weingarten · January 29

Hi, You might get more output with solar panel tubing. Just guessing though.

Yours, Larry

DCContrarian · January 29

Almost all radiant heat panels are custom made.

I'd say that Warmboard is probably the state of the art, look at their design for inspiration.

hot_rod · January 29

Yes plenty of people have made custom radiators or radiant panels.

Here are a few of mine.

If it doesn't move, I'll turn it into a radiator!

ceiling radiant.png

Screenshot 2025-01-22 at 1.43.50 PM.png

Screenshot 2025-01-29 at 3.32.08 PM.png

Screenshot 2025-01-29 at 3.34.11 PM.png

Screenshot 2025-01-29 at 3.34.22 PM.png

Screenshot 2025-01-29 at 3.34.59 PM.png

copper harp.png

Cyclist77 · January 29

I guess my idea isn't too crazy!

DCContrarian · January 30

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1838821#Comment_1838821

I particularly like the dog and the harp.

hot_rod · January 30

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1838878#Comment_1838878

I moved that 400 lb dog across the west a few times. The last move broke several legs and was the end of an era.

It was actually connected to the homemade electric boiler in that desk, standing on a piece of Warmboard, as a working display at the RPA event in Salt Lake, many years ago. The desk, dog and Warmboard were all heating.

psb75 · January 30

"Dog and Harp" would be a good name for an Irish pub.

psb75 · January 30

I think the pub would benefit greatly with both, heated dog and harp.

GroundUp · January 30

How coincidental that "your idea" popped into your head immediately after someone showed you the exact same thing in their own home on your last post.

Cyclist77 · January 30

Went back and looked. I missed that reply! That idea is using wood as a finished surface I am thinking metal sheet either steel or aluminum.

So a question I have is what thickness? Is it possible to go too thick?

Thanks!

hot_rod · January 30

if you use a thin aluminum or sheet metal you need to lock it into the wood framing so it cannot move around.

Thin metal tends to warp and wrinkle as temperature changes. The thin, flashing thickness transfer plates tend to make an “oil canning” noise unless they are securely fastened into an assembly.

I have seen some wood radiant products with aluminum foil thickness, that might be pushing it.

Some studies show the thicker extruded plates move the heat out to the edges better.

Radiant Design in Bozeman is one of the original designers/ manufacturers of extruded plates. He has test data at his site.

When it comes to conduction, copper is king, as Larry has shown. Unless you have access to so goals sheets.

Custom made radiant heat panel?

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