Book for radiant floor heating

[shamrock12]

I'm wondering if there is a good book that cover the design, site prep, layout setup, etc. of radiant floor heating systems that you would recommend?

 

[mwe3302]

Yes i too would like to know, i have a radiant system in my house and really have no clue how it really works, personally i think the system was not installed right.

 

[RPH]

Modern Hydronic Heating (Third Edition)
by John Siegenthaler
Considered one of the best but pricey.

 

[Perryk]

http://www.radiantcompany.com/

These guys were very helpful with my buddies build. Sent him a how to manual with an actual PAPER quote for materials and shipping.

I recommend giving them a call before buying a book.

HTH

 

[jack stand]

http://www.greenbuildingtalk.com/Forums.aspx
Another forum with folks that know their stuff, ya got to join to ask questions. Your starting out in the right direction. I am completely enjoying my first radiant system and after installing it my self, I'm really glad that I had they whole system designed by a radiant design Co.! (and they were not selling their parts) Radiant heating is not rocket science but once it'' in the concrete............ But know matter what you do it all starts with heat load calcs. And don't skimp on the under-slab insulation!

 

[mx842]

I'm wondering if there is a good book that cover the design, site prep, layout setup, etc. of radiant floor heating systems that you would recommend?

Most of those reference type books are pretty pricey and it always seems to me that some of my questions never get addressed. I guess it's hard to pack every nick and cranny in any one book. The problem is that what may work well in VA may well not work very well up your way.

I started out with no intentions of doing in-floor heat when I started getting my slab ready to pour then one rainy day when I couldn't work outside I was pecking around on the internet looking at heating and plumbing options and I started reading about floor heating and after asking about a million questions on forums like this I decided to go that route.

Of-course that meant I would have to do some real sole searching about how I was going to come up with the extra money to do it and that would mean several more months delay in finishing my building. I decided to take the money needed to buy the things I would need to get the floor ready anyway, rebar, stone for backfill, vapor barrier, and then add in the insulation. I was at a point where it was not a big problem adding the foam board to the side walls so I didn't have a problem there other than the great big ol hole in my pocketbook. I guess the insulation took one of the largest bites out of my budget next to the pex tubing itself.

I didn't know anything about this at all when I started but now I feel pretty comfortable that when done I'll have a workable, user friendly system that will keep me nice and toasty during the long days of winter while I work and play in my barn. I guess what I'm saying, there is tons and tons of free information on the internet all you have to do is look for it and ask lots of questions in places like this. Heck! in a few days you could probably dig up enough information to write your own book if you wanted to and make some big bucks to help pay for your heating system.

I'll start you off this is an index I found that will take you to useful information about the different parts of this type heating from start to end. This ought to keep you busy for a day or two.

http://www.radiantdesigninstitute.com/page2.html

Good luck and keep us posted of how you progress.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

I have all the books currently available and have advised many on their relevance. Unfortunately it takes some experience to sort out a great book like "Modern Hydronic Heating" as it is a comprehensive text.

All proper radiant floor heating designs start with a proper room-by-room heat load, performed on dedicated software by an experienced designer.

The heat load dictates (or confirms) the type of radiant panel, effective design water temperature, tube diameter, length and flow.

Buyer beware. The many on-line companies have limited resources both in product and knowledge. Every shoe salesman will first put you in the shoe they have on the shelf.

 

[shamrock12]

Thanks everyone for great info! Just a question though ... the shop will have 14 feet ceiling, so we're thinking about installing a couple ceiling fans. So for a shop equipped with radiant floor heating system, should the fan be running to create a down draft (blowing air down) or up draft (sucking air up)?

 

[tdkkart]

You don't want ceiling fans in a floor radiant heated space, all you'll do is create a draft. Floor heat is the one place where the ceiling will NOT be warmer than the floor, believe it or not. The heat radiates from the floor, meaning the further you are from it the cooler you will be.

 

[shamrock12]

I thought I heard somewhere not to use the fans with radiant floor heat but wasn't sure. That is a good thing to know.

Just curious, if the shop is equipped with propane/natural gas heater unit hung below the ceiling, should the fans be running to create DOWN draft (normal fan direction) or UP draft (reverse fan direction)?

Thanks!

 

[Jackfre]

I have all the books currently available and have advised many on their relevance. Unfortunately it takes some experience to sort out a great book like "Modern Hydronic Heating" as it is a comprehensive text.

All proper radiant floor heating designs start with a proper room-by-room heat load, performed on dedicated software by an experienced designer.

The heat load dictates (or confirms) the type of radiant panel, effective design water temperature, tube diameter, length and flow.

Buyer beware. The many on-line companies have limited resources both in product and knowledge. Every shoe salesman will first put you in the shoe they have on the shelf.

As usual, Badger has it right. The devil is in the details. I think many of the on-line vendors can make it work. Get a pro and he can make a system sing. I guess the analogy I use is if you want to go racing, don't have rebuild your motor. I can do it but, well, you get it! With a pro, you will actually end up with a "real" boiler with the on board controls to get the most out of the system comfort wise and return on investment wise.

Spend some time at Rehau's site and Uponor's site. There is a lot of info on tubing design, selection and lay-out. Enjoy your research!

 

[Jackfre]

....That is, don't have it re-built by me

 

[Stee6043]

Another great site that frequently discusses in-floor heating:

http://www.hearth.com/talk/