Radiant floor heat filling question

[bloomingtonmike]

Do you have to have water at the building for radiant floor heat? Trying to envision how you fill it without water at the shop.

 

[Rookie2]

I used distilled water and antifreeze,and pumped it in with a drill pump with garden hose fittings. you'll still get air and need an air scrubber at the top of the plumbing system. Then top it off until it works the air out.

 

[mygarageone]

You don't need distilled water but anti freeze is a good idea . A drill pump won't build enough pressure for the system . You'll need 12 lbs if it's a closed system .
You can rent a transfer pump from a rental shop .
You can over pressurize the system to allow for the air loss and when the system is at proper operation you can drop the pressure down to 12 lbs but you can operate at higher pressures with no problems but I would stay at 15 lbs - 12 lbs.
Last thing don't not introduce any antifreeze until the system is up and running properly.

 

[sprntpshr]

I used a jet pump the kind you use for water service if you have a cistern, set up on a garbage barrel. Plumbed the return to the barrel, once the system was filled and bled out then use a 20 gal bladder tank to supply antifreeze/water mix to keep the system topped off.

Without any leaks, haven't had to add any for 2 years. There isn't water to the shop so far but summer isn't over yet. There is a bathroom and sink that will need water eventually.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

Distilled water is unnecessary and is not recommended in hydronic heating system as is the case with soft water. Hard water and a properly inhibited propylene glycol (never auto anti-freeze) will serve best in most of the buildings listed here.

12psi is and old-school standard, like the 20 degree delta T. The system pressure should match the expansion tank pressure, 5 is plenty depending on the height of the system and the heat source.