Radiant Floor Heat in Alberta

[Lenny99]

I am planning an new 24 x 36 garage in Alberta. For those that have in floor heat do you have a secondary heat source ? What temp do you keep your in floor heat set to ?

 

[Firebrick43]

I do not have a secondary source. I filled my garage loops with antifreeze so if a door gets left open or the power is out for extended times there will be no harm

If a door is forgotten open no secondary heat source is going to keep water from freezing.
Garage floor at 50.

The houses floors are at 69 and have water in the main system. There is a plate type heat exchanger between that system and the garage loops

 

[chinboys]

You don't need a secondary heat source unless you are in a hurry to heat the air to 68 F as the thermal mass of the in-floor radiant system absorbing heat from your primary heat source will be adequate.

 

[ToolmanGary]

When I poured my floor in my new barn I put 2” of foam under the concrete and 2” of foam on the outside of the footings, doing this makes a big difference between the floor temperature of the two barns and that’s without the floor heat on.

 

[Ak Jim]

I don’t set the floor to a temp. I set a wall thermostat and the floor goes to what ever temp it needs to to maintain the room temperature that the thermostat is set to. Usually the floor is 1-2° warmer than the thermostat temperature. When it gets really cold, like -50°F it might be 4° warmer.

 

[Jackfre]

For that space in Alberta I would suggest a Rinnai EX-38 in either LP or NG. Not cheap, but nothing better. It will do the job should you choose not to go forward with the radiant.