radiant heat Zoning options?

[bschwein]

I'm working on a 2 zone barn/office layout. What's the pros and cons by zoning with valves vs pumps vs telestats? I've also been researching condensing boilers from Hydro Smart and American. Some of the other well know brands I've seen mentioned on this forum are a bit out of my price range. Appreciate any feedback on boilers as well. Propane will be my heat source.

I installed LoopCad and have some rough estimates from it i can include for anyone willing to provide some feedback.

thanks
BJ

 

[stingry]

I have a 3600 sq ft shop with two zones. I have two grundfus pumps with a taco two zone controller with an air temp thermostat I use a 75 gallon 75k btu commercial water heater. I have been up and running for a month and it has ran flawlessly. The taco controller will prioritize zones if wanted.

 

[bschwein]

I have a 3600 sq ft shop with two zones. I have two grundfus pumps with a taco two zone controller with an air temp thermostat I use a 75 gallon 75k btu commercial water heater. I have been up and running for a month and it has ran flawlessly. The taco controller will prioritize zones if wanted.

thanks for the feedback. Is your water heater made for radiant use or just what you felt like would work for your needs?

 

[stingry]

thanks for the feedback. Is your water heater made for radiant use or just what you felt like would work for your needs?

It is an AO Smith powervent water heater. It is expressly approved for combination water heating, meaning space heating and domestic hot water. From what I can interpret from the literature, it isn’t expressly approved for space heating only. My system is what would be called an open system. My shop has its own well, which I use for irrigation, floor heat and water for the bathroom in my shop. I do not use the water for drinking because the well is old and not up to current codes.

I do have a friend who heats his 2800 sq ft shop with radiant floor heat using a 40 gallon nat gas domestic water heater. It has been in service for 5 years with no problems. He does use antifreeze in his system.

I live in western Nebraska where below zero temps are not uncommon

 

[chinboys]

Regardless of controlling your two zones via pumps, zone valves, and telestats, you must thermo break the two zones otherwise via heat transfer via conduction, convection and radiation.
I have a 4 zone PEX zone in my upstairs bedrooms and bathroom controlled by zone values, 4 Nest thermostats and an adaptive pump. Eventually, I end up heating the other rooms closest to the one I am heating because they all share a common floor and wall and joist system.
It isn't a big deal but that is the nature of slow and steady "radiant" floor heating.
Also, I know if I went with radiators instead of PEX... then the lack of a thermo break condition would not factor in.

I use a DHW combo, condensing and modulating boiler from Triangle Tube to heat my 9 thermostats and zoned control home.

 

[bschwein]

thanks for the feedback

 

[bschwein]

It is an AO Smith powervent water heater. It is expressly approved for combination water heating, meaning space heating and domestic hot water. From what I can interpret from the literature, it isn’t expressly approved for space heating only. My system is what would be called an open system. My shop has its own well, which I use for irrigation, floor heat and water for the bathroom in my shop. I do not use the water for drinking because the well is old and not up to current codes.

I do have a friend who heats his 2800 sq ft shop with radiant floor heat using a 40 gallon nat gas domestic water heater. It has been in service for 5 years with no problems. He does use antifreeze in his system.

I live in western Nebraska where below zero temps are not uncommon

thanks. I enjoy western Nebraska. Been out there on a few turkey hunts.