radiant heated floor

[bostssgt]

i plan to heat my 36x40 16ft ceilling garage with a radiant floor with an electric 40 gal water heater

is that enough powerful? the winters here are cold, from 0deg C to -30 deg C... i want to keep the shop at 12 to 15 deg

 

[koditten]

I don't see that working too good for you. You must be in Canada.

That is a pretty big area to heat with limited BTU's.

Gonna be a huge elec bill.

Others will chime in.

 

[tdkkart]

i plan to heat my 36x40 16ft ceilling garage with a radiant floor with an electric 40 gal water heater

is that enough powerful? the winters here are cold, from 0deg C to -30 deg C... i want to keep the shop at 12 to 15 deg

Simply put, no.
Without discussion about the suitability of a "water heater" as a heat source, the simple fact is that a 40 gallon heater cannot produce enough BTU's to heat your space. As far as I know, all residential electric water heaters use (2) 4500 watt elements. Even if you wire them together for 9000w you still don't have enough BTU's for your space.

You'll need to look into an electric boiler.

 

[philjafo]

Simply put, no.
Without discussion about the suitability of a "water heater" as a heat source, the simple fact is that a 40 gallon heater cannot produce enough BTU's to heat your space. As far as I know, all residential electric water heaters use (2) 4500 watt elements. Even if you wire them together for 9000w you still don't have enough BTU's for your space.

You'll need to look into an electric boiler.

Yeah what he said, also unless someone else is paying the electric bill I would highly recommend Nat gas or propane. The initial cost is higher but radiant floor is best if kept at a constant temp and electric is the most expensive heat. It's also cheaper to do something right the first time then it is to redo it in a few years because your unhappy with the systems performance.

 

[bostssgt]

thank you guys!
i'm in Quebec Canada, price of gaz/petrol/wood/ect... is high, and the difference between electricity and others energy source is not so big

i will look for an electric boiler

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

First, let us start with - dare I suggest - a proper heat load analysis. This is the only way for the layman or professional to size a boiler for the best results.

 

[Highbeam]

First, let us start with - dare I suggest - a proper heat load analysis. This is the only way for the layman or professional to size a boiler for the best results.

A guy needs to know how much heat he will need when selecting the heating equipment for sure. Maybe you can even hire a fancy company to do it for you.

Please post back. It will be interesting to see what btu rate you actually need and how close the water heater was.

I do not buy into the theory that electric is always the most costly. In many areas, mine included, electric is the same or cheaper than other fuels on a btu basis.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

My esteemed colleague is correct. We just finished a design for a client in Quebec.

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/statistics/cices06/chapter6.cfm?attr=0

We, and I personally, use electric boilers with weather sensitive controls increasing comfort and efficiency at once.

 

[bostssgt]

i emailed a company for a heat load analys and they estimated for all the stuff needed...

Une chaudière électriques de marque Thermolec d’une capacité de 18 KW modulante en rapport avec la température extérieure;

18kwatts with modulating temp

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

What I said in French...cool. hehhhehe

 

[jayoldschool]

Hydro is sooooo cheap in QC.

BTW, that is the exact size of my garage that is radiant heated. Oil fired boiler. Garage is insulated R40.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

The Thermolec quoted is likely 3x too big for the load, but we install Thermolec electric boilers here in the States and you are on the right track. Find a good heat load, they look like this: