Radiantec floor heat

[Kapt]

I just got my quote from Radiantec and I'm looking for general feedback on your experience with them. I would be getting everything I need except for the hot water heater for about 1000$ (600sq ft).

Also, can a wheelbarrow full of concrete be wheeled over the PEX tubing without damage to the tubing, especially if I put a temporary plywood path over it? I have some concrete access issues.

TIA

 

[ModSquad]

if your gonna use a wheel barrow, use planks of wood or sheets of plywood for your pathways to dristribute the weight across the tube and you should be ok..

what does your 1000$ quote include? I am in the process of doing mine now, same size, so far I have 400$ worth of radiant tube (600 ft), 650$ for 2" styrospan insulation that goes under your slab and vapor barrier.. I paid 130$ for a brand new instant water heater that'll be used instead of hot water tank or boiler..

Left on the list, I need a circulating pump, about 100$, expansion tank, Thermostat, the actual Glycol, some specific ends(pressure release, etc..) some copper tube to make the manifolds etc.. I'm guessing I need another 1 to 200$ to finish..

so if 1000$ you mean everything except the styrospan, your probably close..

 

[EvilEye]

What does it include???

Manifolds, circulator, themostat, expansiion tank,

Post thequote or a list of what your getting.

It could be good or not so good

 

[kid]

As Modsquad stated, if you use plywood or planks layed ofer the pex, youl be fine. pex is some tuff stuff.
I talked to Radiantec when planning my shop, but ended up building my own manifolds.
Hey Modsquad, you might rethink using the instant hot water heater, will be running constantly. The hot water tank will work great, the 40 gal. resevoir helps to store the heat.
By the way, Graingers sells the Grundofs circulation pumps, mine was about $85.00 & uses only 65 watts. (pushing 900 ft of pex) They also sell a "auto fill" expansion tank that is a trick set up (less than 50 bucks)

 

[z28toz06]

can we see quote?

 

[Kapt]

Here's what was sent from Radiantec:

Underfloor Heating Materials:
600' 1/2 PEX tubing (2-300' coils) $252.00
2 circuit manifold with supply and return ball valves $209.00

Controls and Mechanicals:
SP-81 relay box $64.00
Azel digital thermometer $28.00
3/4" plumbing mechanical package- includes
drain valve, supply valve, ball valve, air
eliminator, pressure gauge, expansion tank,
pressure relief valve, zone distribution
manifold. $299.00
Medium head cast iron pump with flanges $127.00
Closed system package which includes:
3/4" ball valves, 2 drain valves, digital temp
display, 2-FIP tees, 2-3/4" male adaptors and
Schrader valve with bushing. $100.00
Shipping $150.00



Go to the Radiantec website and download their installation manual (installation supplement 230) for an explanation of these parts and how they fit together for a closed system.

 

[mjribeiro]

I'm into Radiantec for $3000 so far, and my system is not yet complete. I still need all of the pumps, manifolds, and oh yeah....a boiler.
Some of the stuff you can likely source elsewhere for less. But they're a good shop. There's a guy there named Mike who seems to know his stuff......

 

[ModSquad]

Kid, That's good info from Grainger thanks. I got a shop local here, I'll go check that out..

the instant heater I figured would work like the boiler is why I got it. if it doesn't work, then I'll swap it out for something else... I've heard the 40 gal hot water tanks don't work that well, unless you modify it of course cause the elements aren't made for heating the water "that" hot. but I've heard if you modify them they work really well.. we'll have to wait and see.

Like I said, I'll swap it out if it doesn't work. for the price, I thought I'd try it out, there were no water heaters available at the time when I was looking

 

[z28toz06]

I dont think any but the largest electric hot water heaters are going to recover fast enough to keep your garage warm, let alone an instant unit. Can you use propane?

 

[robr2]

I just got my quote from Radiantec and I'm looking for general feedback on your experience with them. I would be getting everything I need except for the hot water heater for about 1000$ (600sq ft).

Also, can a wheelbarrow full of concrete be wheeled over the PEX tubing without damage to the tubing, especially if I put a temporary plywood path over it? I have some concrete access issues.

TIA

Will you be getting the concrete deliverd or mixing it yourself? If it is the former, it may be worthwhile having a pumper come as well. With a pumper you're not paying guys to run back and forth with wheelbarrows and risking damage to both property and people.

Have you considered using electric radiant instead? It eliminates the need for a boiler and the maintenance and in your climate may not cost a fortune to run.

 

[Brian]

I have a Radiantec open direct retrofit system I installed in 2003. The Pex tubing is stapled under the floor boards and I use a standard 50 gal natural gas water heater for both home heating and domestic hot water.
The system works very well, only occasionally does the water heater have a hard time keeping up, (cold outside temperature plus heavy hot water use).

My only real complaint is that some of the off the shelf plumbing fittings included were not of the best quality and I ended up replacing them.
I would recommend passing on the mechanical package. Instead just get the specialty stuff from them and the standard valves and fittings locally.

 

[dsherw00d]

Hello, My first post - been reading for months and finally joined. I recently completed my 20x36 office/shop with radiant floor heat from http://www.radiantcompany.com/. So far it's working great. I used 7/8" pex tubing (600') and a Tagaki on demand propane water heater. What I like is that they sent me a 3'x3' piece of plywood with all the controls, valves, etc all mounted, soldered, and ready to go. I just had to connect the hot water source to the nicely labeled connections. I also bought my manifold pre done with pressure test valve and all ready to go. Made the install easy. I did end up bending one of my turn to much and kinked it, but they include repair kits and all needed suplies. I bough the tagaki controller that allows me to adjust the temp from 99 degree all the way to I think 135 degrees with just the press of a button. It also shows me in/out temp, and flow rate. It's at 122 currently and heats great. I used 2" pink foam under the floor (the higher PSI stuff), then heavy wire mesh (3/8"). I also have R19 in the walls and 38 in the ceiling. The PEX is tough - I didn't use plywood when the cement was being broght in. The only thing to be carefull of is when they tip the barrel up - make sure it's not on a tube. Keep the repair kits handy just in case. Also, I kept the system pressurized to 50psi - it held for weeks before I finally let it out to hook up the supply. It still make me nervous to have my heat in the concrete, but I'm getting used to it. It's the perfect heat.

Everything but the heat source was just shy of $1000. The Tagaki, controller, vent tubing, vent, etc also came in just shy of $1000. I know a propane hot water heater would have been much cheaper up front, but I couldn't see keeping 40-50 gallons of water hot at all times when my system doesn't kick on that much.

-Dan