In Floor heating questions

11 years ago

I perused the forums and the net but still have questions unanswered about in floor heating.

Well, I'm doing an addition. 2 Story. They are budgeting me for a new heat/ac system (that will cover about 750 sq ft) already. I have to decided before they call me back to add whatever and I was considering in floor heat in the bathroom only....

After reading electric vs hydronic, I guess it will be more pricey at first for hydronic but less expensive on utilities... so I'm leaning to hydronic.

Questions I have:

1) How large is the equipment needed for this?

2) Can I even use a hydronic system because I don't have a boiler? I have a tankless system now.

3) would it just be cheaper in the long run to do the entire addition with a radiant system? (More energy conscious/efficient)?

4) If I did a radiant system all over, can you use hydronic on a slab? I read somewhere no... just verifying. If so, that's out then. I'd just do the bathroom.

5) How does the cooling part work? Is there a cooling part? So confused, all they seem to talk about is the heated part.

6) Prices I see for systems and costs are old on the net. Can someone give me a guesstimate of putting in a system for 150 square feet?

I might scrap the whole thing but the thought of feeling warmth on my perpetually cold feet sounds super enticing...

Thanks.

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Comments (4)

geoffrey_b
11 years ago
Use electric. There is no cooling part. You will still need registers and duct work. So you will need a heating register in the Bath room.

I've installed several in my home. There is the resistance (heating wire). It must be fastened to the floor, pour Self Leveling cement. You also need the thermostat. Also you need a separate circuit. I would say about $1,000.
Sue B Hooven thanked geoffrey_b
bry911
11 years ago
First, I love hydronic heat. It so much more comfortable and is very efficient. But it is expensive. For a 750 square foot addition I wouldn't bother. You can run them off modern water heaters but usually more expensive models. They can be used on and in slabs but are easier if you plan before the pour. I am just now learnjng about cooling and I would think there are humidity issues but I really don't know. In general, you would have to care a lot more about comfort than you do money in your situation.
Sue B Hooven thanked bry911
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ionized_gw
11 years ago
Hydronic heat is great, but you are adding a second system if you need to cool the addition as well. It will cost you dearly for that reason. Radiators are nice, but radiant in the floor is way nicer (for warming cold feet) and even more costly. You do need a boiler or water heater to run it. It can be combined with the water heater used for the rest of the house if a flat plate heat exchanger is used. You need someone that knows how to do that. Keep in mind that in-slab radiant is usually run at a relatively constant temperature because of the thermal inertia of the concrete slab. That kind of heat is not really compatible with a morning and evening boost to the floor temperature if the days are hot and the nights are cold. Lastly, if you go radiant, be sure the contractor insulates the slab properly or you will be heating the earth under your home.

If you got the money and want to go ahead with hydronic radiant, there are lots of experts that post at http://forum.heatinghelp.com and some at terrylove.com
Sue B Hooven thanked ionized_gw
Sue B Hooven
Original Author
11 years ago
Well, it's still confusing but I have options! LOL I'll talk to the contractor about it the end of this week we're getting together with the preliminary designs. So I gotta settle by then probably before they do the actual blueprints/ordering and all that