Floor Heating
How can I redirect heat from a floor heating vent?
I'm building a window seat directly over a floor heating vent. I need to redirect the heat from the floor vent to the front of the window seat but I don't know what I will need to do it?
thewrangler_sw:Well, youve got some pretty intricately described methods here.. .and some that are inadequate...
As a woodworker myself, and yes, Ive built furniture to go over existing vents like this... I would simply build a channel under the bottom of the unit, to redirect the vented air to the fro... More...
Can I relocate a floor heating return vent to the wall?
I want to relocate the heating return that is on the floor to the lower wall. It is just the return, not the actual vents that blow out the heat. It is right in the middle of the hallway and sticks up above the floor. It is hazardous and unattractive. Can this be done? Is it expensive to do? Thanks in advance.
gizmoe:Returns can be moved, however they are just as important as the supply ducts.
The size of the duct and the grille must be taken into consideration.
If an open ceiling is below this area it will make it much easier to do.
Interior wall spaces are typically only 3 1/2" so more than one ... More...
How does under floor heating work and what physics concepts and ideas does this method use?
my teacher told me about how lots of physics concepts are used to make house heat efficient and he mention under floor heating. what benefits does it bring and how does it actually work?
DrDontheTermiteGuy:Underfloor heating is usually either achieved by electrical element wires or heated water in pipes. The pipes and some wire types are usually set into concrete floors. Sometimes wires are placed on existing floors and covered by tiles. Pipes circulate heated water and wires give off heat due to th... More...
What is the equivilent of floor heating in commercial aircraft.?
I know there are a lot of ex-military retired commercial pilots out there, or in here. Military aircraft had floor heating. What is the civilian counterpart to that function?
T1 Air can provide cooling or heating. Configuration of military aircraft is mission dependent. Floor heat in a military aircraft is an option dependent on that configuration. So do what is the civilian counter part.
I'm sure the old retired pilots will know since they would have made the transition.
Avrilfan:The modern engineering concepts in aircraft design, especially commercial, cater for over all comfort of the passengers. This area of design is so carefully tailored that the cabin remains at the most comfortable conditions for long relaxed journeys. It is much like the 'climate control' in automobi... More...
How do you install in floor heating?
I am building a two storey house and would like to have in-floor heating. I need instructions on how to do this myself.
Caesar:You would be better off having a professional do this. Because any problems fall back on you. Do you want to pay for your floor more than once? I'm a flooring distributor.... More...
How to install electric under floor heating beneath a tiled floor?
Tell me the procedure to install electric under floor heating .. Tell me some safety tips while working on it..
GT:question is are tiles heat resistance, and what will be the area, if the tiles are not heat resistance, you will need to replace all the tiles, for this job You need to get a professional electrician, good luck... More...
How to control the temperature on under floor heating?
We are living in a rented apartment in Switzerland which has under floor heating, but there are no thermostats, and we are finding that we are far too warm during the night. There is a cupboard with a few horizontal pipes. Each has a tap...one for the bedroom, one for the lounge etc., but again no way of controlling the temperature as far as I can see. Can anyone help?
jayktee96:'Wet' underfloor heating is often regulated by a return loop at the manifold by means of a three way valve which simply keeps the same water circulating in the floor loop untill it cools a bit, then letting a bit more hot in to maintain the temperature, there could also be a flow thermostat on indiv... More...
What is the most cost efficient way to run in floor heating?
I have in floor heating (I believe it is electric) and am wondering what the most cost efficient way to run it would be? The entire house is controlled by one (programmable) thermostat. I am gone for work most days for approx 10 hours, and am sometimes out of town for several days at a time. Should I turn my heat off? Or should I set it at a temp (65-67*) and leave it on at all times? Also, are there times of day that electricity is cheaper?
:I found with radient heat the best way to go is to find a "nice" temperature and leave it be. Unlike forced air, RH doesn't change indoor temperatures quickly. It is more cost effective to keep the room at a static temp. It always costs more to heat up than to maintain.
Radient heat gets... More...
Does radiant hydronic in floor heating require mixing valves?
We have six zones in our in floor heating, but no mixing valves or thermometers. We have hardwood, tile an carpet in various parts of the house. Currently the water temp under the hardwood is running too high for the wood to bear. We are trying to determine whether we need to have mixing valves installed to make the heating system safe and operable, or if they would just be a "nice to have".
Perry K:The theory is that hydronic under floor heating, that is encased in concrete should have mixing valves, to stop the concrete cracking.
Where I have laid re inforced concrete, I have never used mixing valves, nor have I had any cracking, merely relying on normal thermostat valves. Normal none re... More...
What is more efficient with a hydronic radiant floor heating system, a programmable or regular thermostat?
We just installed a radiant floor heating system and our plumber tells us that a regular thermostat is in fact more efficient than a programmable one, because it doesn't have to use a lot of energy to get the water hot again. We installed a high efficient munchkin boiler. Thoughts?
WADE:I also have a munchkin boiler and radiant heat. I put programmable thermostats in just because I like the way they look and there is a off switch on them. I do not set them back. The best way is to set your temp and let it be. This is especially so if it is a heated slab. Have you considered a out d... More...
Can steam be used in radiant floor heating?
I'm an architecture student designing a dorm for the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY.
The school already has a geoexchange system that provides ground-temperature water to buildings. There is also a system that supplies buildings with steam. I'm attempting to implement in-floor radiant heating/cooling. I was wondering if there is a system that will convert steam to hot water, or use steam to heat the ground-temperature water that can then be fed through the floors. Any sugge
:It's all about cost.
Electric is very convenient. However the cost of material (wire) and the supply power makes large installations pricey.
Although you have steam heat available, the cost of a piping a system that can carry the steam through a floor would be expensive, probably iron pip... More...
How do I hook up a propane 50 gallon hot water heater to serve both domestic and in floor radiant heating?
Is it better to use a smaller, separate propane water heater for the in floor heating?
Art L:think about your question.......would you want to drink the water that is circulating through the in floor radiant heating system? Plumbing code does not allow a connection between the two. If dollars are flexible here, you can consider a small boiler with a side arm hot water heater which allows ... More...
If a house is already built, is it possible then to install radiant floor heating?
also what steps must be taken to install radiant floor heating?
Arrancar:It depends where you want to run the radiant floor and the type of floor it is. If its a concrete slab, then it'll be difficult and quite messy, but if you have access underneath the floor such as a basement under the 1st floor then its can be retrofitted easily.... More...
I have radiant floor heating. Without power, will my pipes freeze in the basement with no heat available?
My house was built 3 years ago with radiant floor heating in my basement which is living quarters. In the event of a power outage during a winter storm, my heating system would not run. What I need is ball park figure of the time that it would take to start freezing the water lines that are constructed within the cement slab floor. A brief outage obviously would be no problem. Lets say that at 10 F. the ice covered electric lines took 12 hours to get up and running. Probably, still cool. But at
Pat B:it is certain that the fluid in your heating system is a mix of antifreeze and water a modern system should have this since it is more efficient and probably code in most areas.... More...
What is the most efficient heating source for radiant floor heating?
I am replacing a twenty year old steam boiler and steam radiators to a radiant floor system. I am so confused by the number of choices to heat the water for this system. I could use a traditional boiler, a tankless hot water heater, or even a wall hung combination boiler and tankless hot water system. What is the most efficient system that will offer the lowest heating costs? I can use either oil or propane. Natural gas is not available in my area. My house is a 1100 sqft cape. Thanks for the he
stedyedy:I installed my own radiant heating system. For the heating system I used a Munchkin Boiler, propane fired. I have been extremely pleased with its performance. It is very high-tech in its control system which produces very high efficiencies. I agree fuel oil has higher BTU content than propane, but g... More...
Can I hang a LED TV on a wall mount above a floor heating vent?
I want to hang a TV in my room, but it seems like the only available spot is above a heating vent that is on the floor. I want to hang the TV about 5-6 feet above the vent. Will that cause any problems to the TV? I believe it is a 26 inch Vizio LED.
tc_an_american:At the height of 5 to 6 feet above the floor you should be fine. The vent is not constantly blowing and the room ambient temperature should be close to the temp coming from the vent (with in 5 deg).
If you find think it may cause problems you can mount a glass shelf about 6 inches under ... More...
Can radiant floor heating be used under Traffic Master Peel and Stick tiles by Allure?
I would like a heated floor in my bathroom but I don't want real tile. Can I still have my heated floors with peel and stick tile tha can be grouted?
fireguy:are you thinking of electric heat or radiant hydronic(water) heat?
electric no go. but radiant hydronic heat yes. for under floor applications you don't want to run the same temperature water that you would use in a baseboard radiator. the baseboards typically get heated water upwards of ... More...
Can I cover floor heating outlets?
We have just moved to the US and there is not enough wall space for our furniture if we don't put some over the heating outlets in the floor. What happens if we cover one or two? Is there a way around this? My husband suggested some kind of cover to direct the airflow outwards - has anyone tried this?
pcbeachrat:Lar has the correct answer..I have a couch over ours that has these plastic diverters...I will see if I can find a picture..they are adjustible...Here is a picture of one..
http:/... More...
How does Radiant floor heating save money in heating bills?
We have steam radiators throughout our home and I've been thinking about adding radiant heating to our floors. I'm just curious as to how it saves money when it uses electricity. Do radiant heated floors last longer when holding in warmth more?
Can they be installed underneath wood flooring or do I need to pour concrete over them and then install wood floors?
thanks.
everythingchanges:This is typically used with hot water circulation rather than steam.
Electric radiant will not save you money.
You need to do more research to see what is best for your situation.... More...
Is putting a rug over a floor heating vent a very bad idea, or just moderately bad?
I just bought a 5cm thick shaggy wool rug for my new room then realised due to the size of it it will have to go over a hot air heating vent in the floor! : ( will this just stop the room being heating if the heating is on or will it also be a safety issue or something? I know its probably a bad move either way but i reluctant to sell it so soon!
thanks!
:... More...
How can I cover an old grille type floor heating vent?
I just moved into a new apartment. It now has central air/heat, so the old floor heaters are obsolete. They are covered with a heavy duty black grille. They are large, maybe 3' x4'. It is completely open underneath. I can see gravel. However, the old heaters are still in place, so that leaves only a millimeter or two between the bottom side of the grille and the top of the old heater. Any ideas for covering this? I live in New Orleans, so Palmetto Bugs (a nice name for disgusting giant c
oildog#1:BEING THIS IS A RENTAL I WOULD LIFT THE GRATE AND WITH SPRAY ADHESIVE APPLY A GOOD COAT OF THE SPRAY TO THE UNDER SIDE THEN PUT YOUR CHOOSE OF MATERIAL IN A COLOR THAT YOU LIKE, THEN TRIM THE EDGES SO AS NOT TO KEEP THE GRATE FROM GOING BACK INTO THE HOLE NEXT TAKE 4 MIL. PLASTIC AND COVER THE MATER... More...
How can I childproof a heating floor register?
We are renting an old house and the only heating is from a grate in the living room floor. We have a baby gate around it,but my 11 month old keeps throwing toys over the gate. If I don't catch them in time, it gets hot enough for them to melt. Does anyone know what I can use to cover it that will let the heat through, not be hot enough to melt things or cause burns, and not be burnt or melted itself? At this point, I don't care if it's ugly, just pet, child and toy safe.
livin life:I dont know what u can buy, but why not build a wire mesh box to put over it..if its about a foot high, it wont get too hot for little hands or toys.... More...
Insulation under radiant floor heating system?
We just put in a hot-water radient floor heat system. We need to insulate under the floor in the crawlspace. Contractor says use bats, plumber says use board-type insulation. Any thoughts?
woodtick314:Use foil faced Celotex, 1" or 1-1/2" thick for best results.... More...
Can Under floor heating systems be incorporated to existing concrete floored School buildings?
The existing concrete floor school buildingis 5000 Sq.m in area with 3 storey's, located in Scotland. The space heating of the building is being served with a boiler located at the basement. Can this existing boiler be used to supply under-floor heating? If yes, can the heat distribution be controlled, for example by users or sensors? How much floor thickness would the heating coils need? Is it going to be very costly or would it serve to be a good solution in the long run? Can the heat radiate
Who Yah:Underfloor heating does not heat a room to ceiling height - this is part of its benefit and means "no" to your point about transferring heat through a ceiling. It does not cause the currents that radiators do. It heats spaces to around two meters up from the floor in a very stable manner because ... More...
under floor heating and carpets?
My ground floor is solid. The kitchen and conservatory are to be wet under floor heating with tiles on top. Can I use the same heating system for my front room when I want to lay carpet. Electric underfloor seems to say yes but I can find no advice for a wet system.
Helping you:Yes you can. the carpet has a natural R value. This is what you should keep in mind when buying you carpet. You should check with your installer or the person who is selling the stuff to you if you are installing it you self on the max R value you should have. here is a great link to calculate the R... More...
Which of the three methods of heat transfer related to floor heating?
So.. from the three methods of heat transfer(convection, conduction, and radiation) related to floor heating? Please give me a detailed answer!!
stump:The real answer is "all three" in various ways, but the short answer is that its ultimately conduction since however the heat gets to the floor, it warms the feet through surface conduction.... More...
Why is my floor heating in my bathroom?
There is a section of my bathroom floor that is just a lot hotter then the rest of my bathroom. The floor underneath is concrete, i just don't know if i should worry over this or not, the spot on the floor is about three feet in length and one foot in width. Thanks for your help
The floor is not extremly hot, just a warm feeling, if that makes a difference. Umm I have no clue if my neighborhhood runs on underground power supply.
Thor:I suspect it your hot water pipe too. And no, it doesn't have to be leaking to warm the concrete a little. It is not uncommon for them to run water pipes, hot or cold, through the concrete.
They don't do it much these days because they are required to insulate them better now. But it was... More...
My second floor honeywell thermostat is showing "flame" on yet it is not heating at all, what should I do?
I actually shut down the second floor heating and keep the first floor heating on at 50 F during the day. When I arrive at home at night I turn on the second floor heating. It works this way until this time.
Jim D:If the thermostat says there is a call for heating, but the heat is not coming on, that means there is a component failure in the furnace itself. The problem could be anything. It is impossible to give you any useful advice from your description. If you cannot provide more details, you will need ... More...
What needs to go between hot water radiant floor heating and vinyl floor covering?
I'm redoing my kitchen from the floor up. I will have a 3/4" sub floor, then hot water tubes running through aluminum channels. This leaves a surface that is very flat, with just small unevenness at each tube. Is it enough to lay 1/4" plywood over that, then the vinyl flooring? Or does there need to be a thicker plywood layer at that point?
rob s:Putting a floor over what you have is a challenge since you take a chance of nailing thru a tube.. Does it have to be vinyl? Laminate will spand that channel.. Or you may have to pour a self leveling compound over every thing to fill the channels and over the 3/4 a bit. This stuff can be poured up... More...
Under floor heating for the bathroom, are they worth having??
I have a small bathroom & just deciding on which floor tiles to go for, a bathmat may just cover the floor anyway or should i go for underfloor heating along with my towel rad???
Raine:if your bathroom is small, the towel radiator should be sufficient.
i personally wouldn't bother with under floor heating if the bathroom was small, if it was big I would, definitely.... More...
How to find radiant floor heating already installed?
We are looking to update a kitchen. We are going to have to dig up the floor and I dont want to rupture or cut into any preexisting lines what is the best way of finding the tubes so we dont cut them?
zocko:its all over the area. You have to take up the tiles first and leave the thinset base alone, then redo it over the existing thinset. lots of luck on that one. the tubes are set in a base and it depends on if there is cement board under the tiles.... More...
How much does Zmesh radiant floor heating cost?
I am looking into other heating options for my house and ran across some stuff called Zmesh. I was wondering if anybody knew how much it cost per sq. ft.
chris:i know of a couple of companies that do zmesh, the best one i know of is a company called warmzone. they do it for about .35 a sq ft. there web site is http://www.warmzone.com/questions-zmesh.asp
good luck.... More...
Will electric in- floor heating, heat a porch?
Hi, we have a small unheated porch (4 feet by 4 feet). You have to walk through it to get to the basement, so we are planning on insulating it and thinking of putting in electric in floor heat under ceramic tiles. We live in Canada where it gets extremely cold in the winter, would the infloor heat warm the porch sufficiently? There is no basment below the porch if that matters. Thanks for your advice!
Clara M.:sure it would! Make sure you get the right floor heater tho - best for your space: there's a company called warmly yours... see what they have to say... More...
Is it safe to cover a floor heating vent and if so with what?
We have a 2 story house with all the bedrooms upstairs. The smaller bedrooms get too hot when the heater is on, but the master which is the only room with a vaulted ceiling will still be freezing. Is it safe to cover the heating vent with something to keep the small rooms cooler. Someone suggested foil but I didn't know if that would be safe.
Greetmir:no problem ... it is only hot air ... any heat that is not able to come out of that vent will be distributed to the other vents ... dont worry ...
That is why a lot of vents have louvre adjustments to lessen heat distribution in one area so that other areas might more benefit.... More...
Which is a better form of in-floor heating, Electrical grids or mats?
The floor is at ground level, insulated to R 22 with a sub-floor above. The flooring finish is going to be tile and is for a Sunroom.
Woody:Menards has a product called "warm tiles" They are a grid of electric wires that heat tiles. They also make special tiles just for this product. cost an average of 1 cent a sqaure foot to run a day. For more info check out your local menards, If you do not have one in your area go to www.menards.co... More...
Which is a better heating system for a new home - Forced Air, Hot Water Baseboard, or In-floor Radiant?
Seem to me that Forced-Air is the worst for allergies. Hot water Baseboard is good but more expensive to install. And Radiant is the most expensive to install, and if there's a problem with it, you have to break open the foundation to fix it. Also we want to put real solid hardwood floors, and those are not compatible with In-Floor Radiant Heating.
I am leaning toward either Forced-air or Hot Water Baseboard.
Which is better?
finaldx:Properly installed, you should not have any kind of a problem with the Radiant Heating, and if you do , it should be under warranty.... More...
How do you check for leaks in a radiant floor heating system?
My gas bill has gone up and I can't figure out why, except that the heated water is going somewhere. We don't have a basement and I don't see or smell any sign of water.
Kurtis G:Drain the system, pressurise with air. (about 25psi.) If the system holds pressure for an hour or more, there's no leak. If there is a leak, you can usually find it from the hiss of escaping air. If not, a dye may be added to help locate the leak.... More...
What is the pipe material for residential radiant floor heating?
Would like to know the most common of effective material and the approximate amount of pipe/ft2 if possible. Any sources with this info would also be great.
Thanks!
Steve G:Probably the most common pipe in use for new installations is PEX. PEX used for heating has an oxygen barrier. It's called PEX-Al-PEX (the barrier is aluminum).
Here's a place that carries it:
http://www.hous... More...
04 Ford Expedition rear floor heating/cooling not working?
I am having trouble with the rear floor heating/cooling. When I press the button to direct the air to the floor panel, it does not work. The air stays coming from the top. I tried the rear controls, still does not work. Is there something I am doing wrong?
Overall:
Air/heat/cool is stuck in roof mode, cannot direct air to the floor.
144289:you have 2 blend door motors in the rear, one is for the temp. the other is for air direction, one for air direction is stuck, if I'm right remove the top panel on the rear right side, and that motor is right there, small white box with 4 bolts holding it... More...
Radiant floor heating - what to do specifically before pouring concrete slab in basement?
What must be done right before pouring the concrete? Is it just about placing the pipes and tying them? What about the pressure test kit... Is it necessary and how do I set it up?
HVAC Man:Main things are making sure the pipes are places exaclty where they need to be, and also make sure they are tied down very good. You also may want to make sure you leave plenty of extra tube on the ends, its much easier to cut off a little extra rather than trying to splice it down by the floor.
More...
Installing under floor heating do I need 75mm seletex and if so where can I get this foil back insulation?
Its foil backed insulation sheeting on a roll. Also, have been told I need to add some flexible something to the screed to stop any cracking of the tiling afterwards. Does anyone know what it is called.
D A:The foil back insulation you describe sounds like Trilso Super 10 or Thinsulex, But are used for roof insulation. Sounds like you are running the underfloor heating from your central heating system. Lay 75mm Celotex / Kingspan insulation boards on to your concrete sub floor. Then lay pipe and floor ... More...
Are there helpful resources for installing in-floor heating?
Im looking to install radiant heat in the floors of my basement and possibly a few bathrooms, but im wondering if there are any good resources to help in the process.
Professional remodeler:Honestly, the absolute best resource for info when buying home improvement specialty items is the manufacturer or distributor of the product. The reason is, with the economy the way it is, they want to make a sale. So, figure out what brand of in-floor heating you want to install and call their cust... More...
Can hydronic fluid be used in a radiant floor heating system?
Instead of using water, in a closed system can a hydronic heat transfer fluid such as is used in hydronic baseboard heaters be used. Would there be a benefit over water as advertised in those baseboard systems?
Dave:USA The most common fluid used in radiant floor systems is water. Water has a terrific heat transfer rate. The anti freeze type solutions are used only to prevent freezing, they do not increase heat transfer.
Check with the manufacturers of the products using the fluid - the boiler mf... More...
Home heating question pellet furnace v. in floor heat!?
In our home remodel we are planning a change in the heating system. A home addition and several updates in the current house. Currently we are using a forced air propane furnace and its very expensive. We are considering in floor heat for the addition (master bedroom, bath, and family room), and a pellet furnace for the entire home. Has anyone any experience with both systems. How does price compare in operation AND comfort level.
ps we are in central IL!
Esther B:We had a radiant floor heating system in one of our previous homes, and we were absolutely delighted with it. However since it required an 80 gallon hot water tank it ate up the energy costs big time both in electricity to run the hot water tank and also natural gas costs. Your pellet stove, I'm alm... More...
Can I use any thermostat w/timer for radiant floor heating?
I just received my radiant flooring and it just came with a standard thermostat. I would like to have the option of having a timer on it, so I can program it to turn on and off when needed. Can I go out and buy any thermostat/timer for the flooring?
Rich Z:Yes you can and you will save money on your heating bills. Make sure that it has an anticipator setting because the radiant heat tends to overheat at floor level while the wall thermostat (at eye level on the wall) is slower to sense the heat.
There are usually two thermostats that are fu... More...
Which type of under-floor heating is the best, electric or water-fed?
Best being in terms of installation cost, running cost, reliability, and ability to heat a large 35 sq. m room. Will I need additonal radiators in the room as well?
xenon:There can only be one correct answer, and it has to be water-fed.
The water is heated by gas or oil preferably in a condensing boiler, and pumped around plastic pipes embedded in the concrete.
Gentle heat is emitted throughout the entire floor giving an overall distribution of heat on the ... More...
Do I need a special thermostat for in floor heating also does any type of thermostat work with boilers?
what if I have three zones? and how do I know how many pumps I have
Cornstoves:A temperature controller thermostat with set point, maximum temp, and min temp setting is recommended. Set point is required to control at the comfort desired. Max temp limit is req'd for safety. Min temp limit is req'd to prevent catastropic water pipe failures during freezing ambient temps.
... More...
Where can i find suppliers and installers for under floor heating?
suppliers have to be either in the london, bucks or bedfordshire area
robsrecordbin:got to Google and type in under floor heating.
One is http://www.tileheater.net/... More...
Can I use canola oil in my in-floor heating system?
It was suggested as the person felt canola oil would hold the heat better and still move fluidly while not freezing in Canadian winters if there was a malfunction.
NoNameGenericGuy:Sure thing!... More...
What should i except when i install new floor heating in existing house?
done:You mean 'expect" correct?
First of all, you understand that in floor heat is a "radiant" heat right?
It is different than forced air or baseboard heat. These methods heat air and circulate around the home.
Radiant heat things in the room directly with infrared ra... More...