![]() It's a lot of labor, but also a lot of savings over prefab over-the-floor panels. You cut strips of plywood infill, screw them to the sub floor, then staple lightweight plates (or screw heavy gauge plates) down so the aluminum is on top of the infill, and then snap in the tubing from above (using a PEX-AL-PEX product to combat expansion). Also remember most systems are not one installation method all the way through.’ And again, these are ballpark ranges, highly susceptible to brand selection, on center variance, local pricing, etc. Per Square Foot numbers typically don't have any bearing on controls or boilers. ‘For Distribution Systems Only (no controls & no heat source), costs seem to generally range as follows:įor Underfloor (excluding insulation, which is highly variable), $2 to $5/sq ft, depending on plate type and joist on center.įor Overfloor, $2.50 to $6.00, sandwich* up to high-end (and high-performance) prefab panels**. For concrete slabs-on-grade, there's also the potential for heat loss into the ground without adequate insulation under the slab, such as 2 inches or more of high-density expanded polystyrene.Hydronic systems typically cost between $7,000 and $13,000 for materials alone for a 1,500-square-foot home. Most experts recommend maintaining a constant temperature. Because of this, you are limited in how long you can set back or turn off the system to save operating costs. It's important to note that while thick concrete slabs have a high heat storage capacity, they also have a slow thermal response time, which means they can take many hours to heat up if the floor is allowed to cool down. The retained heat can keep your house comfortable for hours. Once a concrete floor warms up, it will retain the heat and release it gradually, even if you shut off the system or the power goes out. Here's how: Heat up your concrete floor during off-peak hours (typically at night) and then turn the heat off during the day. With an electric radiant floor system, you can save operating costs by taking advantage of lower rates for off-peak usage, if your electric utility company offers them.This lets you direct more heat to typically chilly rooms or high-use areas, such as bathrooms, bedrooms, basements and entryways, while lowering the thermostat in rooms with less traffic, such as a formal dining room. To optimize energy-efficiency, radiant heating systems can work in zones, allowing you to heat different areas of a home at different temperatures.To equal the amount of heat that could be carried by water running through 1-inch-diameter hydronic tubing, you would need a 10 x 18-inch duct for forced-air heat.Īre you concerned that your concrete floors will be too cold in the winter? Harris explains how embedding a radiant heating system within the floor slab can save energy costs and provide other benefits, such as eliminating the circulation of dust or dirt throughout your home-a drawback of forced-air heat. This means you can operate a hydronic radiant system at a lower thermostat setting than a forced-air system, resulting in lower energy bills. According to the Hydronic Heating Association, a given volume of water can hold almost 3,500 times as much heat as the same volume of air for the same temperature rise. ![]() Homes and buildings with high ceilings will save even more in heating costs as heat generated by forced air systems quickly rises to the top of these structures, where it is of little use. 10-30% is the often quoted range of savings. Check with the local area utility in your area on how much a 2-4° lower thermostat setting would save in heating cost on an annual basis. This can allow you to set your thermostat 2-4° lower and still be comfortable-thus lower heating bills. Radiant floor heating concentrates the heat in the lower half of the room where the human body needs it most. You lose more heat with forced air heating systems since the heat concentrates in the top half of the room. Heat loss is greatest in the top half of rooms. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |