Skill level needed to install radiant floor heating?

10 years ago

Hi everyone. I'm getting ready to have a home built and have chosen a geothermal system to be installed and plan on using radiant floor heat heating and an central a\c for cooling. The estimate I got for our 2800 sq ft house seemed high. I'm a commercial (union) electrician and noticed that the quote I received included the use of a Rehau radiant system. I recognized the name because I've installed several ice melting systems underneath sidewalks and courtyards for various corporations locally and they've used Rehau products.
So my question is given my experience and mechanical ability to install similar electrical systems would I be able to tackle the task of only installing the aluminum plates and routing\fastening of pex tubing to the floor system and leaving the ends in the basement where an hvac contractor(friend of mine) said he'd make the connections to the manifold, zoning and any tie ins to geo system?

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Comments (6)

geoffrey_b
10 years ago
I think you could. However you need to get all the specs on how to install and understand them completely. The other thing you need to know is the required number of BTU's, water temp, etc.
mike_home
10 years ago
I am curious as to why you are going with a radiant flooring system for the whole house? Why not integrate forced hot air with your central AC system?
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Here is what I would do if I was you. You don't need that many btu's to heat up them two rooms. Plus you want to get hot water also. haved a certified takagi tankless water rep. come to your home. ( this will be free ) tell him you want a tk-3 pro. ( better heat exchange in the unit itself) it can fire up to 199,000 btu's and down to 11,000 btus. then you want to use a bronze bump with a heat exchanger on one side, plus boiler trim. (1/6 horse power. with a mixing valve for your domestic water. you want to then put two zones on other sided of a heat exchanger with a zone board for 2 zones with 2 pumps one for the baseboard. Ask for high trim baseboard so you can set the water temp down and get max btu's per lininer foot. set the temp for 150 degress durring the winter cold month. Now for the radiant floor get a viega dealer in ur neighborhood. get climate panels that you can put cement nails in and the put a flooring on top. If you wanted to know more about this rout just leave a post. you can have all 3 comming off one unit. The best thing about this type of set up is that you dont need 180 degree water like a boiler. and in summer time you can set the water temp down to 120 or 115. and when your away on vacation you use no gas. The down side is hat the climate panels can be expensive, the tankless water heater has to have a nice size gas line. the equipment to do this job can get pricy. I mean really pricey. with nice equipment comes a good price. Takagi & viega are my brand of choice. but you could use navian and wirlsboro if you wish. all 4 manufactors will be happy to come to your home and sit dowwn and talk to you. ( I sell all four)
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ibewye
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Geoffrey_B: I agree, I plan on hiring heating and a\c contractor that I know as a consultant for all the brainwork and final connections etc. I also have a detailed list of parts and materials in the estimate as well as the sizing specs. The geothermal contractor is providing and installing the Waterfurnace Synergy 3D heat pump unit which handles both hydronic and forced air requirements. I believe I read the system operates at 120 degrees.

Mike_home: to be honest with you I'm not sure. I'm not a huge fan of forced air heating for a few reasons 1st being I live in New York so the winters are long and heating is primary concern. We also have allergies and a hairy dog are another, so having dust and fir blowing about seemed to make the least sense (I know this will happen with AC). That left me with baseboard or radiant as choices. I chose radiant as it seemed more economical and I knew I liked the heated floor concept over the baseboard. The tax credit for the geothermal also applies to the heating system so that's helping offset the cost of the radiant floor. I will admit I could live without radiant floor on the second floor, but I'm not sure if this would complicate things.
mike_home
10 years ago
I have no experience with radiant. I think it works great under a tile floor in a bathroom or kitchen. I am not sure how well it works under carpeting or hardwood floors. I imagine it adds a lot of extra cost of forced hot air.

Forced hot air systems have come a long way since the old days. A multi-stage variable speed furnace can be very quiet and comfortable. If you have allergies you could get a electrostatic filter and a humidifier.

Do you access to natural gas? If you do then it would be cheaper than geothermal given New York's electric rates.

Study all the options before making a final decision.
jackfre
10 years ago
I would suggest that you look into Warmboard. They will do the complete layout on the necessary panels and the top pros I know around the country are very pleased with it.
geoffrey_b
10 years ago
lbweye: Be sure to take some good pictures and measurements when you install - that way you will know where the pipes are - just incase you want to drill into/attach something to the floor. You can rent Flir video cam's at home Depot.

My home is 60 years old, and I have hot water radiant heat in the ceilings ( 1" thick rough plaster, with 1/2" copper tubes on 4" centers). The house is uniformely warm, and I'm in Minnesota.

I've lived in the North all my life. I wouldn't want forced air heating. The good deal about radiators or infloor heating is that you have a mass as a heat sink.

Can you get your A/C with ducts/vents in the ceiling - where it belongs?

Skill level needed to install radiant floor heating?

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Skill level needed to install radiant floor heating?

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