Radiant Ceiling Heat - electric c.1967
18 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (77)
- 8 years ago
- 8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
Related Discussions
Radiant floor heat and main heat source?
Comments (7)Very basic reply based on a very generic rule of thumb. For generic construction, you can figure a WAG of 30-35BTU/Hr/ft needed in your bath. Again, that's a generic WAG. If your house is older and the bathroom has exterior walls, windows, a poorly insulated crawlspace below and a cold attic above, you may need more. If your house it tight and well insulated, then you may need less. Thus, the 30-35BTU WAG. You say the bb is 1520BTU, for your 100sqft bathroom that equates to 15BTU. Most floor mats give off roughly 12-15BTU on average. Check the specs and you might find one with a higher rating. So if you add 100sqt of 15BTU mat to your bathroom, then you'll be at about 15.2 + 15 = 30.2BTU/Hr/sqft. That might be sufficient, but that's also using the output of the RFH mat as an actual heat source versus simply a source of under-foot comfort. And it's also using both sources, the BB and the RFH mat, at 100% of their rated outputs. If the RFH gets overstressed, CL&P may send you a thank you card along with your monthly bill. Again...a WAG....See MoreTherma-Ray SmartRooms Electric Radiant Heat
Comments (4)I agree with hollysprings about the cooling aspect. If you are in a climate needing mechanical cooling then radiant heat is generally a very expensive upgrade because heat pumps can work in reverse to handle both tasks. A whole house electric radiant system is unique as most use hydronic tubing. Really have to question choosing electric in slab over hydronic but it could make sense. Electric makes more sense in wood framed floors and I feel it could be a cost-effective fuel source for radiant but ONLY if you have a very efficient building envelope (airtight and continuously insulated). Building Envelopes are the smartest investment in comfort and energy use and they are getting so advanced that it can take a very small amount of energy to make them comfortable. Otherwise, I would agree with hollysprings and choose NG as the fuel source but I usually avoid combustion appliances as much as possible. Another option for powering radiant tubing is air to water (air source or ground source) heat pumps which have high upfront costs but low monthly costs. If I was doing radiant, I would put most money into the building envelope and use a tank water heater (rheem marathon) to power radiant tubing. Although, I do think an all electric system COULD make sense. Hollysprings makes a good point that NG with forced air is a smart budget choice however, mini-split heat pumps are challenging this conventional wisdom in high performance homes. Even in heating dominated climates with NG access, I think most high performance homes are choosing mini-splits over NG furnaces and backed up central air. I think it depends on how big the house is and if occupants are ok with leaving bedroom doors open as to which one makes the most sense. Finally, dont ignore the opportunity of passive solar design; free heat, daylighting and passive survivability with no maintenance, monthly costs and zero extra upfront costs if you design it right. This post was edited by Brian_Knight on Sun, Aug 11, 13 at 12:19...See MoreRadiant Heat in Ceiling and Recessed Lighting Installation
Comments (0)Hi Everyone: I'm living in a town home build in the mid '70's that has outdated and no longer working, radiant heat in the ceiling. I believe it's Pan-electric, because the coils are actually embedded in the drywall. I'm planning to abandon the radiant heat and put in recessed lighting but am having a hard time locating the ceiling studs. My stud finder keeps beeping every time I cross a radiant heat wire. Any advise on how to locate the studs without cutting a bunch of exploratory holes in the ceiling? Thanks....See MoreRadiant heating vs. forced air heating for remodel/addition
Comments (26)Agreed Bry, that's a great point. In renovation or replacement comparison situations when a household is consistently using the baseline allowance, using the next tier rate up would be more accurate. It's also tough figuring out how much of the minimum monthly gas fee to include. I would guess the water heater may account for ~50% of usage so more accurate water heater gas costs would be somewhere near $302. Much tougher figuring the added comfort and space conditioning benefits of a HPWH and if the gas combustion appliance is naturally vented, there is probably added moisture and potentially health costs involved. For new construction, not knowing specific situations I think average kwh rates are where to start, and it's only the most energy intensive homes that would recover new infrastructure costs. Those outliers might be wise to improve the design. An energy rater would be helpful for plan specific comparisons. Mr. Fudd's Tier 2 kicks in at 202 kwh, lower than baseline allowances I saw digging around on the PG&E site. It must be an energy intensive area because most Tier 2 levels I saw were higher. This suggests the averages I linked to are close. Most tier talk for PG&E (serving a third of CA households according to this page) is about to be irrelevant as they are transitioning to Time Of Use rates for everyone. This makes sense for the increasingly renewable electric grid. For example, it will encourage electric vehicle owners to charge during off-peak hours and will keep electric water heating costs competitive with gas, even for replacement situations and even in places of high electric/ low gas rates. This requires the effort of putting a timing control device on a tank water heater, something those with basic electrical skills could DIY. Tying this back to topic, new construction skipping air-conditioning could use electric resistance (or heat pump) radiant floor heating during off-peak hours. The floor mass releases heat during on-peak hours of the day and an efficient envelope would keep it in. No combustion inside home necessary and cost effective if done right. A guy is doing it off-grid in Saskatchewan so it might be easy in CA. Here's a link to the controller he built for the PV to electric resistance radiant floor (or battery) interface....See More- 8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 4 years ago
- 4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
- 4 years ago
- 4 years ago
- 4 years ago
- 4 years ago
- 3 years ago
- 3 years ago
- 3 years ago
- 3 years ago
- 3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
- 3 years ago
- 3 years ago
- 3 years ago
- 3 years ago
- 2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- 2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- 2 years ago
- last year
- last yearlast modified: last year
- last year
- 6 months ago
- 6 months ago
- 5 months ago
Related Stories
GREAT HOME PROJECTSHow to Add a Radiant Heat System
Enjoy comfy, consistent temperatures and maybe even energy savings with hydronic heating and cooling
Full StoryFLOORSFloors Warm Up to Radiant Heat
Toasty toes and money saved are just two benefits of radiant heat under your concrete, wood or tile floors
Full StoryFLOORSIs Radiant Heating or Cooling Right for You?
Questions to ask before you go for one of these temperature systems in your floors or walls (yes, walls)
Full StoryFLOORSWhat to Ask When Considering Heated Floors
These questions can help you decide if radiant floor heating is right for you — and what your options are
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNWarm Up Your Bathroom With Heated Floors
If your bathroom floor is leaving you cold, try warming up to an electric heating system
Full StoryGREEN BUILDINGInsulation Basics: Heat, R-Value and the Building Envelope
Learn how heat moves through a home and the materials that can stop it, to make sure your insulation is as effective as you think
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPING5 Steps to Improve Your Heating System Now
Increase your heater's efficiency and safety for lower energy bills and greater peace of mind this winter
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPING3 Ways to Bring the Heat to Outdoor Living Spaces
Here’s what to know about surviving winter’s bite with an outdoor fireplace, fire pit or heat lamp
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESClean-Burning Woodstoves Ignite a Greener Heating Trend
No need to rely on oil or gas to heat your home — new woodstove designs burn cleanly and are beautiful to boot
Full StoryGREEN BUILDINGHouzz Tour: Passive House in Vermont Slashes Heating Bills
Its ecofriendly, low-maintenance design leaves a family with more time to relax and enjoy the weekend home
Full Story
dscottadkins