Thread: Anyone with Radiant Heating?

So been looking into energy efficient ways to heating a home. I live in Iowa and winters get pretty nasty. It was 32* sat night and its only October

It will be a new construction since its gonna be for my future home. It will be around 5,300 sqft and having a traditional furnace is ok, but would like to use more efficient products. It will help with home value and overall health and living experience.

Let me know what you have experience and how it feels.

Electricity going up here soon so maybe just doing Geo thermal too.

LMK
Thanks

go geothermal without a question, and make sure you install solar panels to run the geo system.

radiant heat is awesome, it feels so nice and is a very efficient way to heat your home. Especially if you have it in mud floors (concrete, either alone or with wood or tile/stone over it). The reason is this creates a giant thermal mass and once you heat the concrete it stays warm for a very long time. Plus right now there are 30% uncapped federal tax credits on geothermal systems. Remember that includes everything associated with the system, the wells, the electric, the plumbing..... and same tax incentive on the solar panels.

I have radiant heated floors in the bathrooms. Nothing beats getting out of a hot shower and not freezing your toes because of a cold floor.

Originally Posted by J08M3

go geothermal without a question, and make sure you install solar panels to run the geo system.

radiant heat is awesome, it feels so nice and is a very efficient way to heat your home. Especially if you have it in mud floors (concrete, either alone or with wood or tile/stone over it). The reason is this creates a giant thermal mass and once you heat the concrete it stays warm for a very long time. Plus right now there are 30% uncapped federal tax credits on geothermal systems. Remember that includes everything associated with the system, the wells, the electric, the plumbing..... and same tax incentive on the solar panels.

I looked at solar panels, but where i live we can go a whole month with out seeing the sun. Record was like 47 days when i was in hs. So i was thinking more like under ground water lines (hydrowhatever )...

I have seen them incentives, but im not sure if they will be there next year. I sure hope they are.

What about carpet?? I would like to have a couple of areas with carpet but not sure about radiant heating and carpeting. possible fire? lol

thanks for the info

I have 220v electric radiant under tiled surfaces, and it is fantastic. It is nice to have them zoned and programed to turn on and off on schedules, or as needed.

Originally Posted by Diego V

I looked at solar panels, but where i live we can go a whole month with out seeing the sun. Record was like 47 days when i was in hs. So i was thinking more like under ground water lines (hydrowhatever )...

I have seen them incentives, but im not sure if they will be there next year. I sure hope they are.

What about carpet?? I would like to have a couple of areas with carpet but not sure about radiant heating and carpeting. possible fire? lol

thanks for the info

no issue with carpet, especially if done hydronic radiant. Solar panels don't need direct sun to make power. Check out this graph I just made yesterday of a project we did a year ago and tracked the electric usage of a home after installing panels. Cut the electric costs in half

I am in Oklahoma and many here are going geothermal. My buddy owns the Ditchwitch franchises in OK and Ark and they are doing it daily with the boring.

Originally Posted by J08M3

no issue with carpet, especially if done hydronic radiant. Solar panels don't need direct sun to make power. Check out this graph I just made yesterday of a project we did a year ago and tracked the electric usage of a home after installing panels. Cut the electric costs in half

that looks great!!

Now couple questions, what about heavily wooded lots?? I may not have any trees near the house but plenty of tall trees in the perimeter. Also do lines freeze?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Diego V

that looks great!!

Now couple questions, what about heavily wooded lots?? I may not have any trees near the house but plenty of tall trees in the perimeter. Also do lines freeze?

Thanks

This solar is producing electric so there is nothing to freeze. But as far as hot water solar, they don't actually send water to your roof, it's anti-freeze and which transfers heat through a heat exchanger.

As far as trees - the less the better. However you don't need 100% direct sunlight to make power. But obviously the more time in direct sunlight the more power you will make.

Originally Posted by J08M3

This solar is producing electric so there is nothing to freeze. But as far as hot water solar, they don't actually send water to your roof, it's anti-freeze and which transfers heat through a heat exchanger.

As far as trees - the less the better. However you don't need 100% direct sunlight to make power. But obviously the more time in direct sunlight the more power you will make.

Oh i c. Will keep this in mind. On the graph, the value that is "being used" is one that the owners payed for? Technically they be using 50% more just thats what the panels generated?

Also saw your website, pretty cool stuff. Have you experienced the use of recycled "jean" fabric for insulation? Would it be cost effective?

Thanks