Anyone have radiant heat ? If so, pros and cons please?
If you're talking radiant floor heat, I helped my son put his in and he put a system in for for his mother, my ex. Son runs his off an outdoor boiler, the ex off a heat pump. The biggest + is having your feet warm, since the heat transfer is from the floor up. Therefore, you can actually get away with setting the house temperature lower.
Only cons I've seen, is my son always seems to have to replace one of his balance pumps every season, though I don't remember him grumbling about having to swap one out this year. The ex's system is in it's 1st season of use. The other drawback is that it feels like it takes forever to get the house up to temperature if you go away for for a few days and have the temperature set lower than you usually run it when you're home. But that might just be my imagination.
One suggestion, if you're thinking about installing it, put an extra loop or two in you're normal entrance way. It helps to melt the snow and dry the floor faster when you come in during the winter. Unless of course you have an attached garage, then that's a moot point. Also extra loops in the full bathrooms, really wonderful to step out of the shower and onto a nice warm floor. And maybe in the kitchen along the sink and counter area to keep the chief cook and bottle washer's feet happy.
If you're talking radiant floor heat, I helped my son put his in and he put a system in for for his mother, my ex. Son runs his off an outdoor boiler, the ex off a heat pump. The biggest + is having your feet warm, since the heat transfer is from the floor up. Therefore, you can actually get away with setting the house temperature lower.
Only cons I've seen, is my son always seems to have to replace one of his balance pumps every season, though I don't remember him grumbling about having to swap one out this year. The ex's system is in it's 1st season of use. The other drawback is that it feels like it takes forever to get the house up to temperature if you go away for for a few days and have the temperature set lower than you usually run it when you're home. But that might just be my imagination.
One suggestion, if you're thinking about installing it, put an extra loop or two in you're normal entrance way. It helps to melt the snow and dry the floor faster when you come in during the winter. Unless of course you have an attached garage, then that's a moot point. Also extra loops in the full bathrooms, really wonderful to step out of the shower and onto a nice warm floor. And maybe in the kitchen along the sink and counter area to keep the chief cook and bottle washer's feet happy.
Thanks, I just got into learning about it, scratching the surface. Seems like more professional home builders are leaning towards radiant heat. It's been around for years and it seems to be growing from a technology perspective. Something new or different design.
You're welcome. Yep, seems to be making advancements & better efficiency every year. I'm still not sure which way I'm going to go when my new house goes up, radiant or forced air. I do know it'll be some type of closed loop geothermal heat pump system. Will probably go w/ forced air, since I also want to run A/C. Not sure if the closed loop will be under ground or under the pond. The pond loop would be more efficient, but I'm thinking a huge PITA if you ever need to work on it. Whatever shakes out, I'll still have a wood stove somewhere, 'cause there's nothing like warming your frozen buns in front of a fire... or napping on the couch.
Will be glad when the Covid thing settles down, then they can go back to having home shows, so we can get more ideas and angles.
You're welcome. Yep, seems to be making advancements & better efficiency every year. I'm still not sure which way I'm going to go when my new house goes up, radiant or forced air. I do know it'll be some type of closed loop geothermal heat pump system. Will probably go w/ forced air, since I also want to run A/C. Not sure if the closed loop will be under ground or under the pond. The pond loop would be more efficient, but I'm thinking a huge PITA if you ever need to work on it. Whatever shakes out, I'll still have a wood stove somewhere, 'cause there's nothing like warming your frozen buns in front of a fire... or napping on the couch.
Will be glad when the Covid thing settles down, then they can go back to having home shows, so we can get more ideas and angles.
I'm hoping for a new home construction in the near future. Gathering ideas and plans. Using Chief architect CAD. I just need to put it all together, find land. Most likely going to be a ranch. Over the past year we have visited several home builders and their job sites to see which one is the best. Basically, I don't want a bunch of hacks building our new home. Make sure you do your homework too before signing the dotted line.
You're welcome. Yep, seems to be making advancements & better efficiency every year. I'm still not sure which way I'm going to go when my new house goes up, radiant or forced air. I do know it'll be some type of closed loop geothermal heat pump system. Will probably go w/ forced air, since I also want to run A/C. Not sure if the closed loop will be under ground or under the pond. The pond loop would be more efficient, but I'm thinking a huge PITA if you ever need to work on it. Whatever shakes out, I'll still have a wood stove somewhere, 'cause there's nothing like warming your frozen buns in front of a fire... or napping on the couch.
Will be glad when the Covid thing settles down, then they can go back to having home shows, so we can get more ideas and angles.
I'm hoping for a new home construction in the near future. Gathering ideas and plans. Using Chief architect CAD. I just need to put it all together, find land. Most likely going to be a ranch. Over the past year we have visited several home builders and their job sites to see which one is the best. Basically, I don't want a bunch of hacks building our new home. Make sure you do your homework too before signing the dotted line.
Keep in mine I believe Been There II is talking about a hot water radiant heating system, not a electric radiant heating system. Electric radiant heating would not have the same "warm up" period as hot water, as it's instant heat. Also, it's electric so there's not pumps or other equipment to worry about. Just hook it up to the breaker and you are good to go.
Electric is also easier to install and cheaper to install in many cases, however over the long term it's more expensive to run due to the price of electricity. However, that's mainly a concern for a whole house, no other type of heating type situation. Also, since water cooled does take time to warm up, many people wind up leaving it on all the time which negates the cost savings anyway.
Additional note: One thing radiant heat really helps with if you are in a high pollen/ allergy area is allergies. Since no air is being forced around the house, the HVAC system isn't spreading anything.
@roaminglion You are correct Roam, I was talking water heat. Never even gave electric radiant a thought. Electricity and I don't get along, you can't see it and it BITES!, so I probably blocked it right out of my mind.
I think I already told the story of how my ex tried to kill me when I was too busy to do my own LO/TO while replacing the electric counter top stove, but I don't know if I've ever spun the yarn about working on my youngest's car.
Being teenage boys, they both decided they needed vintage cars. The oldest got a '67 Mustang and the younger decided he wanted to buy a '68 Firebird. The 'stang had a loving owner, so it was pretty much ship shape & good to run. The Pontiac, was running a bit rough and needed a little engine work. Thinking it's a great time to give the boys a little "here's how it's done" experience, we pull the plugs, gap them, check the points, hook up the timing light, let them listen to the engine as we advance and retard the spark. For you "kids" out there, you did this by loosening and turning the ol' distributor cap. We slowly work our way through the possible causes for it's rough running.
As we methodically worked our way through, eliminating possible problems, it becomes apparent that it's not always the same cylinder that's missing. Ok, let's check the coil wire!
Back in those days, there was enough room in the engine compartment that work could be done by a full grown man vs the crammed in conditions these days, that requires a midget with diminutive hands to do anything besides check the oil. Anyway, I lean in and pull the coil wire, the metal end cap/clip stays in the coil. Ha! There's our problem!! Now some things get fuzzy with time and age, but I remember this just like it was yesterday.
Success being close at hand, heading into the home stretch, my judgement lapses ever so slightly. I grab my needle nose pliers and prepare to extract the clip. Stretching fully out to reach the coil, I had most my weight resting on, shall we say upper thigh, lower pelvis area. I grabbed the offending plug....amazingly that steel fender makes a great ground when you're tight against it on a hot, sweaty summer day. Now I'm not 100% sure if it was my left testicle that acted as the trail head for "the path of least resistance". Or, if my poor proverbial, left nut, was the pivot point from my involuntary, violently, arching of my back and throwing my arms in the air....and ensuing grunt. Either way, my sons thought it was freakin' hilarious and an excellent demonstration of what not to do lesson. We were working outside under a shade tree, never did recover the pliers.
@forum-titan Thanks. Yep, will do my homework and being retired, I will have plenty of time to "manage" the project.
@been-there-ii: You need to write a book about all your mis-haps. This one tops the tractor bucket debacle by a mile!!!
@tsuga haha Believe it or not, I've been told that before. If I'd have written them down, I'd have a best seller....alas that ship has sailed.
After Busch got bought out by InBev, they methodically got rid of us old white guys, opening the door for some fun interview situations.
I must life a charmed life, farming, amature logger, working in maintenance and pyro technician hobbyist, none are the safest things in the world, but I still have all my fingers, toes and both my eyes.
lol I never fathered any more kids! ....that I know of.
