I am in the final stages of designing a 2 story, energy efficient home in North Carolina. SIP walls and roof, passive solar, insulated slab.
So my question is this: we do have a heating season here (Piedmont area), so the method of heating the space is an issue. While I enjoy the luxury aspects of the radiant system, I have learned from various anecdotal reports that the cost savings from using them is not as great in super insulated houses in moderate climates.
Since we have to have ducting in the house anyway to run the necessary a/c and erv systems it strikes me as more logical to then heat via those same ducts. But, our slab will be the finished floor on the first level and I would really like to have a warm floor in that space.
Is it ever the case that the first floor slab only is run off of the radiant heat and then the scone floor is heated via force air? Or is it possible to heat the entire space via the first floor slab? The reason I ask is b/c it looks like I can runs some PEX in the slab for under 1000, which is reasonable for a luxury amenity. However, when you look into putting it into the secong floor framing an thhe associated reflectors or warmboards, it quickly becomes both expensive and labor intensive.
Does anyone have experience with this type of installation?
Thanks
Replies
Can't comment on your area, but can give some info on radiant.
Radiant is slow & even, forced air is quick, but spoty.
Heat rises ofcours & in a perfect world in a perfectly insulated house a first floor radiant would heat the second floor, but we're not in a perfect world & heat loss is going to be a factor.
If it were mine I would run radiant on the first floor, & a coil in the duct system to heat the second floor.
I fear no man & only one GOD. Me
So in that scenario, would you put your thermostat on the second floor to regulate the temp? Or is is it possible to have two thermostats independantly operating the two heat sources?
I would zone control it, so yes I would use two different thermostats.
Radiant floor systems don't like multiple temp programs, they prefer the Ron Popeil approach----- "set it & forget it".I fear no man & only one GOD. Me
Put the tubing in the slab, wire tie it to the mesh. Make sure that the tube is sealed and has pressure (10-32psi) either air or water when you pour. You can decide later how much to use it.
Winston-Salem area. You'll be happy with a heated slab. You don't do it for cost savings. You do it for comfort. A warm slab feels better than a cold one (and even 70 degree slabs can feel cold in the winter). The slab won't heat the second floor.
I have RFH on my first floor, FHW baseboard on my second except the 2 baths that also have RFH, and duct work supplying AC to the whole place. Works just fine. I could add the hot water to the FCU and get heat from my duct work if I wanted to but placement of the registers was based on AC.
RFH takes near 24 hours (much further north than you) so I installed a phone controlled t,stat and call ahead turning the heat up. I can also adjust my AC.
Think about adding the hot water to your AC just for those quick warm ups.