Do It Yourself Hydraunic Floor Heating On Existing Concrete Floor

This installation is generally placed over an existing concrete slab.

Do it yourself hydraunic floor heating on existing concrete floor.

Between joists in a concrete slab under hardwood or tile etc. Heating up the mass of concrete is not necessarily a good thing when you want the entire surface floor to be warmed. This is the best choice for new construction and areas receiving new slabs. The thermofin u heat transfer plates are easier to install if the fins are down against the subfloor and plywood sleepers on the fins.

Home products hydronic systems concrete. Radiant air floors don t hold large amount of heat and for this reason they are used mainly in commercial buildings. Electric radiant floors do a great job at heating any kind of home but they re extremely expensive. Embedding your radiant heating system into a concrete slab is one of the most cost effective ways to install it and most energy efficient being that concrete is a great thermal mass.

There are several manufacturers of electric radiant floor heating systems that can be placed directly on top of an existing concrete slab. Radiant heating works well with ceramic tile and vinyl but not with wood floors. With a floor sensor controlling the radiant zone independent of the room s air temperature the floor maintains whatever baseline temperature you desire and the other heat sources if used can make up the difference. With a hydronic system you can attach aluminum plates beneath the floor to spread and store heat.

I don t particularly like them however because they re not very energy efficient. In floor heating works well heating spaces of all size and use. Large warehouses to tiny bathrooms lavish homes to well used workshops. Its success with carpeted floors depends on the length of the weave thick carpets or those with thick pads won t work well as heat generated by the system will.

Some look like wire fencing that you roll out over the floor. Hydronic or liquid floors these cost less and are therefore used more often in residential construction.