clintanjunior:
I am looking for information on installing pipe in a concrete floor for radiant heat. I am planning on using plastic coil pipe connected to a gas water heater with a circulator pump. Has anyone done this? What should I do or what shouldn’t I do?
Any tips? Thank you.
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Tags Radiant Heating
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Duct Systems
March 12th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I had it in my last house. WONDERFUL! It was copper tubing in the concrete. Double loops in the area by the overhead door. Also had loops in family room and in basement. There was a loop in the driveway, but I disconnected it. It looked like the driveway was on fire…steam and fog! The hot water tank never shut off when it was cold out. First the pump went , I replaced it. When the water tank started to leak, I replaced it with the smallest hot water boiler I could find. 50,000 btu’s. It cost $350 — the new water heater was going to cost $280. Boy do I miss the warm car in the winter……….
March 14th, 2009 at 12:14 am
The radiant is great but the water heater is not a good idea. The efficiency of the water heater is pretty low so it will cost quite a bit to run. You could get a wall hung condensing boiler and save. For more info, check out the boiler page at
March 16th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
When considering radiant heat in a garage floor there are some issues that come up. Your garage should be well insulated with an insulated garage door. You should use foam board insulation under the concrete. Use the plastic type tubing, Use a boiler not a hot water heater and you can attach a side arm to the boiler to heat your domestic water. Also timers work well.
March 17th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
A water heater will work fine, just make sure it is a powervent or higher efficiency model. The main thing you need to do is replace the relief valve on the water heater with a boiler relief valve! Very important! Also be sure to install an expansion tank in the system and it will work fine and be safe. Also when buying the tubing be sure it has an oxygen barrier on it otherwise you will need a stainless or bronze pump and all copper or brass fittings which can get expensive.
March 20th, 2009 at 6:00 am
i put heat in my garage floor and being a dumbricklayer used a hot water tank…i have recently seen the wall type heaters the other gentleman just mentioned and if anything happens to my water heater i will replace it with something more efficient…you dont need styrofoam under the floor as they have highly reflective insulation now that is expressly for radiant heat…use pex tubing not copper…and like they said insulate well…