Hydronic Heat

Step 3: Analyze your project requirements - determine your project needs and address any initial concerns:

To properly analyze your hydronic heat project requirements you’ll need to know or be able to provide the following information - or your supplier will need to be able to figure it out for you.

Heat Load Estimate - Heat Source Sizing

To insure that your radiant floor heat system will do the job - your system needs to be designed to put out more BTU’s per hour than your structure can lose.  There are a few different ways to approach a heat loss estimate.  Sometimes the architect does one as part of the floor plan - you may need to look to a mechanical engineer or your radiant system designer.

Factors that come into play include the climate at your construction site - insulation values for walls, ceilings, windows and doors - and domestic hot water usage.

Hydronic Heating Installation Methods Include:

* Tubing installed in a concrete slab on grade
* Tubing installed in a topping slab
* Tubing installed in a thin-slab on Subfloor
* Tubing attached below a Subfloor
* Tubing attached with heat transfer plates below a Subfloor
* Engineered Subfloor with metal and tubing grooves
* Above-floor boards with metal and grooves
* Lumber overlay method with or without plates

See our “radiant basics” category page for a brief overview of these methods.

Your radiant heat system design will need to take into account the method by which your tubing will be installed.  In some cases, more than one method will work, and that means you and your system designer will have to decide which methods are right for your project.

Tubing Spacing

This will be determined by the heat loss estimate and your method of tubing installation.  Some suppliers will provide you with a customized tubing layout with spacing and loop length guidelines.  This can be an invaluable service to a first-time radiant installer and opens the door for novice do-it-yourselfers to install their own radiant system - and get it right the first time.

Operating Temperature

This will be affected by all of the above factors.  Your system designer should be able to give you the design temperature range for your system.  In some cases, further tweaking may be necessary once your system is up and running.

Fuel Type

You have several options: Natural Gas, Oil, Propane, Electric, Wood, Solar, Waste Oil, Bio-Diesel and a few other alternatives.  Your choice of heat sources may be determined by the type of fuel choices available at your site.

Zoning

Your system designer should be able to make zoning recommendations for you based on your plans.  If you have specific zoning requirements, let your designer know - they’re usually happy to accomodate those requests.

You may need custom radiant system design work and system submittal documentation - this will be important when it comes to your permit applications and sometimes your energy code/Title 24 paperwork as well.

If you’d like me to take a look at your hydronic heat project and provide an estimate, feel free to contact me through the contact form above…

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Step 6: Inspect your hydronic heat system upon arrival - Install your new radiant system.

Depending on the vendor and their shipper - you may be able to track your order and shipment status online.  Some shippers will call you to set up a delivery appointment.

Once your package arrives, it’s a good idea to check it for damage - if there is obvious damage you have a couple of options.  You can refuse the shipment, in cases of serious damage this is your best bet.  An alternative would be to call your supplier before the shipper leaves and discuss it with one of their support staff.  They may want to see a picture and with today’s cell phones - that may be an easy way to work out the best resolution.

Hopefully, your system arrived without damage.  Unpack your equipment and familiarize yourself with the components, the installation manual and any tubing layout diagrams they may have supplied.

When you’re ready, begin your installation.  If any questions come up during your install, hopefully the vendor you’ve chosen has support staff on hand to walk you through any issues as they arise.

I hope you’ve found this series of articles helpful.  If you have any questions or concerns, let me know.

I would be happy to help you go through this process and insure a properly designed hydronic heat system with a customized package of components.  You may contact me here through our contact form and request a project questionnaire.

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