Hydrondic heating w/ existing slab
bloomprojects
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Basement remodel– I have an existing concrete slab and would like to install a hydronic heating system over it. Many questions…. but do I need to insulate first? How thick? What is best- bed the PEX in concrete, gypcrete, or pre-made channel systems for the piping? The finished floor will be carpet.
Replies
How much head room do you have? Insulation would sure be preferred if it is possible. As much as you can--two inches of xps would be good, but anything would help.
As for the tubing, another option I have heard of is fastening sleepers to the slab, installing the tubing, and then putting sand in the space. Then plywood on the sleepers. I heard this from a mason who thought it was the preferred retrofit for in floor.
gypsolite is good consider other flooring because carpet will not let the heat through as much as tile or hardwood
where are you located, is the existing slab on grade or buried, and what's going over it?
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I'm in Seattle. The slab is on grade and the finished floor will be carpet over pad. I think I need to install 2 inches of insulation, then gypcrete or lightweight concrete with Pex imbedded, then pad/carpet. The trouble is I then lose 4 inches of height... which I'd rather not. Any ideas? I hear the existing slab will suck the heat down, thus the insulation requirement. I also hear the carpet/pad reduces the effectiveness of the hydronic system.