I am remodeling my 2nd floor bathroom which now has a hot water radiator. The room is about 8 x 13 and I am planning to install ceramic flooring.
Under the tile I am debating whether to install an electric mat or go through the trouble of putting in hydronic heat in a grooved subfloor. I no longer want to have the radiator in the room so I want the system to heat the room.
Has anyone ever combined a hot water boiler and hydronic heat?(obviously a much cooler system)
thanks
Replies
At the controls end, you'd need to install a 3-way valve to limit the temperature to the radiant floor.
However if you did that, you might be able to use the existing feeds to the bathroom to do the radiant.
Normally that's not a good idea, but for a small radiant area the cooler return temps should not pose a problem for your boiler.
This assumes you have a home-run to that radiator, however. Otherwise you'll probably need to home-run something to the bathroom, and you'll need a pump in any case after the 3-way.
If all that sounds like it's too much trouble (such as getting the feeds through un-demo'e space) then for small areas electric radiant is a fine choice.
-=Northeast Radiant Technology=-
Radiant Design, Consultation, Parts Supply
http://www.NRTradiant.com
An example of how to properly runa radiant loop off of steam boiler is available at http://www.heatinghelp.com
...that's not a mistake, it's rustic
If you go with electric and take out the radiator; make sure that it can heat the room. Especially if it is on an outside wall, most electric radiant I have seen is for comfort not space heating.
wyatt
I have to look if I have a one pipe or two pipe hot water system. It looks like if I have a two pipe system I might be able to use the cold water return on the hydronic floor which would make it pretty easy. Otherwise, I have to do a homerun to the boiler which might be a lot of work.
Thanks for all the advice.
Wish me luck.
Steam systems come in 1 or 2 pipe systems. As far as I know, hot water only comes in the two pipe variety....that's not a mistake, it's rustic
Not necessarily. you can use diverter tees and run a series header around. I don't like it, and would never recommend it, but I see it a lot.-------------------------------------
-=Northeast Radiant Technology=-
Radiant Design, Consultation, Parts Supply
http://www.NRTradiant.com