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I would like to know what is the best way to install radiant floor heat in my OLD house? My main floor is 1+” thick oak laid directly onto the joist. The second floor is 1 1/4″ thick heart pine also laid directly onto joist. My question is if I install PEX tubing with the reflective shields directly against my old floors will my floor boards warp or is this safe enough not worry about? Also would like to know at what temp. the water should to heated for a consistent heat? I am thinking about using a tankless hot water heater dedicated just for heating.
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Geez Cor,
Why screw up an old log home when you don't have to?
There's a dozen other ways to heat with high efficiency hot water systems than trying to use radiant floor heating tubes.
How big is this house? Do you have any standard dividing walls? Is there a full or partial basement? Is there any additions to this house? Is it a standard square or rectangle shape? 1 1/2 storey construction? Any existing fireplaces and are they active and where are they located in the structure, end or center?
Gabe
*The footprint of the house is 29 X 27. There are no dividing walls on the first floor and the second floor has 2 bedrooms, bathroom and an office. There are 2 chimneys each located on the 27 ft side of the house in the middle of the wall, one is a fire place not usable at this time and the other one has a wood stove attached no fire place. There is an addition all stone its 14 X 20 on a slab and there is a basement, a rubble stone foundation and ceiling height is 5'6". the ceiling on 1st floor is 7'2" and the ceiling on the @nd floor is 6'3". I'm getting to old to be cutting firewood every winter and radiant floor heating seemed to be the easiest way to heat this house, any other suggestions would be helpful.
*The footprint of the house is 29 X 27. There are no dividing walls on the first floor and the second floor has 2 bedrooms, bathroom and an office. There are 2 chimneys each located on the 27 ft side of the house in the middle of the wall, one is a fire place not usable at this time and the other one has a wood stove attached no fire place. There is an addition all stone its 14 X 20 on a slab and there is a basement, a rubble stone foundation and ceiling height is 5'6". the ceiling on 1st floor is 7'2" and the ceiling on the 2nd floor is 6'3". I'm getting to old to be cutting firewood every winter and radiant floor heating seemed to be the easiest way to heat this house, any other suggestions would be helpful.
*Cor,Check out the restoration of Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest http://www.poplarforest.org/ . The building has been restored to the way it was described in Jefferson's correspondence from France in the 1820s, the attic and basement included. But they did include PEX radiant heating under 1" quarter-sawn white oak, scraped and oiled. There is nogging in the joists so the piping is invisible from the basement. They might help you on water temperatures and effect on the wood, but their installation is rather recent.
*Hi Cor,How about taking one of these fireplaces (the one nearest the NW corner of your cabin) and converting it to a high efficiency gas forced air furnace in order to vent to the 2nd floor and basement at the same time. Convert the second fireplace to a gas fireplace with blowers into both spaces as well.If you don't have gas, you can install a low-boy oil fired unit in the basement under the same NW fireplace and use the stone work to cover your ductwork to the top floors. Install regular venting under the first floor under each window.If you want to use a hot water system, you can still find some of those old cast iron units to fit somewhat the style of your home.These are just a few of my first impressions, hope it helps to think up some alternatives.Gabe
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I would like to know what is the best way to install radiant floor heat in my OLD house? My main floor is 1+" thick oak laid directly onto the joist. The second floor is 1 1/4" thick heart pine also laid directly onto joist. My question is if I install PEX tubing with the reflective shields directly against my old floors will my floor boards warp or is this safe enough not worry about? Also would like to know at what temp. the water should to heated for a consistent heat? I am thinking about using a tankless hot water heater dedicated just for heating.