Radiant heat in the basement enough?
My lovely partner and I are adding a 16 X 26 foot addition to our 1300 sq ft ranch on the shores of Georgian Bay in Ontario. The Arxx walls are up, and the next step is to run in the radiant floot heat in the basement floor of the addition. The original house is heated with natural gas forced air, but the furnace is at the other end of the house, and the ducts are undersized to service this addition. As well as the radiant floor heat in the basement, the addition will have a gas fireplace on a exterior wall. Linda being thin blooded insists tjhat we will need additional heat on the main floor, in the form of a RFH loop. The main floor will be 2X4 stud walls, strapped with 2X2’s. the exterior sheeting wll be either tentest, or 7/16ths OSB, and finished with vertical axis B and B wood siding. (Not ready for the look of vinyl yet). The wall cavities will be insulated with PU foam. Will this heating combination provide a adequate level of comfort on the main floor, or should we consider a RFH coil under the main floor as well .
Big Er,
Thornbury, ON.
Replies
I would run the RFH under the main floor as well. I don't think that the gas fireplace will be enough to heat your main floor during those really cold spells.
The RFH that I'm familiar will only heat one floor. I've been in cabins that size that had open lofts and you could feel the temp. drop as you went up the stairs. It seemed like the heat only went up to 8' and then petered out.
I am by no means a heating expert(carpenter) but I have worked in enough places during the winter in Alaska to know what didn't work and RFH in the basement will not heat the main floor.
Dave
My thought would be that it would be better to put it in and not need it, than need it and not have put it in. My RFH has 7 loops. Each loop can be adjusted to run warmer or colder. So set it up that the main floor doesn't need to be heating even if the basement is on.
Of course, I am not a contractor, so my advice should be taken with a grain of salt.
long answer short ...
she doesn't think it'll be enough ...
it won't be enough.
it's heat ... don't get cheap now.
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry