Radiant Floor System Installations - Central Boiler CLASSIC Owner's Manual

Radiant Floor System Installations

Installing radiant floor (ceiling) heating is a very viable
heating option when either remodeling or building new.
Radiant floor heat can also be adding to an existing home
easily if the floor joists are exposed (as in an unfinished
basement). The tubing may be installed in a wide variety of
configurations and locations including but not limited to
the following: in or under a concrete slab, within the subfloor
system (gypcrete), within the floor and ceiling joist system,
or within the walls.
When installing tubing between floor joists (16 in. on
center) run two ½ in. tubes between each joist. Insulate
below tubing to prevent excessive heat in the lower level.
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Proper insulation is key to effective radiant heating and
controlling large heat demands. Heat from this type of
system radiates nearly equally in all directions; therefore as
an example, if tubing is installed below a slab, the ground
below the slab must be dry and well insulated. If not properly
insulated, nearly 50% of the heat will be wasted warming
up the ground below the slab.
Areas with high water tables need to be prepared properly
to avoid contact between the ground water and tubing.
The following illustrations are examples of radiant
heating systems using ½ in. tubing in the loops. The spacing
of each circuit should be 12 in. between tubes. The water
circulates in opposite directions to provide an even
distribution of heat. The mixing valve regulates the
temperature of the water circulating through the loops by
mixing return water with the supply water (140º F or less is
preferred). In areas where high heat loss is expected, loop
spacing may be reduced to 10 in. or less. If additional
information is desired, contact either your dealer or Central
Boiler.
Fig. 31
Section 3 - Furnace Installation