Any Radiator users here? Ever looked at hydronic underflooor heating?

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davidcole

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#272207 15-Jun-2020 09:56

Anyone using radiators here, and looked at hydronic underfloor heating....specifically on a retro fit, and specifically of just one room.

A lot of the doco seems to be new build based....or if you're doing the enttire house.

I was wondering the feasibility of adding in a hydronic loop in the ensuite that we're getting renovated. I just found out (and never thought of it before) that underfloor heating water is only 20 Deg, as opposed to what goes into theradiators is 60deg. So you can use the same boiler but you need to lower the temp.

Just wonering if anyone has done it, or do I just end up with an electric system. The room already has a radiator in it, and I was looking at a water heated towl rail (these have an electric feed for when the radiator system is off in summer).

I like the idea of reusing the water, that we're already heating for the floor.....but wondering if it's worth it.

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BiffTannen

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#2506905 17-Jun-2020 18:58

One think to think about:if something goes wrong with the underfloor heating components, how hard will it be to access and repair it? Some houses have concrete floors with such systems added during construction. If anything goes wrong you have to dig up the concrete, which can pricey. If you've got a polished wooden floor, that could also be expensive to fix.

davidcole

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#2506922 17-Jun-2020 19:29

I since asked a company that I stalled a radiator for us. They said it’s possible but quite a pricy option. And raises the floor by 20mm.

I’ll probably just out in another electric system

Handle9

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#2506979 17-Jun-2020 21:35

Slab or timber floor? IMO on a timber floor it's a waste of time, on a slab it's a massive job to retrofit.

I'd just stick with electric if you have heating in there already.

MikeAqua

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#2507075 18-Jun-2020 09:08

If it's just an ensuite you could fit a radiator-towel rail unit. But you still need a boiler, so it's quite a large outlay just to heat a small area.

I've looked at the same for our ensuite and decided it made more sense cheaper over a ten year cycle to re-tile and add electric under-tile heating.

Mike

davidcole

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#2507080 18-Jun-2020 09:26

MikeAqua:

If it's just an ensuite you could fit a radiator-towel rail unit. But you still need a boiler, so it's quite a large outlay just to heat a small area.

I've looked at the same for our ensuite and decided it made more sense cheaper over a ten year cycle to re-tile and add electric under-tile heating.

I already have an extensive radiator system, that's the only reason I'm considering water based units for floor and towel unit.

I think for the towel rail I'll revisit that more when we're doing it, unless the cost of water based unit far exceeds a regular electric unit, that's there currently.

Decal

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#2507205 18-Jun-2020 11:24

I had underfloor heating through the whole house we built last year.

You run the same water from radiators through the underfloor.We used a heatpump for the water so the Input water was at 45-50c and came out at 20-30c depending on how long the circuit had been on for. Dad runs 60c water through his system as he uses a diesel boiler

davidcole

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#2507207 18-Jun-2020 11:27

Decal:

I had underfloor heating through the whole house we built last year.

You run the same water from radiators through the underfloor.We used a heatpump for the water so the Input water was at 45-50c and came out at 20-30c depending on how long the circuit had been on for. Dad runs 60c water through his system as he uses a diesel boiler

If I was building, and continuing to use radiators...which I love, I wouldn't be having this conversation, it would be part of it. But adding it to one room on a 2nd floor, is possible (product called: Variocomp) plus some sort of mixer that can reduce the temp from 60 to 20ish for the floor, doesn't stack up financially.

MikeAqua

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#2507307 18-Jun-2020 12:54

davidcole:

I already have an extensive radiator system, that's the only reason I'm considering water based units for floor and towel unit.

I think for the towel rail I'll revisit that more when we're doing it, unless the cost of water based unit far exceeds a regular electric unit, that's there currently.

Sorry I missed that. Then I would absolutely go for the towel rail with a thermostat valve and adjust temperature to suit. I was planning on two for our ensuite, they work better if they aren't absolutely covered in towels.

Hydronic towel rails work way better than the electric ones. Had them in an old place in Blenheim I used to live in. Hooked up to a wetback/solar system.

Mike

davidcole

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#2507330 18-Jun-2020 13:18

MikeAqua:

davidcole:

I already have an extensive radiator system, that's the only reason I'm considering water based units for floor and towel unit.

I think for the towel rail I'll revisit that more when we're doing it, unless the cost of water based unit far exceeds a regular electric unit, that's there currently.

Sorry I missed that. Then I would absolutely go for the towel rail with a thermostat valve and adjust temperature to suit. I was planning on two for our ensuite, they work better if they aren't absolutely covered in towels.

Hydronic towel rails work way better than the electric ones. Had them in an old place in Blenheim I used to live in. Hooked up to a wetback/solar system.

Did you have them, or actually have them installed? Do you know how much the unit costs are? I'm not sure I've found a price.

MikeAqua

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#2507454 18-Jun-2020 14:11

davidcole:

Did you have them, or actually have them installed? Do you know how much the unit costs are? I'm not sure I've found a price.

I had them installed in about 2003. I don't remember prices of the individual components sorry.

Mike