More About Dry System Hydronic

Hydronic dry system radiant flooring is installed beneath your finished flooring. There are several manufacturers that have dry radiant systems where the radiant floor tubing can be place between two layers of plywood above the floor, or underneath the floor beneath the subflooring.

Hydronic radiant floor systems use pumps to force heated water through tubing that is located in loops underneath the flooring. The heated water then heats the surrounding air as well as the surrounding flooring material, which directly warms the objects in the room.

When installing hydronic radiant above floor systems, grooved wood panel are installed beneath the finished floor. The size of the panels will vary, depending on the manufacturer. PEX also known as cross-linked polyethylene tubing is inserted into the grooves, which allows the tubing to set flush with the panel’s surface. These panels can be used with the majority of different floor coverings including most tiles, marble, vinyl,
hardwood, and carpeting.

The panels for hydronic above flooring systems can be purchased separately in an accordion style. The accordion style has six panels, which are connected with fiber tape. The panels can then unfold to cover larger surfaces. These panels are also grooved and can accommodate 5/16” PEX tubing. The bottoms of the panels are covered with aluminum, which acts as a reflective barrier to reflect the heat into the living space.

Dual function panels provide the structural requirements of a subfloor, and a radiant floor heating system. The sizes of the panels are 4x8-foot, and 1-1/8-inch thick, and are tongue-and-groove. Dual function panels are designed to use ½-inch PEX tubing and are available in 3 types, with straight grooves, 90-degree turns, and 180-degree turns.

With hydronic radiant below flooring systems, the PEX tubing can be attached to the to the bottom of the subfloor or they can be suspended from the subfloor. If you are planning to retrofit a home, then this type of system is less expensive to install than the above floor systems. However, below hydronic radiant floor systems do require a higher temperature source in order for it to perform equally well as an above floor system.

Whether you install above or below floor hydronic radiant heating, the systems are extremely energy efficient. Hydronic radiant systems heat the air directly above the floor. Radiant heated rooms feel warmer than rooms heated with forced air system, because the heat tends to rise with forced air systems, which makes the lower air seem cooler. With hydronic radiant systems, the temperature in the room remains constant.
Therefore, less energy is used.

However, it does take longer to feel the warmth from a radiant floor heating system than it does from a conventional forced air system. This is because of the heat transfer through the floor’s thermal mass. Another factor that should be considered is that when retrofitting a home with above floor systems the existing finished flooring will have to be removed. However, with a below floor systems holes will have to be drilled through the floor joists for the PEX tubing to pass through.

The average price per panel to attach to the subfloors range from $11.oo to $13.00 depending on the size of the panels. The accordion style panels are more expensive ranging in price from $75.00 and $90.00 and the dual function panel are the most expensive costing approximately $130.00 for the straight grooved panels and $135.00 for the curve-grooved panels.

For those of you who think this is expensive, you must consider the 20% to 40% reduction in heating bills that you can receive once you install a hydronic radiant floor system. The amount of money you will be saving on your energy bills will more than pay for the cost of installation. Every year the cost of heating a home keeps going up, wouldn’t it be nice to finally see a reduction in your energy bills?

Another reason many people are hesitant about installing a hydronic radiant floor is the fact they feel that it will be difficult. However, most installations are very easy. Simply attach the panels to the subfloor using approximately 10 screws per panel. Then run a bead of caulking in the grooves to hold the tubing in place. Make sure that the tubing is in the grooves and pressed flush with the panel’s surface so that the tubing does
not rise above the panel.

Dual function panels can be used for joists that are spaced at 12?, 16?, and 24? on center. Most manufacturers of dual function panels recommend that they are both screwed and fastened using an adhesive during installation to firmly secure the panels. The recommended adhesive is an elastomeric bonding material, which is used in the grooves before the tubes are installed. As with the grooved panels, the tube
must be pressed down into the groove flush with the panel’s surface.

There are two methods for installing below floor hydronic radiant systems. The first method involves installing the PEX tubing into the grooves of an aluminum sheet, which is then attached using staples to the bottom of the subfloor. The other method involves the hanging of the PEX tubing several inches below the subfloor. However, with this method, insulation must be installed underneath the tubing, allowing a 2” to 4” air space between the insulation and the subfloor. Both of these methods require that the floor joist be drilled so that the PEX can be passed through the joists.

The average warranty for a hydronic radiant system ranges from 10 to 25 years depending on manufacturer and if the system was installed by a certified contractor. In addition, the warranty for the boards and fittings can vary, with the warranty for the boards sometimes being for the life of the structure, whereas the warranty for the fittings only lasting from 18 months to 2 years. Therefore, if longevity of a warranty is important to you,
then make sure that you read and understand the warranty and what will void it, before you install your hydronic radiant system. Some warranties are voided if the recommended materials are not used.

There are several reasons why you should consider Hydronic radiant systems. First, they provide even heating throughout the entire floor and room eliminating any hot or cold spots. Second, because they do not require vents and ductwork, they eliminate dust, draft, and noise problems. Third and possible the most important is that they can reduce your monthly heating cost by 20% to 40%. Therefore, if you are planning a
renovation of your current home, or building a new home, consider installing a hydronic radiant system. You’ll be glad that you did.

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