In episode #59 of the On the Job video series, Larry Janesky, owner and founder of Dr. Energy Saver, walk us through a project where radiant heating was used to make a two-level building more comfortable and energy efficient.
A high efficiency boiler was installed to heat up the water for the system. A network of pipes designed to conduct the heated water was then installed under the concrete slab at the ground level, and under the wood subfloor of the above level.
There are many advantages to using this type of heating system in a two-level building. In conventional heating systems, hot air is blown through the vents but does not heat up the concrete slab. This causes the concrete slab to still be very cold and the room would still feel very cold close to the ground.
The thick concrete slab used in a radiant heating system provides enough thermal mass to conserve the heat provided by the radiant heating system for a long time, so when the big garage doors in this particular structure are open, there isn’t a lot of heat loss to the outside, and once the doors are closed the rate of heat recovery is higher and the entire place will warm back up very quickly.
A similar network of hot water lines was attached beneath the subfloor on the upper level, attached to aluminum plates that help distribute heat through the surface, making the upstairs room just as comfortable as the ground level room.
The owner of this building is now very happy with the results in terms of comfort and energy savings. Would you like to learn more about other great ways to make your home more comfortable and save a lot of money on your heating and cooling bills?
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