Any feedback on radiant / slab heating?

**Daydream Believer** · 07-04-2006, 01:44 AM

We are thinking of possibly building a new, one-level home on a "heated slab" and I would like any possible feedback / comments since I don't know a real lot about this system.........TIA

**Darlene** · 07-04-2006, 09:41 AM

I don't know anything either & always wondered how do you work on pipes, wires,what ever they are (when something goes wrong) if they are incased in a slab?

**jen k** · 07-10-2006, 01:19 AM

if you do go this route, insulate, insulate, insulate...under the slab. i was told by a plumber that if you have this type of heating without the isulation it can take days to warm up the floor initially, but with insulation about six hours. think of all that heat that could be lost through the ground otherwise. oh yeah, and not only should you insulate under the slab but also around your home to a depth of about two feet. it's pretty common and i think it is a good idea. not much can go wrong with the piping once it's installed and a pad is poured over it. also, heat rises, so it makes more sense to have it coming up rather than trying to push it down. it's a different kind of heat and it may be a little harder to regulate as the slab will hold the heat and radiate it throughout the home, so if you're hot and turn it down the slab will still be storing alot of heat and continue to radiate that heat. you'd still have a thermostat to control the temp though. you may not want to install wood flooring over this as the wood is prone to expansion and contraction, (wood isn't recomended over concrete normally because of the humidity) but tile or carpet would be good. you may want to ask about laminate...i'm not too sure about that one. hope that helps some.

**jen k** · 07-10-2006, 01:43 AM

oh yeah, i just remembered... you can do laminate flooring over radiant / slab heating. it's a floating floor system you can get in different wood looks and even the look of tile, but i would put real tile over this type of floor because it would feel great to have underfoot, especially in the bathroom.

anyway it just clicks together... great for the do-it-yourselfer, very little tools needed. also the insulation you would use under the floor doesn't have to be much to reap the benefits and the cost is relatively low for the material from what i understand. there will be different ones on the market and you can always go with a higher cost insulation, but from what i have heard simple one inch white foam insulation (rigid, but not all that dense) will work. but if you hear another one is better it would be worth looking into. just don't go to the expense (initially it will cost more for the slab to have this installed) of going that far without insulating. i'm sure if you go this route and insulate the floor you will more than make up the difference in the cost of insulation in the savings you will reap in heating your home.

**Daydream Believer** · 07-10-2006, 01:59 AM

Thanks for the information!!! We are in Minnesota - with some VERY cold winter temperatures - so it would indeed feel so good to have the nice warm foors then!! A guy that my DH works with has just been helping his brother put this in and I am so curious / anxious to go see it if he'll let!

**Darlene** · 07-10-2006, 07:33 AM

Still wondering, how do they work on it if there is a problem? Anyone know?

**frugalfoster** · 07-10-2006, 11:44 AM

One of my friends had this type of heating and one of the pipes started to leak....it was a disaster for him. They had to jack hammer up the floor to get to the pipes and he swore that he would never have it again. This is a man who usually gets only the best for his home! He thought it was a great concept until he had the problem with it. Yikes what a mess!!!! So be warned that it can happen!

**Daydream Believer** · 07-10-2006, 09:09 PM

Thanks for the feed back.

I do know that a number of years ago there was one brand that was a lot of problems and there was a class action lawsuit. I work with a women that had one of those and they had the same thing happen. however, it was covered in the suit and she did say that they still would prefer this heat to any other.

**jen k** · 07-31-2006, 08:02 PM

about hardwood, i think you could still put this down, but you would need to install some sort of subfloor or slat system down first. you wouldn't want to lay the wood directly on the slab because if there was any moisture it would affect the wood. think about the radiant factor in this type of construction when choosing the flooring, some floor products may have too much of an insulation factor and therefore keep some of that heat you're after from warming the room... tile, would radiate that heat... lino, carpet, would allow some of that heat through. just some thoughts...