Radiator heat vs. forced air for house renovation

[Anonymous]

We're doing a smaller renovation and are:
- adding a few more radiators for heat
- keeping low-velocity air in existing parts of the home
- adding a split system for the new sections

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're doing a smaller renovation and are:
- adding a few more radiators for heat
- keeping low-velocity air in existing parts of the home
- adding a split system for the new sections

Sounds like an awful Frankenstein mish mash of stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're doing a smaller renovation and are:
- adding a few more radiators for heat
- keeping low-velocity air in existing parts of the home
- adding a split system for the new sections

Sounds like an awful Frankenstein mish mash of stuff.

LOL. Thanks, Igor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard one major criticism of radiant heat flooring: It's great initially, but if it breaks down they have to rip up the floor/ceiling to get at it for repairs.

I don't understand that, at least if we're talking about hydronic floors. If you have regular radiators and there's trouble with your boiler, you don't have to do anything to the radiators. With radiant floor heat, you have a hose with hot water running under your floor.

Did he mean that if you poke a hole in it, you'd have to rip out the floor or ceiling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard one major criticism of radiant heat flooring: It's great initially, but if it breaks down they have to rip up the floor/ceiling to get at it for repairs.

I don't understand that, at least if we're talking about hydronic floors. If you have regular radiators and there's trouble with your boiler, you don't have to do anything to the radiators. With radiant floor heat, you have a hose with hot water running under your floor.

Did he mean that if you poke a hole in it, you'd have to rip out the floor or ceiling?

Most radiant floors are electric dum dum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to the guy saying boilers/radiators are a major negative on resale - he shows up saying the same thing every time this question is posed (check the archives for more on this topic). There are a lot of benefits to boilers/radiators including air quality, efficiency, silent operation, and even the "coziness" factor (think warming your gloves on the radiator before you put them on). Runtal radiators are very efficient, compact and even multi-functional (they have a bathroom model that doubles as a towel rack). Bottom line, radiator heat is superior, IMO, and for me was even a plus when purchasing vs. negative.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard one major criticism of radiant heat flooring: It's great initially, but if it breaks down they have to rip up the floor/ceiling to get at it for repairs.

I don't understand that, at least if we're talking about hydronic floors. If you have regular radiators and there's trouble with your boiler, you don't have to do anything to the radiators. With radiant floor heat, you have a hose with hot water running under your floor.

Did he mean that if you poke a hole in it, you'd have to rip out the floor or ceiling?

Most radiant floors are electric dum dum

People often put in an electrical mat under tile in the bathroom, but I don't think that's what the OP is talking about, and I don't know if it counts as "most radiant floors" anyway.

FWIW, there is some sort of spare wiring you can do that makes it easy to repair a mat that's gone bad.

PS Dear rest of DCUM: What's the rule if someone calls you "dum dum"? Can I say "Oh yeah, poopyhead?" or "I know you are but what am I?" I mean, he started it.

[Anonymous]

Radiant floors can be water based or electric (dum dum) x2. Some say that the water ones are superior. I'm not sure how one repairs them if something under the floor goes bad.

[Anonymous]

Forced air is not great when it's very cold. Radiators keep you warmer.

[Anonymous]

Our previous home had forced hot air heat, our current home has forced hot water. I would not go back to hot air for any amount of money. Radiator heat rocks. SO much more comfortable, and so much less dust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forced air is not great when it's very cold. Radiators keep you warmer.

+1 When my forced air furnace kicks on, it blows a blast of cold air throughout the house for the first ten minutes. What I hate even more is how modern HVAC systems dry the air so much that my skin and throat get dry. Radiant heat is so much more soothing. We are currently prospective house buyers who much prefer radiators and other forms of radiant heat over a system with duct work, even though my family owns a steel company that manufactures duct work!

[Anonymous]

What is wrong with everyone's furnace hvac systems that they don't have humidifiers and they blow cold air? I have never experienced these issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Radiator heaters ROCK. No toxins being blown about, they are sturdy, reliable etc. etc. I would never replace them if they were in my house. And the PP who mentioned the cozy factor is so right. I even used mine to soften butter when baking. People just want to make more money by replacing good working things.

What toxins are being blown about? You also lose usable wall space. Another issue is that reaction time is slow so during fall and spring the heat might still be radiating when the AC comes on.

In my house we have a microwave or a stove that can soften butter.

Anyways radiant heat under tiles is relatively cheap to install and you can get heat mats installed under joists for other types of flooring.

You sound very sophisticated in your house with the microwave and stove

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to the guy saying boilers/radiators are a major negative on resale - he shows up saying the same thing every time this question is posed (check the archives for more on this topic). There are a lot of benefits to boilers/radiators including air quality, efficiency, silent operation, and even the "coziness" factor (think warming your gloves on the radiator before you put them on). Runtal radiators are very efficient, compact and even multi-functional (they have a bathroom model that doubles as a towel rack). Bottom line, radiator heat is superior, IMO, and for me was even a plus when purchasing vs. negative.

+1

+2

[Anonymous]

We skipped over homes that had radiators as did most people we know.in fact removing them is a top todo after buying an older home.