As for the water temperature, with the tubing in contact with the finished floor material the water doesn’t need to be much warmer than the room itself so the wood shouldn’t “cook”. The Warmboard system does not have to heat the subfloor at all which is a huge saving.

As for the water temperature, with the tubing in contact with the finished floor material the water doesn’t need to be much warmer than the room itself so the wood shouldn’t “cook”. The Warmboard system does not have to heat the subfloor at all which is a huge saving.

The combination of Warmboard and solar energy (or geothermal) is an ideal interface because it is easier to produce water temperatures of 100ºF than 120ºF. We live in a time where heat sources in our lifetime will change to renewable resources. Warmboard has the capability to sustain the change, from non-renewable heat resources to alternative ones.

Additionally, Warmboard contributes to healthy and clean indoor air quality, while providing superior comfort. Germs, dust, pollen and mold spores generally associated with forced air systems do not apply to Warmboard.

Warmboard was recently selected as a Top Ten Green Building Product of 2007 by Sustainable Industries.

Marla Florez, Warmboard Inc.

The combination of Warmboard and solar energy (or geothermal) is an ideal interface because it is easier to produce water temperatures of 100ºF than 120ºF. We live in a time where heat sources in our lifetime will change to renewable resources. Warmboard has the capability to sustain the change, from non-renewable heat resources to alternative ones.

Additionally, Warmboard contributes to healthy and clean indoor air quality, while providing superior comfort. Germs, dust, pollen and mold spores generally associated with forced air systems do not apply to Warmboard.

Warmboard was recently selected as a Top Ten Green Building Product of 2007 by Sustainable Industries.

Marla Florez, Warmboard Inc.

Typically, radiant tubing is a single, continuous piece of PEX tubing, so it’s less prone to failure (unless there is a manufacturing problem with the material itself) than a standard plumbing line with its numerous joints and connections. The PEX connections are typically done at a manifold location which is generally more accessible.

Thermal lag is more of an issue with radiant systems embedded in concrete. Warmboard shouldn’t have much lag at all. Much like a conventional radiator, it should start giving off heat fairly quickly. It’s just hidden underfloor, rather than being an element in the space. Underfloor installation makes it much more uniform in its

I don’t think that the water temperatures for a radiant system are likely to ‘cook’ the wood they are running with.

I’m putting a retrofit radiant system (fastened up from the underside, in the basement, rather than using Warmboard, but since I’m doing it myself, the labor is cheap) into my own house right now, so I’ll have some firsthand experience to report back to you.

Typically, radiant tubing is a single, continuous piece of PEX tubing, so it’s less prone to failure (unless there is a manufacturing problem with the material itself) than a standard plumbing line with its numerous joints and connections. The PEX connections are typically done at a manifold location which is generally more accessible.

Thermal lag is more of an issue with radiant systems embedded in concrete. Warmboard shouldn’t have much lag at all. Much like a conventional radiator, it should start giving off heat fairly quickly. It’s just hidden underfloor, rather than being an element in the space. Underfloor installation makes it much more uniform in its

I don’t think that the water temperatures for a radiant system are likely to ‘cook’ the wood they are running with.

I’m putting a retrofit radiant system (fastened up from the underside, in the basement, rather than using Warmboard, but since I’m doing it myself, the labor is cheap) into my own house right now, so I’ll have some firsthand experience to report back to you.

a) about the logic of embedding all of this piping in a system where if anything goes wrong, it will be impossible to find and fix without tearing up a whole lot of house; a duct is just a simple pipe for air, not much can go wrong and not much can happen if it does;

b) there is a huge issue of thermal lag. we talk about setback thermostats as being one of the best ways to save energy, but a radiant floor system takes hours to change temperature.

c) I just cannot imagine what wood that is cooked half the year like this is going to look like in ten years, but I suspect it will be dried and warped beyond use, and I am not certain that the “engineered” floors are any better.

I used to think that radiant flooring was really green, because it put the heat in the right place and one felt much warmer at a lower temperature. I am no longer so sure.

a) about the logic of embedding all of this piping in a system where if anything goes wrong, it will be impossible to find and fix without tearing up a whole lot of house; a duct is just a simple pipe for air, not much can go wrong and not much can happen if it does;

b) there is a huge issue of thermal lag. we talk about setback thermostats as being one of the best ways to save energy, but a radiant floor system takes hours to change temperature.

c) I just cannot imagine what wood that is cooked half the year like this is going to look like in ten years, but I suspect it will be dried and warped beyond use, and I am not certain that the “engineered” floors are any better.

I used to think that radiant flooring was really green, because it put the heat in the right place and one felt much warmer at a lower temperature. I am no longer so sure.