Radiant Floor Heating, Second Edition

The latest radiant floor heating methods and materials In this fully updated guide, master plumber and long-time contractor R. Dodge Woodson explains, step by step, how to install, test, and debug in-floor heating systems--the healthy, quiet, economical, and clean heating method. Radiant Floor Heating, Second Edition now offers details on alternative fuel sources and covers new material options and installation procedures, updated code information, and state-of-the-art piping and heating equipment. Revised illustrations featuring modern products are included in this practical resource. Get everything you need to: Understand and explain the advantages of in-floor radiant heating Select superior equipment--tubing, boilers, expansion tanks, pumps, and controls Install embedded and dry radiant heat systems in new or existing homes Incorporate hot water heating into your designs Set up heating zones for variable temperatures throughout a house Design a solar-powered system Use alternative fuel sources Provide outdoor ice removal and other amenities Troubleshoot and repair system problems McGraw-Hill Contents 8 Preface 16 Chapter 1 Why Aren’t More Contractors Using In-Floor Heating Systems? 20 Putting Heat in a Concrete Slab 23 Site Preparation 28 Manifold Risers 29 Follow the Design 30 Testing 32 Thin-Slab Installations 33 Construction Considerations 34 Concrete or Gypsum? 34 Lightweight Concrete 36 Dry Systems 36 Above-Floor Systems 37 Below-Floor Systems 37 Chapter 2 Comparing Radiant-Floor Systems to Other Systems 38 Comfort 39 Efficiency 40 Dust 41 Design Issues 41 Physical Appearance 43 General Maintenance 43 Basement Floors 44 Heat Sources 45 A Perfect System 45 Chapter 3 Designing Functional, Cost-Effective Systems 48 Ferrous Components 49 Tubing Size 50 The Controls 51 Zones 51 No Installation 54 Heat a Ceiling? 55 Between the Floor Joists 55 Worth Looking Into 56 How Much Tubing Is Needed? 57 Software 57 Tubing Routes 58 Chapter 4 Combining Radiant Floor Systems with Baseboard Systems 62 Why Add Heat? 63 The Temperature Problem 64 Mixing Tanks 68 Heat Exchangers 69 Motorized Mixing Valves 70 Chapter 5 Establishing Heating Zones 72 Primary Living Space 74 Bedrooms 75 Bathrooms 78 Specialty Rooms 78 Garages 79 Kitchens 80 General Living Space 80 Outdoor Heating 80 Common Sense 81 Chapter 6 The Mechanics of Manifolds 82 Choosing a Location 86 Chapter 7 Boilers 90 Cast-Iron Boilers 93 Steel Boilers 96 Fuel Oil 97 Operating Fundamentals 98 Gas-Fired Boilers 99 Boiler Selection 101 Chapter 8 Material Selection 104 What Is PEX? 104 Stress 106 Oxygen Diffusion 107 Stopping Oxygen Diffusion 109 Temperature and Pressure Ratings 111 Tubing Size and Capacity 111 Manifold Systems 112 Fittings 113 Controls 114 Other Materials 115 Chapter 9 Circulating Pumps 116 Pump Design 117 Pump Position 120 Mounting Circulators 122 Circulator Location 123 Understanding Head Factors 124 Performance Curves 125 The Difference 126 Stacking Them Up 127 Lining Them Up 128 Cavitation 129 Choosing a Pump 130 Chapter 10 Controls and Control Systems 132 On-Off Controls 133 Staged Controls 135 Modulating Controls 136 Outdoor Reset Controls 136 Electrical Functions 137 Thermostats 138 Aquastats 139 High-Limit Controls 140 Relay Centers 140 Zone Valves 141 Chapter 11 Components for Heating Systems 144 Modern Piping Materials 144 Fittings 145 Heating Valves 147 Gate Valves 148 Globe Valves 148 Ball Valves 148 Check Valves 149 Pressure-Reducing Valves 149 Pressure-Relief Valves 150 Backflow Prevention 151 Flow Checks 151 Mixing Valves 151 Zone Valves 152 Other Types of Valves 153 Circulating Pumps 153 Pump Placement 154 Expansion Tanks 155 Selection and Installation 157 Controls for Heating Systems 158 Thermostats 158 Controlling in Stages 158 Modulating Control 159 Outdoor Temperatures 159 Chapter 12 Expansion Tanks 160 Standard Expansion Tanks 162 Diaphragm Tanks 163 Matching a Tank 165 Check the Ratings 166 A Wide Selection 167 Tank Placement 167 Chapter 13 Domestic Water Heating 170 Combining a Coil with a Tank 171 Independent Tanks 173 Auxiliary Loads 174 Using a Boiler Makes Sense 175 Chapter 14 Slab-on-Grade Piping Systems 178 Fairly Simple 179 A Sample Installation 183 Things to Consider 188 Chapter 15 Thin-Slab Piping Systems 190 Floor Loads 191 Additional Thickness 192 Structural Support 193 Plumbing Fixtures 194 Door Openings 194 Headroom 194 Lightweight Concrete 195 Gypsum-Based Systems 196 A Small Space or a Large Space 198 Chapter 16 Dry Piping Systems 200 Transfer Plates 201 On Top 203 Under Subflooring 206 Obstacles 208 No Plates 209 Chapter 17 Radiant Systems for Ice Removal 212 A Typical Installation 214 Precautions 215 Coil Design 216 Tubing Selection 217 Chapter 18 Purging Air from Systems 220 Problems with Air 221 Air Pockets 223 Stationary Air Pockets 225 Dissolved Air 225 Air Vents 226 The Purging Process 229 Chapter 19 Solar Heating Systems 232 Flat Plate Solar Collectors 233 Installation Methods 234 Direct Circulation Systems 234 Drain Down Systems 235 Gravity Drain Back Systems 236 Closed-Loop Antifreeze Systems 237 Planning a Solar Heating System 238 The Cost Factor 238 Chapter 20 Troubleshooting Gas-Fired Boilers 242 Standard Safety Measures 242 The Troubleshooting Process 244 No Pilot Light 244 A Pilot Light Goes Off During a Standby Period 247 A Pilot Light Goes Off When the Motor Starts 248 Motor Won’t Run 249 It Runs but Doesn’t Heat 249 Short Flames 250 Long Flames 250 A Gas Leak at the Regulator Vent 251 It Won’t Close 251 Chapter 21 Troubleshooting Oil-Fired Boilers 252 Noise 253 A Smokey Joe 254 It Stinks 255 Noisy Operation 256 No Oil 257 Leaks 258 Bad Oil Pressure 258 Pressure Pulsation 258 Unwanted Cut-Offs 259 Chapter 22 Selling Radiant Heating Systems 260 No Concrete Needed 262 Can’t Combine 263 Won’t Last 264 Lower Operating Costs 264 Space-Saving Features 265 Maintenance 265 Comfort 266 It’s New 266 Information 267 Glossary 270 A 270 B 270 C 270 D 271 E 271 F 271 G 271 H 271 I 271 M 272 O 272 P 272 S 272 T 272 V 273 W 273 Z 273 Appendix: Pressure Losses and Flow Charts 274 Index 294 A 294 B 294 C 295 D 296 E 296 F 296 G 297 H 297 I 297 J 298 K 298 L 298 M 298 N 299 O 299 P 299 R 300 S 300 T 301 U 302 V 302 W 303 Z 303 9780071599351,9780071599368 A guide to radiant floor heating. It gives contractors and electricians information on installing, testing, and debugging radiant heat systems, and a chapter on alternative fuel sources. It covers material options and installation procedures, code information, and piping and heating equipment. It includes illustrations featuring modern products