Radiant heat tutorial?

[Bad Wolf]

As part of my furnace installation I'm going to be finishing off the other side of my basement, studding walls and installing a drop ceiling. It occurs to me that this would be the ideal time to install radiant heat for the first floor before I put up the ceiling. I probably won't be able to hook it up until next year, but I'd like to get it in place.

Are there any good books or sources of info to determine the number and length and orientation of runs?


Thanks
Greg H

 

[WoodNotOil]

Here is the install manual from the company I used: http://www.radiantcompany.com/details/

They are local to me and their support was great. It basically consists of 1/2" O2 barrier pex tubing coming off in loops from a 3/4" manifold that runs down the center of the house. That is stapled up between the joists with preformed aluminum plates that distribute the heat. There is a 4-6" air space left before the reflective barrier and insulation. I happened to have alumin. faced fiberglass already in my basement ceiling and just flipped it over for the reflective barrier and insulation. Saved a lot of money. Let me know if you have specific questions.

 

[SteveJ]

Another good online resource with lots of information on radiant install - especially tacked up from the basement is http://www.radiantdesigninstitute.com/