wood pellet stove and in slab radiant heat

[AdamMaine]

Hello all,

i hope this is the correct forum... i have a question, hope its not a dumb one!

i have just moved into a new home ( rented, Land Lady does not know much about heat system as she just bought it, nor do i! ) anyway i have a pellet stove and in slab radiant heat,propane furnace, my plan is to use pellet stove for sole source of heat this winter, have no problem getting big room ( living room, kitchen, dinning room, open plan) 70* and bedrooms 60* i know its only october but thats on lowest setting for pellet stove, my concern/worry is will my radiant heat pipes freeze if they are not being used, obviously if i have heat for radiant set at say 55* but my pellet stove is making thermostat read 70* then its not going to call for heat unless i turn it on say 75 and if iam going to do that i may as well leave radiant of 75 and forget pellet stove which i do not want to do, i guess main question is will my radiant pipes freeze if not in use all winter, with indoor room temps at 70* and 60* , maybe a programmable thermostat set to come on at 80* for an hour or so every few hours? please help!

 

[DAKSY]

I'd have a heating specialist check your radiant system to make sure there is antifreeze in there & not just water.
If the mix is wrong, have it corrected so the plumbing won't freeze...

 

[webby3650]

Is the radiant floor heat fired by propane? You also have a propane furnace?

 

[AdamMaine]

Is the radiant floor heat fired by propane? You also have a propane furnace?

I said furnace, sorry used to my oil furnace, its fueled by propane yes , guess you call it a boiler if its propane, but yes the radiant and hot water and appliances use the propane have 2 120 gallon tanks, thanks for reply

 

[AdamMaine]

I'd have a heating specialist check your radiant system to make sure there is antifreeze in there & not just water.
If the mix is wrong, have it corrected so the plumbing won't freeze...

Can it still freeze with antifreeze or is it just less likely to? Thanks!

 

[DAKSY]

Anti-freeze cannot freeze if the mixture is correct.

 

[webby3650]

I said furnace, sorry used to my oil furnace, its fueled by propane yes , guess you call it a boiler if its propane, but yes the radiant and hot water and appliances use the propane have 2 120 gallon tanks, thanks for reply

I’m assuming LP isn’t cheap up there? Pellets aren’t exactly cheap either, are you sure it’s cheaper to buy pellets?

 

[AdamMaine]

Is the radiant floor heat fired by propane? You also have a propane furnace?

I’m assuming LP isn’t cheap up there? Pellets aren’t exactly cheap either, are you sure it’s cheaper to buy pellets?

Yes. Previous tennant says she used 1500 gallons! That seems extremely high to me, but if that is the case then pellets be way cheaper, people say with radiant you are best to pick a number say 70* and just leave it at that all winter, no turning up and down i mean.. plus 1,500 gallons is just way to expensive for me, she must have had temp very high

 

[AdamMaine]

Propane is about 2.05 last time i checked, i judt got 1 ton pellets for 250

 

[webby3650]

Yes. Previous tennant says she used 1500 gallons! That seems extremely high to me, but if that is the case then pellets be way cheaper, people say with radiant you are best to pick a number say 70* and just leave it at that all winter, no turning up and down i mean.. plus 1,500 gallons is just way to expensive for me, she must have had temp very high

Wow! Makes me think the radiant system was installed poorly. People skimp on the slab insulation too often unfortunately.

 

[AdamMaine]

Wow! Makes me think the radiant system was installed poorly. People skimp on the slab insulation too often unfortunately.

I might try it for lets say a week and see how much it uses, at least that way my wallet will still be intact!