RADIANT HEAT - Hydronic Heating Applications:

Concrete Slab Application: Basements are a common application for Lagois Mechanical. Typically basements are cool and damp. Radiant heat is an ideal solution. Rigid insulation is installed, then wire mesh and the PEX tubing is tied to the wire mesh – then concrete is poured around the tubing. Radiant heat is also used for main floors of homes (suspended concrete slabs), garage floors, workshop floors and under driveways. Concrete acts as a thermal mass: once brought to design temperature, the energy required to maintain the temperature is minimal
WARNING: If there is surface water close to the concrete slab, radiant heat WILL NOT work.  Water draws the heat out.

Concrete Overpour: You will also hear the terms Lightweight Concrete or Gypcrete.  PEX Tubing is installed on top of the wooden subfloor and 1-1/2” of light weight concrete is poured over the entire surface. This is ideal for heating because the lightweight concrete acts as a thermal mass (similar to concrete slabs) and allows for ideal heat distribution. Ideal floor finishes are ceramic or stone tile. However, hardwood floors will work with lightweight concrete overpour systems. The hardwood must be engineered hardwood (some exotic hardwoods may not work) which means the hardwood has a plywood base.

Grooved Panels: This application is excellent for renovation and addition projects. Plywood panels are grooved to accept the PEX tubing.  The plywood has metal (aluminum) plates on the bottom to transfer the heat over a greater area. Almost any flooring can be applied over this system .

 

 

Suspended Under Wood Sub Floor: PEX tubing is installed under the sub floor (floor plywood). Metal (aluminum) plates are used to deflect the heat upwards. The floor cavity will require insulation (typically R20) to ensure the heat does not disperse into the space below.

 

 

Baseboard (Hydronic) Heating:  Traditionally, older homes used large cast iron radiating heaters which work well for heat distribution but take up large wall areas. Current hydronic baseboard heaters are similar to electric baseboard heaters – smaller in size yet energy efficient. Hydronic Baseboard Heating is excellent for applications where in-floor heating may not work (finish floors already installed) or in-floor heating may be too expensive. We commonly apply Hydronic Baseboard Heating for lofts, basements, second/third floors and/or to add supplemental heat.

 

Snow Melt: Imagine not shoveling snow! Snow sensors turn on the snow melt system (as snow falls) and evaporates the snow before touching the surface. This application is excellent for steep driveways, walkways, areas where snow removal is difficult or simply for convenience.  A thick layer of rigid insulation is placed first, then PEX tubing is installed and then the finished surface is installed.

 

 

Other Applications: Radiant heated towel bars, Radiant heated counter tops, radiant heated mirrors are just a few alternate applications for Hydronic Heating .