Everything I read about retrofitting radiant floor heating under an
existing floor says to add plenty of insulation to direct the heat
upwards. Since our insulated basement is not heated and we'd like to add
radiant to the floor above, would not insulating (or only
lightly) between the them take some of the chill out of the basement
while most of the heat will still go towards the floor above? We don't
want to fully heat the basement, just get the chill out. Thanks.

It will help, but do you want to heat the basement also, it can be done.

I put foam pad about 1/4" thick that you can buy for floating wood
floor like pergo on top of cement then I used tapcon screws to hold
down 1" X 4" s spaced 16" on center. Then installed 3/4" OSB tongue &
groove, 1 sheet at a time, then I snaked 1/2' pex pipe between the 1"X
4" it is kind of tricky to hold the pex down before you put the next
sheet of OSB down but is possible. I did it for 3 bedrooms and a large
family room. I also put in 4 different thermostats.
Good LUCK !!!

Cindy daria wrote:
Everything I read about retrofitting radiant floor heating under an
existing floor says to add plenty of insulation to direct the heat
upwards. Since our insulated basement is not heated and we'd like to add
radiant to the floor above, would not insulating (or only
lightly) between the them take some of the chill out of the basement
while most of the heat will still go towards the floor above? We don't
want to fully heat the basement, just get the chill out. Thanks.

My guess is that the heat would just float at the top of the basement,
particularly since the radiant heat is fairly gentle and won't stir up
a lot of currents. (A total guess on my part, I warn you)

will you be freezing the basement pipes if you insulate the basement
ceiling?

"Cindy daria" wrote in message
...
Everything I read about retrofitting radiant floor heating under an
existing floor says to add plenty of insulation to direct the heat
upwards. Since our insulated basement is not heated and we'd like to add
radiant to the floor above, would not insulating (or only
lightly) between the them take some of the chill out of the basement
while most of the heat will still go towards the floor above? We don't
want to fully heat the basement, just get the chill out. Thanks.

Yes.

but If you desire to occasionally heat the basement living area, best to
split ( zone ) the entire system.......

You can perhaps maintain min basement temps with above, ( uninsulated mid
floor )but if you occasionally might wish to heat the entire basement upon
demand, then suggest adding a zone--added zone being a system of forced air
w/ water heating coils / ducting to service just the basement.

--

SVL

On 22 Mar 2006 03:52:16 -0800
"buffalobill" wrote:

will you be freezing the basement pipes if you insulate the basement
ceiling?


I don't think it will freeze down there since there is some heat from
the furnace and water heater, but I don't know for sure.

On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 01:20:21 -0800
"
Yes.

but If you desire to occasionally heat the basement living area, best
to split ( zone ) the entire system.......

You can perhaps maintain min basement temps with above, ( uninsulated
mid floor )but if you occasionally might wish to heat the entire
basement upon demand, then suggest adding a zone--added zone being a
system of forced air w/ water heating coils / ducting to service just
the basement.

--

SVL

Thanks, I wish that was the way we could go but I don't think our
budget can handle adding heat to the basement, but I don't know. What
is the benefit of a forced air system in the basement over adding
radiant heat? Is it cheaper?

On 21 Mar 2006 13:52:45 -0800
"z" wrote:


Cindy daria wrote:
Everything I read about retrofitting radiant floor heating under an
existing floor says to add plenty of insulation to direct the heat
upwards. Since our insulated basement is not heated and we'd like
to add radiant to the floor above, would not insulating (or only
lightly) between the them take some of the chill out of the basement
while most of the heat will still go towards the floor above? We
don't want to fully heat the basement, just get the chill out.
Thanks.

My guess is that the heat would just float at the top of the basement,
particularly since the radiant heat is fairly gentle and won't stir up
a lot of currents. (A total guess on my part, I warn you)


OK thanks, I was thinking the same thing but I didn't know for sure.
You just confirmed it.

On 21 Mar 2006 09:46:27 -0800
"Ben" wrote:

I put foam pad about 1/4" thick that you can buy for floating wood
floor like pergo on top of cement then I used tapcon screws to hold
down 1" X 4" s spaced 16" on center. Then installed 3/4" OSB tongue &
groove, 1 sheet at a time, then I snaked 1/2' pex pipe between the 1"X
4" it is kind of tricky to hold the pex down before you put the next
sheet of OSB down but is possible. I did it for 3 bedrooms and a large
family room. I also put in 4 different thermostats.
Good LUCK !!!


Thanks. This system would be for adding heat to my basement or did
you mean for the floor above the basement?

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 09:44:08 -0600
(m Ransley) wrote:

It will help, but do you want to heat the basement also, it can be
done.


Yes, I'm just concerned about the cost of doing that over other
projects that need to get done.

Cindy daria wrote:
On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 09:44:08 -0600
(m Ransley) wrote:


It will help, but do you want to heat the basement also, it can be
done.



Yes, I'm just concerned about the cost of doing that over other
projects that need to get done.

If you don't insulate under the tubes, it will not force the heat up
enough to heat the floor well. Run the tubing, insulate, and add a
smallish radiant panel on the same circuit in the basement to take the
chill off. probably on its own loop though

ahh install radiant floor for upstairs, and say a inch of insulation.
wait a winter and add more insulation if you want.

the disadvantage of this is wasting energy heating basement
unnecessarily.

forced air for basement would likely be cheaper, even a mini furnace
you can turn on when you want/

whats your current heating arrangement?

Close....

wrote in message
oups.com...
ahh install radiant floor for upstairs, and say a inch of insulation.
wait a winter and add more insulation if you want.


The industry standard is 3 times the R-value below the radaint area than
what's above it.

i.e., hardwood and rosin paper may have an R-value of (let's say) R-1.5.
You'd need about R5 below the tubing.


the disadvantage of this is wasting energy heating basement
unnecessarily.

forced air for basement would likely be cheaper, even a mini furnace
you can turn on when you want/

True, but it may never get comfortable down there because the heat will
migrate upstairs.

"Cindy daria" wrote in message
...
On 21 Mar 2006 13:52:45 -0800
"z" wrote:


Cindy daria wrote:
Everything I read about retrofitting radiant floor heating under an
existing floor says to add plenty of insulation to direct the heat
upwards. Since our insulated basement is not heated and we'd like
to add radiant to the floor above, would not insulating (or only
lightly) between the them take some of the chill out of the basement
while most of the heat will still go towards the floor above? We
don't want to fully heat the basement, just get the chill out.
Thanks.

My guess is that the heat would just float at the top of the basement,
particularly since the radiant heat is fairly gentle and won't stir up
a lot of currents. (A total guess on my part, I warn you)


OK thanks, I was thinking the same thing but I didn't know for sure.
You just confirmed it.

Radiant heat will stay near the floor. Radiant heat nearly mimics the ideal
heating curve.