![]() Hydronic systems accomplish the same objective, but since these systems use both water and electricity, the installation process is much more involved. These systems are fairly simple to install and designed for the do-it-yourselfer. A good example would be the master bathroom on the second floor. How Do You Insulate Under Radiant Heat?Īs a rule, electric systems will be used when the floor to be heated is small, between floors, or both. These panels come in thicknesses of 1” (R-6 to R-8), 2” (R-10 to 12), and 3”(R-15), and will also include a vapor barrier to further retard heat transfer. In hydronic systems, insulated panels are usually used. With electric systems, R-11 faced batting is standard. This often depends on where the home is and the local building code. ![]() How Much Insulation Do You Need For Radiant Floor Heating? Insulation is especially important in this type of installation, as the tubing would otherwise come in contact with the ground and lose the heat. Radiant floor heating of this type uses polystyrene tubing, called PEX, to circulate warm water throughout the pad. This type of insulation is used exclusively for radiant floor heating in a concrete pad. As using these sheets requires the additional steps of installing a vapor barrier and tubing guides, they are rarely used today. ![]() These sheets are still available, and usually come in 4’ x 8’ sheets, up to two inches thick.Įven at two inches thick, however, these sheets usually provide no more than an R-8 insulation value. Sheet Foamīefore the invention of insulated panels, sheets of styrofoam were often used to create an insulating barrier between the ground and the concrete. In today’s construction, spray foam is usually used on foundations, walls, and even an attic, if the home has vaulted or cathedral ceilings. Spray foam does an excellent job of filling in any gaps in the thermal envelope, as it expands slightly as it dries. As mentioned previously, the quality of the thermal envelope relies on a sealed airspace. Spray foam reduces or eliminates the cracks and gaps that often remain after fiberglass batting is installed. This is due to the speed and effectiveness of the installation method, as well as the performance of the foam itself. Most new homes today will have insulating spray foam as the primary insulating material. Building codes will also require that the ceiling of the garage contain R-11 to R-19, if there is a bonus room over the garage. Most building codes require a minimum of R-13 in walls if the garage shares a wall with a heated space.Ī good example would be the wall between the house and the garage, if the garage is attached. As a rule, if a garage has drywall, the walls will contain fiberglass batting. Over one-third of radiant floor heating is installed in a garage concrete pad. Here is a brief description of each and where it may be used: Fiberglass Batting Depending on where the system will be installed, you may need to insulate using fiberglass batting, spray foam, or insulated panels. Radiant floor heating relies heavily on insulation as a way of maintaining a constant temperature. For example, a home that has insulated floors, walls, and ceilings has a thermal envelope. The thermal envelope is an industry term and refers to the encapsulation of any heated space. Any heating system will perform at maximum efficiency when the thermal envelope is well sealed. Insulation is one of the most important parts of a successful radiant floor system. What Kind of Insulation Do I Need For a Radiant Floor Heating System?
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