Heating Help

So what is my problem??

@ March 28, 2011 7:47 AM in Radiant Floors and Humidifier

My house is a super insulated home. 11" exterior walls. I covered all exterior walls with a continous vapor barrier using acoustical sealant on all seams and penetrations. Pella windows throughout.
Yet when I swicthed to radiant floor heat this past Fall my Humidity dropped considerably. To the point that I had a AprilAir humidifier installed and run my blower,minus the burner, to help bring the level up. Even with that I can only get the level up to about 30-32%.The HVAC guy did wire the blower to run on a lower speed because I do not care for the noise. And noise was one of the things I was wanting to eliminate with radiant.
So I wonder what my problem is?

I think I figured it out!

@ March 17, 2011 7:50 AM in Noisy Pex

The other night while lying in bed "the noise" started again and it got me to thinking. Why did this all of sudden start? As I was thinking back to"adjustment" I made I rememebered. Since I have a coal stoker boiler I have been playing around with adjustments and one that I did was to adjust the feed rate of coal AND play with the mixing Valve. So yesterday AM I went down and adjusted the mixing valve to blend in more return water and the problem has seemed to disappear!
As to the suggestion about the motor and controller for outdoor reset. Tha is very much on my To Do List.

I have a 3 Way

@ March 10, 2011 7:27 AM in Noisy Pex

I do have a Tekmar 3 way mixing valve. I am exploring the reset idea.

I meant Loops!

@ March 7, 2011 7:37 AM in Noisy Pex

I meant Loops!

The noise is at the end of the lools.

@ March 7, 2011 7:35 AM in Noisy Pex

The noise seems to be coming from the end of each lop between the joists. Yesterday as I was"On the Throne" I heard the thermostat click on and the noise started at one end of the bathroom and slowly moved to the other end. Only at the end of the joist bay. It only lasts for  a few moments. And it is the same in a few other places in the house.
Thought I might take down the insulation and do a visual when the thermostat calls for heat.

Noisy Pex

@ February 25, 2011 7:43 AM in Noisy Pex

I know that pex epand when it gets warm but I have a question. I nstalled a staple up with transfer plates and left the end"curve" between the joist free. It seems that the pex makes more noise now than it did in the early part of the heating season.
BTW is there any remedy to quiet it down?
Thanks!

Any Other Comments?

@ February 10, 2011 6:02 PM in Coal Boiler & Outdoor Reset

So anyone else have any advice?

Coal Boiler & Outdoor Reset

@ February 7, 2011 5:52 PM in Coal Boiler & Outdoor Reset

Since I have the Tekmar already installed I really donot want to replace it. As for controoling the "whole" boiler. Not sure that is really possible with the coal boiler. So I was thinking to make it as simple as possible.
So my question is still the same from the first post.
Thanks

Coal Boiler & Outdoor Reset

@ February 6, 2011 12:24 PM in Coal Boiler & Outdoor Reset

I am presently heating my house with a coal stoker boiler,Keystoker KA-2. My house is set-up for radiant floor heat. I am using a Tekmar 3 Way Mixing Valve #712 to maintain 130F water temp to my manifolds. The system works great but when we get the extremes like we have this winter and then the Spring and  Fall dyas with cold nights and warm days, I would like to consider an outdoor reset system.
Tekmar has an actuating motor for this valve and they told me that Model # 360 Control would be what I need.http://www.tekmarcontrols.com/prod/360.shtml
As a carpenter/woodworker that put this system together with some help from others I was wondering about this set-up.
All I want to do is have the outdoor temp "adjust" the 3 way mixing valve as needed based on the outdoortemp. But the info on the Boiler Control 360 shows the pumps etc. being controlled. Can I just wire this to the actuating motor on the mixing valve only?
Would really appreciate your help.

Air?

@ December 27, 2010 12:29 PM in homeowner

I am not a heating guy but did install radiant heat in my house this year. I had one zone yesterday that had air in the loop. Bleed it out and voila heat!

Boy am I spolied!

@ December 26, 2010 7:54 AM in Boy am I spolied!

So with my radiant floor heat in and living with nice warm floors I have become REALLY spoiled. Being in a few different homes during the Christmas season my feet were ALWAYS cold!
Now I think "My heating system is better than your's"!
Thanks for all the help you guys have provided and oh yeah and for spoiling me!

Humidifier Question

@ December 16, 2010 12:58 PM in Humidifier Question

I do not have a wholehouse unit at this point. Trying to decide if it is a feasible way to go or should I get "portable" units.
Thanks

Humidifier Question

@ December 16, 2010 11:57 AM in Humidifier Question

I have radiant heatpresently heating my house. I also have a gas forced air system. Can I run the forced air system with a humidifier "without" the burner firing?

My Experience

@ November 10, 2010 6:20 PM in Accountant

I just finished doing my radiant floor retro. I have quarter sawn-red oak floor with tar paper. I am running 130F water and have not had any odor at all.
I did a staple up with aluminum transfer plates.

Adjusting the Flow

@ November 1, 2010 3:34 PM in Adjusting the Flow

I started up my new radiant heat retro yesterday. I am using a coal fired stoker boiler. So far everything is running great and comfortable. But I have a question. I know I will want to messing around playiny with the flow meters and here is my question.
When the flow is decreased does the amount of heat decrease? Also and likewise if it is increase does the amount of heat increase? The resaon I ask what,to you guys may be a simple question, is I thought Iread somewhere that the heat increases with a decrease in in flow.
Hey, I am just a carpenter/woodworker. If it was made out of wood I would not be asking !!

Uponor Manifold Question

@ October 24, 2010 1:33 PM in Uponor Manifold Question

The part I am lossening is on the bottom side not to vent cap. There is a little recessed stem that the hose bib cap has a corresponding hole. This is the point where it leaks.

Uponor Manifold Question

@ October 24, 2010 10:50 AM in Uponor Manifold Question

Mark,
I thought that might be the case. BUT when I loosen the little square stem it leaks water all over!
I think I will call Uponor tomorrow.
I have to say that the Everhot manifolds that I used are much more user friendly.

Uponor Manifold Question

@ October 23, 2010 4:13 PM in Uponor Manifold Question

I am trying to flush/purge a TruFlow manifold and cannot seem to figure out how to "turn" the drain on. I have my garden hose connected but I am stuck!
Anybody wiser that I??
Thanks!

Expansion Tank Location?

@ October 17, 2010 5:26 PM in Expansion Tank Location?

Presently my expansion tank is attached to the bottom of my air scoop. The air scoop is up at the ceiling joist. This makes the expansion tank a head knocker. I was wondering if it is possible to relocate the expansion tank about 3-4 feet away from the air scoop?

Uponor Manifold & Brain Cramp!

@ October 14, 2010 6:47 PM in Uponor Manifold & Brain Cramp!

I installed an Uponor manifold this Spring during a remodel project and it is now time to tie my Pex supply & return into it. The problem is I cannot rememeber which part of the manifold is the supply and which is the return! It is a vaveless  & the other half has balancing valves.
Would appreciate your help!!

Thermosta Recommendation

@ August 24, 2010 8:47 PM in Thermosta Recommendation

As I move along with my radiant heat retro project I was wondering about thermostats. Is there a specific kind to use for radiant heating? Any recomendations would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Solid Fuel Boiler & Radiant Floor Heat Question

@ August 23, 2010 7:37 AM in Solid Fuel Boiler & Radiant Floor Heat Question

I have a solid fuel boiler and have a question. Because I only need 130F water going out to my manifolds and I want to run the boiler at about 160-170F. What would the suggested idea be to bring the water temp down . I understand the idea of a 3 way mixing valve but not sure that this would do the job.
Would appreciate your suggestions.
Thanks!