Hydronic radiant heating?

gascort · 10-18-09, 07:48 PM

Anyone made a DIY hydronic radiant heating system? Maybe one that uses solar energy?
Simply Radiant | Extreme How To, DIY - Do it Yourself, Home Improvement, Home Decorating

I was thinking it could be added to my house; we have exposed joists in the basement ceiling, could use PEX tubing run back and forth under the floor there; would heat the basement below and the floor above.
I want to ecorenovate our roof using builditsolar - style copper and polycarbonate solar collectors, and probably use a simple drainback system that could also include the hot water heater.

My question for those of you with solar thermal experience: How effective would it be? (assuming proper angling of panels and midwest weather/climate...) Would I be able to heat one room adequately when it's sunny with one 4x8' panel, or my whole house if I covered my roof?
I see that many people have used small-ish panels to cover 90+% of their hot water needs.... is there enough extra to space heat....really?

10-18-09, 07:48 PM	#1
gascort Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 59 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hydronic radiant heating? Anyone made a DIY hydronic radiant heating system? Maybe one that uses solar energy? Simply Radiant \| Extreme How To, DIY - Do it Yourself, Home Improvement, Home Decorating I was thinking it could be added to my house; we have exposed joists in the basement ceiling, could use PEX tubing run back and forth under the floor there; would heat the basement below and the floor above. I want to ecorenovate our roof using builditsolar - style copper and polycarbonate solar collectors, and probably use a simple drainback system that could also include the hot water heater. My question for those of you with solar thermal experience: How effective would it be? (assuming proper angling of panels and midwest weather/climate...) Would I be able to heat one room adequately when it's sunny with one 4x8' panel, or my whole house if I covered my roof? I see that many people have used small-ish panels to cover 90+% of their hot water needs.... is there enough extra to space heat....really?