Full home radiant heating

Steve Trudeau owner of TruDesign Build shows the installation of Warmboard radiant floor heating in a custom home project by the water in Quincy, MA. Joined by Julie Lacasse of Warmboard, they break down the benefits of Warmboard’s aluminum panels, the efficiency of PEX aluminum tubing, and the ease of zoned temperature control.

Learn about how the unique properties of Warmboard provide even heating, eliminate cold spots, and ensure compatibility with a variety of flooring options. Discover how to create a comfortable, energy-efficient home with a combination of radiant heating and continuous insulation.

[Warmboard]

Great content!! Thanks so much for putting this together.

[MichaelJ]

Will you be showing the finish floor installation over the WarmBoard? I want to use this in the new house I’m preparing to build, but I’m nervous about the flooring installer puncturing the PEX with a stray fastener. One tip I learned is to pressurize the lines with air at 40 or 50 psi so the contractor will know immediately if they puncture a line. But then that entails a whole repair process that I’d rather avoid. Would love to see the tips and tricks you use to maximize the likelihood of success on your floor installation.

[campbell]

The product is cool, but you're right... the best part is how great these drawings are. I would kill to have someone hand me a package like that for the buildings and equipment I work with. It makes it feel like "Easy Mode" whne you're set up for success like that.

[adubbelde]

I really wanted to use Warmboard when I built my home. I had the design plans and quotes. I decided I couldn't afford it as it would have added $20, 000 to the cost of the home. Instead I have in floor heat in my Basement with ICF walls and foam under the concrete. On the main level I used Radiant Electric cove heat. All the engineers told me I needed 8 watts/Sq ft. So after living in this house for 9 years I can tell you that the only area I really would have benefited from with Warmboard is the Great Room. The rest of the house is not heated except for the Electric in floor heat in the bathroom. In the 9 years I've only used 30% of the Radiant Cove heat and then only occasionally. The Great room is 800 SF and this summer I added a Mini Split heat pump. It's 18, 000 BTU's and so far it's heated the room with temperatures in the high 20's. I believe If I'd ordered Warmboard for the Great room and just used 1 1/8" subfloor in the rest of the house I would have been just fine.

[MichaelJ]

One more question: does the WarmBoard serve as the entire floor sheathing assembly or is it installed over a base layer of sheathing? Thanks.

[T_]

Unmentioned is by having standard bits (primary- boiler, manifolds, t-stats, etc.) Warmboard can quickly diagnose any issue that may arise and consult with the plumber for quick resolution.

I heard it also has a "call home" feature, but don't know if it was implemented) where the system notifies Warmboard when something is amiss and they can remote into the controls and make adjustments. Anyone know if they moved ahead on that?

[MichaelJ]

I don’t understand the benefit of using aluminum PEX that would justify the presumably higher cost. If the PEX snaps into place in the channels, who cares if it holds its shape. To me, the flexibility of either PEX-A or PEX-B would be an advantage for rolling it out and snapping into place. Please explain. Thanks.

[justinlynch]

Wouldn't a system like this require many more short loops? Or higher flow?

I would think this would have a tendency to give off all of its heat early in the loop and be much cooler at the end. I may be wrong though, it may equalize quickly....but this seems to be another "take my word for it" product.

[GLHerzberg]

I know this system is based on loops so maybe 5:50 is supposed to be a repeat loop of 5:36. ;)

[bobbray]

This stuff looks great but it's crazy expensive compared to PEX embedded into thinset. The aluminum infused into the plywood panels is what sets this apart as far as heat distribution across the entire floor. I was looking at $4500 just for the panels in our master bedroom bath which was going to be tiled and choose the less expensive thinset with regular PEX. There are warmer and cooler spots on the floor but we don't care. Whole house would be There's a market for just about everything though...

[FBall-imui]

History lesson, after seeing their last names as french, New England used to belong to Canada, Canada screwed up and dealing with New England and they ended up siding with the USA we lost New England.