Radiant Heat Disaster

Before [The wrong way]

Dysfunctional design and poor installation

Original system with over-sized pumps

Pulled 23 additional cables through finished house

Mixing valves with the [wrong] temperature range

Flopping in the breeze 1st Floor manifold station

Is this "craftsmanship" of any calibur?

What a "Pandora's Box".

Unfortunately, there are many people that do not understand or realize that radiant heating requires a lot of thought and planning when building a system. Manufacturers provide theoretical information about their individual products, but not all the essential information a person needs to successfully design and build a complete radiant heating system. Because most contractors rely on manufacturers and distributors for most of their information, they do not necessarily have the required knowledge, correct information and experience to design, install, and setup a successful system. As a result, the "Ultimate disaster" can happen. Beautifully finished wood and stone floors may be compromised due to a poorly designed and installed radiant system. Usually, this is noticed during the first heating season when the home is completely finished, occupied, and COLD. After the countless hours of hard tedious work, trying times, and expense to build your dreamhouse, there is nothing worse than finding out your newly installed heating system has to be reinstalled [If possible?] the correct way to provide a comfortable home environment. Planning your heating and cooling systems along with any other home automation system (before the construction of the house) is essential. Be careful to not let the price of these systems and the selection of your contractors compromise the comfort level in your new home. System design, careful planning, job coordination, and proper budgeting not only provide a method to obtain successful systems, but to also help you select the contractors who understand and agree with these "Four legs of support". This might sound a little corny, but talk to anyone who has experienced the "Ultimate disaster" and see what advice they would give you now. The owner of this "brand new house" was very fortunate that we were able to redesign and rebuild his heating system with minimal damage and disruption to his home environment.

It doesn't always work out this way, believe me!