David,
Your radiator story reminded me of an apartment I once lived in. It had
big cast iron radiators (on exterior walls) but they just didn't have
enough output (probably originally designed for steam but then running
on hot water) to offset the losses. We responded by turning the radiator
into a fan coil by aiming a box fan into it. After the dust cleared,
warm air was blown up the wall and more or less spread through the room.
Not bad for a stopgap measure!
You're right that the shell losses need to be minimized; with our
current technology and careful detailing and practices, we can now make
shells with very low levels of infiltration, and about the lowest total
heat loss possible. Air temp indoor T'stats aren't the best for a radiant
floor; Michel indicates that the HWS being tied to OAT offers the best
level of control.
Mark
Your radiator story reminded me of an apartment I once lived in. It had
big cast iron radiators (on exterior walls) but they just didn't have
enough output (probably originally designed for steam but then running
on hot water) to offset the losses. We responded by turning the radiator
into a fan coil by aiming a box fan into it. After the dust cleared,
warm air was blown up the wall and more or less spread through the room.
Not bad for a stopgap measure!
You're right that the shell losses need to be minimized; with our
current technology and careful detailing and practices, we can now make
shells with very low levels of infiltration, and about the lowest total
heat loss possible. Air temp indoor T'stats aren't the best for a radiant
floor; Michel indicates that the HWS being tied to OAT offers the best
level of control.
Mark