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Old 03-31-2009, 03:29 AM   #5 (permalink)
AC_Hacker
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: oregon
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> ...but it turned out that our lot isn't good for a heat pump
> (small and lots of tall trees), so the floor system wouldn't
> pay for itself.

If you can borrow or build your own well drill, a vertical borehole loop field can be reasonably inexpensive. Also, lots of heat can be had from a small lot. Is your problem with tall trees the issue of drilling through the roots?

> ...a radiant floor system should have at least 8 meters of pipes
> per square meter of floor.

Interesting... Most of the hydronic systems in the US consider 6 inch spacing to be the minimum. Your specification works out to about 5 inch spacing.

If everything else is equal, your spec of 5 inch spacing should prove to be more efficient.

By the way,there was a free design tool that I used called "Hydronic Explorer 2" by a company called Slant Fin. (Slant/Fin | High Efficiency Boilers, Baseboard and Radiant Heating) . You may still be able to find it. Easy to learn, very informative.

Cheers,

AC_Hacker
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