Hello, my name is Iggy and I live in Perth, Australia. Last month, I was out in my garden enjoying the sunshine when I noticed that there was something strange on my roof. I climbed up onto the roof of my home and discovered some damage. While I was up on the roof, I took a long look down at my garden. Seeing it from such a strange angle made me realise how overgrown it looked. The next day I called in some contractors to fix the problems. While they worked, they taught me plenty of cool tips and tricks.
Radiant heat can be an interesting way to heat a tiny home floor, but you have to choose the system carefully. Here's what you need to consider about choosing, installing and optimising radiant floor heating from your tiny home:
1. Radiant heat flooring can be tied to your hot water system.
Typically, heated floors consist of tubes running through the floor with hot water piping through them, warming up the floor. To heat the water, you don't need a dedicated heater for it. Rather, you should use the same hot water heater you use for your showers or washing dishes. To save space, consider an on-demand hot water heater rather than a traditional tank style heater, as tanks require additional storage space.
2. Radiant heaters aren't affected by the air in your tiny home.
If you use a heating system with a blower, there is a process of air exchange that happens. Namely, your ventilation system will need to take in air from the outside in order to keep the tiny home feeling fresh, and that air will then have to be heated. As this process repeats itself, it can cause your heater to work extra hard as new air is constantly being added and ejected from your home.
With a radiant floor heater, you don't' have to worry about air exchange. The floor radiates heat which heats up your walls, and you enjoy a nice ambient warmth.
3. Radiant heat can be done as a do-it-yourself project.
If you are crafty, you may be able to make your own radiant flooring. While explaining every step involved is outside the scope of this article, here's a look at the general overview of doing your own radiant floor heating.
Basically, the process involves fastening tubing to a plywood base, and then attaching the tubing to your hot water heater with a pump to help the water cycle through. Finally, cover the tubing with insulation and add the flooring on top of that.
4. Radiant heat floors can be made in any material.
Historically, radiant heat flooring was added to concrete floors, but you can find any type of flooring with radiant heat capacity. In particular, professional floor heating installers can put radiant heat in vinyl, carpet or wood floors.
5. Underfloor insulation is critical with a radiant heat floor.
Regardless of which type of radiant heat flooring you select, make sure to remember to insulate the bottom of your tiny home. If it's on a trailer, add a shirt around the trailer. Also, add extra insulation beneath the floor as well in the form of glued on batting or spray on insulation.
Share
29 July 2016
