Then go to h <http://www.suntouch.com> ttp://www.suntouch.com click on the ProMelt Mats link read the info, and download or open the pdf link SunTouchR ProMeltT Brochure, and see what it says for yourself. it is possible I miss read 50 watts on 240 volt systems, and 36 watts on 120 volt systems.
Michael _____ From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com [mailto:blindhandy...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dale Leavens Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:27 PM To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Radiant floor heating. I don't believe that for a moment. If it is below freezing it is going to take a lot of heat just to raise the temperature of the surface above freezing. A cement walkway has a lot of mass to bring up to temperature. Then there is the latent heat. it takes something like 40 calories of energy to change the state of water from solid to liquid alone without actually raising the temperature. finally, you need to heat enough area to keep the snow and ice liquid distant enough for it to run away and not just freeze again. In locations where one only gets occasional snow and ice and the ambient temperature does not drop much below freezing then electric may be effective. Other locations like small areas, steps which are sheltered for example may be cost effective. Even the hot water systems aren't widely used except under a loading area like for example an ambulance entrance and that usually under a roof and behind a wall. The ambient atmosphere will draw huge amounts of heat off a surface very effectively. If I was Han Solo I'd probably pet my wookie ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael baldwin To: blindhandyman@ <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:17 PM Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Radiant floor heating. I installed the SunTouch brand in our last house, and it was great on the feet. It didn't raise our electric bill by any noticeable difference. I installed 45 square feet on a 120 volt system. After the tiles were warmed up, it never really ran that much. I am now installing it here at our new place, under the tile. it is expensive to install. I think it was over $300 for the 30 inch wide by 14 foot long mat. i tried to find the watts per square foot on there site, but was unable to. I know i saw it there before. So, there is my recommendation for a brand if you want to do this. It does look like they have heating mats for the snow. 120 volt mats draw 36 watts per square foot, and 240 volt ones draw 50 watts per square foot. There is a sensor, so they only operate when it is snowing, so unless you get a lot of snow, or are doing a large drive way, the cost would not be all that bad. Michael _____ From: blindhandyman@ <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com [mailto:blindhandyman@ <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dan Rossi Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 7:03 PM To: blindhandyman@ <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Radiant floor heating. I've been doing a lot of research into heated floors. There are two main kinds of radiant floors, electric or hydronic (water). You can bury pipes in the cement floor, or place them in the joist bays beneath a wood floor, then use hot water flowing through the pipes to heat the floor. You can also use electric mesh mats under a layer of cement or cyramic tile to heat the floor. Depending on where you live, this could be pretty expensive. Heating a floor inside a house is a lot less expensive than heating a driveway or sidewalk. Electrically heating a driveway to melt snow would be for the rich only I would expect. heating the floor in the house would be much more cost effective. -- Blue skies. Dan Rossi Carnegie Mellon University. E-Mail: d...@andrew. <mailto:dr25%40andrew.cmu.edu> cmu.edu Tel: (412) 268-9081 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
