Can anyone give some tips on how much a SIMPLE radiant system will cost for a small ICF house with a VERY small heat load? Or should I just give in and let them put in forced air? Can it be done for $4k? I can do some of the labor... Thanks, -m

with a tank heater and basic thermostats, maybe. could be $1/sq ft material plus the mech room, which would be heat source and controls. if you didn't need much in the way of zoning or anything, it might be done.

Details help.
Fuel, square footage, slab on grade? platform?
Pipe and manifolds 900 square feet (3 x 300feet 3 circuit stainless manifold) would run about 400.00
little water heater? pump, expansion tank, air eliminator, line volt stat...another $500.00.
Dan

First floor and 2nd floor = under 1000 ft2 (488 each), plus basement, all ICF. Fuel = nat gas.

Heat loss calc's in the 10k to 13k btu's per hr range, cold winters (upper midwest).

Was thinking 3 zones?

Would like underfloor radiant on main floor and possibly under basement slab, radiators on 2nd floor?

One heating contractor I spoke to today said it would cost in the $10k to 15k range, using a Triangle boiler. He wasn't sure if a water heater would work...was going to get back to me. They're just not used to working with such small heat loads, I guess.

Maybe I should consider electric radiant? Seems so much simpler..

Thanks for any comments.

that sounds like a dual-use water heater situation to me. might be tough to match water temps with 3 emitters... but it's doable.

So, Details... good
My suggestion
X Block with zone valves on your water heater, 3 zones only 1 per floor (3 zones). Solar assist for your water heater if possible, remember the %30 tax credit when value engineering. Look harder at having all 3 floors in floor. Forget the radiators, do a staple up or best a surface mount system like RHT floor panel, Quick tracks or Roth panel.
A energy star water heater may qualify for a tax credit as well, not sure makes and models but there are some %30 up to $1,500.00 credits on selected high efficiency appliances.
Dan

i believe for new constuction, only solar water heaters are included, along with geo heat pumps. But the solar systems are still too much $ for this project..

I am looking into the x-block on a water heater (spoke to Brian at Blueridge today).

Thanks,
-m

Here is a link to the %30 tax offer by our government, It seams to speak broadly in the use of credits for appliances, more associated with the purchase and install. The building envelope section seams directed at improvement of existing property. But I am not a tax adviser, just pointing out the link to text off the offer.

http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=US43F&re=1&ee=1

Dan

Here's the website I've been using:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

-m

I am building a 1-bdrm cottage/garage (1 bay). I am looking to use a dual-use system...on-demand dual purpose water heaters. I have about 755 sq. including garage area.

Suggestions...definitely want to use gas. I will of course be doing it in slab as discussed here.

Would like to separate garage from cottage in terms of thermostats same with bedroom and bathroom.

Thanks
Curtis

I would not recommend on demands in most cases.

If you had multiple on demands, they probably wouldn't be dual use. I'd be inclined to use a single tank with heat exchange in most cases for very small areas like that.

Sorry my language was incorrect...I should have said I want to use a single on demand water heater for dual usage: 1. DWH and 2. infloor radiant heating

I am looking to have 4 zones...bedroom, bathroom, main living area and work shop/fitness room (this I could live with just a baseboard heater as it will only heated infrequently) so could be just 3 zones. Is this quite simple & how much would it cost? Approx. of course?

I am trying to compare it to having electric baseboard heaters in all but the main living room. In the main area I would use the fireplace for central heating (which means I need a fireplace that is up to heating 350-400 sq. ft. I would then just decide whether to go with on-demand or hot water tank for DWH (probably at this point an electric hot water tank). BTW, you should know that I am up in British Columbia, Canada so electricity is a) abundant and b) not as pricey as parts of the US.

Cheers,

Curtis

it will be more expensive than electric baseboard, and also much more comfortable. if you're doing electric, using an on demand is not a problem. I thought you had a preference for gas. if so, I would use a tank heater.