Q&A on the proper operating temperatures for radiant heating systems.
This article series discusses the maximum, minimum, & recommended operating temperatures for radiant heated floor systems, including typical temperatures used in different types of radiant-heated floors: tile, wood, laminate, carpeting, etc.
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These questsions and answers about the operating temperature of radiant heat systems were posted originally
at RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES - be sur to rad that article.
The photo shown here illustrates a radiant heat panel being installed in the wall of a home during construction. Photo is from "Radiant Heat", US DOE, cited in detail below and further attributd to Warren Gretz, NREL.
Our page top photo shows the output temperature control circuit board of an electric boiler used to heat tubing in a radiant-heated tile floor set over concrete in a Minnesota home.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Jenn:
Generally it's true that dropping the heat temperature saves fuel or energy overall, though there are some trade-offs:
1. the system efficiency may be lower at lower operating temperatures (as heat transfer rate is less efficient)
2. If your tankless water heater is also making domestic hot water for washing and bathing you may find that the bath-water isn't sufficiently hot.
Typically a radiant heat flooring system includes a return-loop mixing valve that maintains floor temperature at an appropriate level while allowing the actual water heater to supply hotter water.
On 2019-12-18 0 by Jenn
Ps, we just have a concrete slab with infloor heating.
My partner and I had heard that keeping the temperature for our in floor heating to the tankless water heater set to 108 degrees was more cost saving than at 120 degrees. Is this true? For our other tankless water heater that only heats water for the house, we have it set to 120 degrees.
On 2019-12-07 by (mod) - heating boiler is short-cycling on and off
I agree that boiler short cycling is inefficient and hard on the equipment.
At AQUASTAT TROUBLESHOOTING we discuss oil burner short-cycling and offer some diagnostic suggestions. Take a look there and let me know if starting by a review of those settings helps at all.
On 2019-12-07 by (mod) -
Re-posting:
Radiant Man
While doing some research, I happened on this very helpful set of articles.
We live in Maine so winters are cold. I am running a new and very efficient, cold start, oil-fired boiler driving two hot water baseboard zones (which are generally not turned on because our new heat pumps are very effective, but the baseboard will get used on days that get very cold), a 50 gallon hot water tank through a heat exchange plate (this cycles only when we use significant hot water), and one radiant heat zone.
The radiant heated zone is a single room of about 200 square feet with a tile floor over concrete in which the piping is installed. The feed from the boiler to the radiant heat goes through a mixing valve and the temperature there is about 100. The wall-mounted, somewhat old thermostat is set at 69. The floor temperature is 71 + or - .5 degrees.
The boiler seems to cycle very frequently and often very short cycles. From what I have read, this isn't good for either energy efficiency or the life of the boiler.
I am wondering what suggestions you might have for this situation: turn up the water temperature for the radiant zone; use some other source for the radiant zone; figure out if a new thermostat or one that can allow temperatures in the room to fluctuate by say 4 degrees to lower cycles.
Any thoughts appreciated. raymond.hepper@gmail.com
On 2019-11-29 by (mod) -
All thats needed at the wall thermostat is to set your thermostat tho a comfortable indoor temperature.
On 2019-11-29 by Doreen lynch
What temp should I set my thermostat for ceiling radiant heat I have a thermastat in every room
On 2019-11-27 by (mod) -
Casimir
You can turn up the water heater but also will need anti-scald protection at the plumbing fixtures; or adjust the control on your radiant heater to turn on at a lower temperature;
Identify the heater brand and model so that we can examine its installation and operating instructions.
On 2019-11-27 by Casimir
Just moved into a new home that has thermostat controlled radiant floor heating throughout, and an add-on bedroom that has a radiant wall heater installed. The radiant wall heater is passive and appears to operate at a much higher optimal water temperature (130F for passive heating, 150F for the fan to kick in). Both run off the hot water tank, which is currently set at 130F.
The room with the wall heater is always much colder than the rest of the house. Wondering if I should turn up the water heater to 140/150 range to kick in the wall heater, or if there is another solution that doesn't require such high temp which may not be ideal for the floor heating, and generate higher energy costs.
On 2019-11-24 by (mod) - where the adjustments are for the water temperature in a radiant heat system.
Anon
Thank you for the important question. Indeed I should make clear where the adjustments are for the water temperature in a radiant heat system.
Typically there are at least two different adjustment points. The first is on the aquastat that controls the temperature range at the boiler for heater itself. On some small dedicated electric radiant heat boilers. Adjustment is actually on a control board or printed circuit board inside the heater. Put on a conventional heating boiler it's on the aquastat. You can find those details here at inspectapedia by searching on or for the article titled
Aquastat settings
Second radiant heat temperature control is the one that regulates the actual temperature through the tubing in the floor or ceiling. That's normally accomplished by a mixing valve that will be installed at the inlet and return point of the radiant tubing Loop. The mixing valve meters the amount of hot water from the boiler to keep the floor temperature from being too hot. It monitors the inlet temperature and the return temperature from the radiant heat Loop.
On 2019-11-24 by Anonymous
The water was turned off and the compression tank drained. The boiler is working and heating fine but the information i have read says too high a temperature will harm the boiler.
On 2019-11-24 by Pat
I've read the information on radiant heat temperatures but still can't find how to lower the heat. Mine is registering at 150 degrees and I think that is too high. The circulating pump was replaced yesterday.
On 2019-10-27 by (mod) -
We would need to know what you actually turned off. If the system is intact in any event simply turning on the boiler and turning up the thermostat at work. So it's possible that while your system was shut down there was a leak and the system is air bound.
Conversely if your boiler simply doesn't turn on at all the problem is there and not with air in the lines.
So perhaps you can give us some more details
On 2019-10-26 by Anonymous
We don’t know how to set the temperature for our in floor heating. We turned it off for the summer now we don’t know how to get it back on.
We have tried everything and it just won’t come up to temperature.
Please help!
On 2019-07-22 by (mod) -
Forgive me, Gordon but a wood stove in a trailer sounds like a death trap by fire.
On 2019-07-22 by Gordon
I am attempting to build an add on to my retreat trailer, adding a wood stove for a heat source
If I use a plate heat transfer and use a temp control valve should I be able to run radiant tubing under the floor then insulation over
On 2019-05-16 by (mod) -
Dallas
I can't answer from just your question as phrased. Is there a mixing valve? At what temp is that valve set? What is the piping material? What's its length? In what is the tubing routed? What is the temperature difference between indoors and outside - and thus the heat transfer rate.
Generally at the start of the radiant tubing loop the surface temp of the tubing will be close to the setting of the mixing valve.
On 2019-05-11 by Dallas Pottroff
If the temperature going into the system is 124% and the return temp, is 94% what is the approximate surface temp,
On 2019-02-10 by (mod) -
Thanks for the clarification and added information.
On 2019-02-10 by vince
danjoefriedman to clarify zone (1) 8 loops @ 250 each (2000 ft total) are under the first floor plywood between floor joists not in concrete. The two 300 foot loops in zone (2) are in basement concrete. True 1050 gal gasifier boiler is large I wanted it big enough to take care of all my zones if I chose to run them all. I neglected to tell you I only fire my boiler every other day and the outside temp runs around 10 deg.
I know several others who have the same boiler but smaller and they fire every day. I don't think I've designed the system incorrectly and I heat both zone 1 and 2 running at the same time. I guess I was just looking for some way to improve efficiency because I don't understant hydronics well. I guess I should be happy with what I have. Thanks so much for your insite and time.
On 2019-02-10 by (mod) -
Vince, this is the lame (me) leading the semi-blind - you.
If I understand the set-up you have multiple heating zones, some not in use, but in use are some conventional hydronic heating loops and a huge 2000 ft radiant floor in-slab loop.
You use a tempering valve (that should be mixing returning water with boiler water) at the inlet to the huge radiant floor loop to avoid overheating the tubing an slab.
It's no surprise that the return from that loop is very cool - it's a large area even if the slab and tubing were constructed perfectly. If you're not sure about what could go wrong there see RADIANT SLAB HEAT MISTAKES at https://inspectapedia.com/heat/Radiant-Slab-Heat-Mistakes.php.
I am assuming you're able to heat that big zone adequately but the boiler temperature drops faster than you'd like because you're having to feed more hot water into the radiant loop to meet the heat demand.
Now if I've got this right, ALL of the zones are fed by the same boiler.
So the amount of heat available is in a sense fixed.
You are already feeding or would normally be feeding hot water from the boiler into zone 1, controlled by the mixing valve. Feeding some hot water from zone 2, sine zone 2 is being heated by the same boiler, doesn't slow the temperature drop in the boiler because, it seems to me, taking heat out of zone 2 is going to ultimately increase the demand from zone 2 by the same amount.
After all, all of the zones leave and return from and to the same boiler, right?
It's all the same water. With one heat source. Changing where the water comes from doesn't change that.
What would change the rate of temperature drop in the boiler would be reducing the heating demand on any or all of the zones - which of course one does by adding insulation, cutting drafts, etc.
A 1050 gallon wood boiler sounds enormous.
If you've got 1050 g at 200F and it's cooling down too rapidly when Zone 1 is running I suspect either an installation snafu in that zone or an underlying design shortcoming.
On 2019-02-10 by vince
Bear with me I am a novice heating system guy. I appologize for not giving you the whole picture. My system consists of a 1050 gal wood fired boiler that heats 4 zones. Zone 1 is house under 1st floor which has both tile and engineered hardwood flooring. The pex driving this zone consists of 8 loops each being around 250 feet long.
Zone 2 is in basement concrete has 2 loops under 300 feet each. Zone 3 is house second floor baseboard whic is currently not hooked up or used. Zone 4 is in the garage concrete which has 4 loops each under 300 feet long currently not being used. My question is can the radiant return for Zone 1 and 2 be mixed with the boiler heat that feed these same Zones to rasie return water temp to the boiler.
I want to slow the boiler temp decay caused by cool radiant heat return water temp. Hot water temp from boiler can be as high as 200 deg but is mixed down to 135 as it enters zones 1 and 2.
On 2019-02-10 02:04:30.002090 by Anonymous
,
From a 1050 gal wood fired boiler. The boiler feeds the first floor loops.
On 2019-02-10 by (mod) -
Where is the incoming high temperature water coming from? Do you have a separate hydronic Loop?
On 2019-02-10 by Vince
I have a wood fired boiler fired to 200 degrees driving a 1st floor radiant heat system (hardwood floor). I use a mixing valve to drop pex input temp to 135 deg. Return water temp to boiler is pretty low which drags boiler water temp down quicker than I would like. Would it be efficient to mix radiant return water to the boiler with incoming high temp boiler water thus keeping slowing down the temp drop in the boiler so it would not have to be fired as often ?
On 2018-12-19 by James
Some systems I maintenance only have radiant, is there a way to make sure boiler temp stays above 140 to prevent condensation on hxc without adding a secondary loop? Is condensation really all that common as an issue on a cast iron boiler?
On 2018-10-24 by (mod) -
Ronald:
You'll find your question repeated along with our more-detailed reply now embedded in the article above.
Thanks for asking.
On 2018-10-15 y Ronald Tabellione
I have radiant heat hot water system in my plaster ceilings. What should my my hot water temp be so I don't crack my ceilings. I have 2 zone heat and a brand new furnace. House built in 50's
Radiant heated ceilings and possibly radiant heat wall panels can operate at significantly-higher temperatures than radiant heated floors, probably because we need to be able to walk on the floor without getting a hot-foot.
The wiring in some electrical radiant heat gypsum board (drywall) panels is rated for 250 degF but doubtless operates well below that.
Radiant heat ceiling system temperature range: Radiant heat ceilings generally run in the 150-170 degF. range - thus delivering more BTUs pe square foot than radiant floor heating.
In comparison, the typical operating temperature range for radiant floor heating systems at 85-140 °F (30-60C) though we agree that 140 deg.F. is a bit higher than suggested by other sources.
The US DOE notes that
Radiant floor heating systems are significantly different from the radiant panels used in walls and ceilings.
Regrettably the DOE doesn't give any different temperature ranges for radiant panel heat in walls or ceilings. - US DOE www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-heating-systems/radiant-heating#307668-tab-0
llustration: Messian radiant heating & cooling panels, cited in detail below.
I am collecting more operating temperature specifications for those radiant heat panels and will add that information, product specifications, etc. here,
On 2018-10-15 by Ronald Tabellione
I have radiant heat hot water system in my plaster ceilings. What should my my hot water temp be so I don't crack my ceilings. I have 2 zone heat and a brand new furnace. House built in 50's
On 2017-12-31 by (mod) - 120 to 135 deg F is "ideal" for radiant floor heating controls
Darryl
A radiant heat system manufacturer, Radiant Floor Company, opines that 120 to 135 deg F is "ideal" and most sources we have found discuss typical radiant heat operating temperatures in the 115-135 degree range.
On 2017-12-31 by Darryl
I have floor sensors on my cement slab with floor heat. What should I be setting the min and max settings on the sensor?
On 2017-11-09 by (mod) - The boiler pressure/temperature relief valve will open and spill water and pressure if the system pressure exceeds the safe limit -
Robert:
The boiler pressure/temperature relief valve will open and spill water and pressure if the system pressure exceeds the safe limit - as long as that valve has not been damaged or tampered-with.
You can of course lower the HI limit on your boiler, that will reduce the boiler's maximum temperature and thus pressure.
On 2017-11-08 by Anonymous
@Robert,
Is there a danger running the boiler at 28-29 psi over the winter. Seems not much leeway before prv may activate.
On 2017-11-08 by (mod) - It is normal for a boiler pressure to increase from 12 PSI cold up to somewhere under 30 PSI when the boiler is hot.
It is normal for a boiler pressure to increase from 12 PSI cold up to somewhere under 30 PSI when the boiler is hot.
Operating temperature somewhere just under 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you want to read technical details you can search this website for our article titled
Thermal expansion of hot water
On 2017-11-08 by Robert
Question. Hydronic boiler 144,000 Btu. New prv delivering at 12 psi (checked with guage), new expansion tank, water temperature set to 180 F, 4 zones, all receiving heat, sea level installation.
Boiler wants to run at 28-29 psi. Any ideas on why so high. Thanks in advance for any pertinent information you may be able to send.
On 2017-10-27 by Joe Q Worker
I work in a firehouse that has radiant heat under the bay floor in cement with a tile floor on top of it.
I've read your too hot conversation and I'm wondering what the correct temperature should be on this. Currently at 170 leaving the boiler and returning at roughly 95. Any comments are greatly appreciated.
On 2017-07-2 by (mod) - adding flooring layers can insulate and interfere with radiant heat
In my opinon you're adding a layer that adds an insulating effect, so it may take longer for the floor to warm up and there may be odor offgassing or formaldehyde offgassing (depending on the flooring product) problems from the flooring.
On 2017-07-25 by Lisa
We have radiant heat with ceramic tile over it. We are considering put vinyl planks over the tile as a new floor.
We have heard it will be fine if the floor surface temperature doesn't go over 85 degrees. However, will adding another layer (existing tile plus vinyl planks ) compromise the efficiency of the radiant heat system?
On 2017-01-25 1 by Anonymous - do not compensate floor thickness with heat set point.
Bob do not compensate floor thickness with heat set point. Though thickness may slow recovery rate, once floor has reached desired set point it will maintain it without damaging laminates.
On 2017-01-14 1 by (mod) -
Bob, I don't know - the value of added insulation - something I usually assume is well worth while - depends on where the building is located, its climate, and the construction details such as what's under the floor and how warm or cold is that space.
On 2017-01-14 by Bob
I finished installing my underfloor radiant heat, using reflective bubble foil 1/2 up the joist, would you recommend spraying foam under the foil to help insulate the floor?
On 2017-01-08 2 by (mod) -
Good question, Bob. Sorry I don't know. Typically, no it won't matter as the system is under pressure. But I'd ask the manufacturer of your specific heating system.
On 2017-01-08 y Bob
I installed a 5 port rifeng manifold in my underfloor heat system does it matter if the supply is above or below the return?
On 2017-01-06 by (mod) - Should I run my water temperature higher than 140 to compensate for the total thickness of the underfloor of 1 1/2"?
Bob:
I think you ask a great question but though the answer is "probably not" -
I've seen a number of complaints about gaps in wood flooring that occur when the flooring was overheated by too-hot radiant tubing below.
I'd prefer to keep the temperature down to what the manufacturer of your system recommended. You may find it takes a bit longer for the floor to warm when heat first starts, but I'm doubtful that the trouble is anywhere near as horrible as the RADIANT HEAT MISTAKES when the contractor buried the tubing deep in concrete and left out insulation.
On 2017-01-06 by Bob
I am installing under joist radiant heat, the floor is 1" tounge and groove osb plus 1/2 " osb on top of that with laminate finish floor.
Should I run my water temperature higher than 140 to compensate for the total thickness of the underfloor of 1 1/2"?
On 2016-04-14 by (mod) - manufacturers of small boilers sized for small heating loads
Henry:
There are a number of manufacturers of small boilers sized for small heating loads and radiant heat systems including Bosch, Hydrotherm, Rheem, Takagi, and Goodman. Some additional ideas are in this article that originated with Steve Bliss: https://inspectapedia.com/Energy/Heating_Small_Loads.php
On 2016-04-1 by Henry
I have (4) 3/4 inch pex radiant tube loops distributed under a slab on grade 24 X 30 ' cottage
I will run them on a one zone t-stat with a three speed taco circulator 0015 IFC. Off the boiler i will have a 1 ''copper manifold with (4) 3/4 pex adapters branched and capped at the end for both the Supply and the return.
The Tstat will be tied to a SR501 Taco Relay that will call the boiler and pump.
The cottage is 720 sq. ft. Do you have a suggestion as to which small boiler propane fired would best and simply meet my situation. I will not need domestic hot water off this unit. I will occasionally lose power soi i want a unit that will simply restart itself when i"m not there . I will use a 50 - 50 mix of polyglycol or similar antifreeze. Let me know what you think.
On 2015-06-24 by (mod) - Can you please advise what that minimum temp would be?
Sure Corinne
We offer detailed advice on avoiding freezing when leaving heat on but set low at WINTERIZE - HEAT ON PROCEDURE
There you'll see that the right answer to "what temperature" depends on several variables: the outdoor lowest temperature, wind, building insulation and leakiness and also on the existence of high-risk points of freezing such as pipes routed through a cold corner. The article will help you sort that out. Let me know if questions remain.
On 2015-06-24 by Corinne
I have an oil-fired furnace and radiant floor heat throughout my home and attached 2-car garage. In order to save money, I'd like to set the temperature in the garage to the lowest possible setting and still keep the system safe. Can you please advise what that minimum temp would be?
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