[Strawbale] re. Re: PEX, Concrete Slab, Fear of Death (by contractor)(Speireag Alden) (Speireag Alden)

[MKL]

Speireag said

Yup.  I'm putting on an addition (much more slowly than planned)  
and an electric heater can be moved around with impunity to suit the  
building situation.

∆∆ forgive my density but are you saying the slab that uses hydronic heating is only heated as and when you are in the part of the house above the hydronically heated slab and you move the water heater (uncoupling the pex from the water heater ?) to …where? Not wishing to be seen as impertinent I do wonder if my question as to the amount of insulation you used under the hydronic heating slab was in some way inappropriate?  



     Eventually, most of our house heat will be solar and wood.  The  
ratio will depend on how well the solar part works out.

∆∆ The use therefore of the radiant slab is then "temporary" (and electric heated water running through the slab will eventually stop) until you have ascertained the comfort derived from passive solar and solar collectors and the need thereof? And once this is understood you will then supplement (if necessary) the passive solar collection with wood fuelled heat only? Or will the slab still receive passive solar heated water and bypass the electric heater?

Sounds like a good plan and of course in the event (god forbid) of immobilisation during a wood heat requiring period one could always substitute the electric/hydronic system for the wood stove or do you mean you will burn wood to produce the heated water for the hydronic system? Or both possibly?


thanks
MKL




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