Installing Radiant Heat Tubing Tim Carter shows the complex method of looping Uponor hePEX tubing in between framing that's 24 inches on center. Three heat transfer plates are in each truss bay, not two.
Q&A /
Warm Floors DEAR TIM: It’s time to build our retirement home. The house will be in a four-season climate and I insist on it being as comfortable as possible when it’s cold outdoors. I’ve heard about radiant floor heat but always have had forced-air heat. What can you tell me about radiant floor heat? Is […]
State Proline XE Combi Boiler - Small Workhorse The first week of December I removed a clunky cast-iron boiler at my home and replaced it with a sleek and compact State Proline XE Combi boiler. Read the cover story on this in Tim's December 7, 2018 Newsletter. The difference is simply amazing. My State Proline […]
Why Your House Is Cold Question #1: Tim, I’ve got a forced-air furnace. Several rooms in my house are cold in the winter and are hot and stuffy in the summer when the AC is on. Most of the rooms are comfortable. Why do you think this is the case? What can be done to […]
"An electric baseboard heater works just like a toaster but without the danger of a fire." Basement Heating Options Checklist Electric heating is probably your best bet Do the math before making an expensive selection Insulate walls with closed-cell foam Portable heaters work well What Basement Heating Options Are Affordable? You might be surprised to […]
Concrete in a Bag Question #1: Hello Tim. This summer I’ve got a few outdoor projects that involve pouring small amounts of concrete. I looked into having a ready-mix truck do it, but the cost is so expensive. I’ve seen the bags of concrete in stores. Is it any good? Have you used it? Can […]
High efficiency furnaces can save money and they help conserve our natural resources. Before you think about junking your good furnace, keep in mind that the high efficiency furnace can cost up to $1,000.00 more than a standard one. Be sure you can reap enough savings to make it worthwhile.
You wake up on a frigid morning or come home from work and your house is cold, yet the heater or furnace is on. You might mumble out loud as you shiver, "Why is house cold with heating on?" This is the column Tim asked in his January 3, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter if you would […]
High efficiency air filters trap dust, pollen and mold floating around the house. Compare dust sizes with this particle size chart.
Water in heating ducts is more common than you might imagine. Some houses built on top of concrete slabs have the heating and air conditioning ducts buried in the ground under the concrete. Water can enter these heating ducts when it rains heavily as the water table starts to rise and pushes water up into the soil under the slab and then into the ducts. It is easy to remove the water and to permanently stop the water from entering the ducts. You have to divert the ground water away from the house with a special outdoor trench drain.
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