Category Archives: Radiant Heat

Heating system research and implementation.

Working Fireplace Boiler!

Posted on December 29, 2019 by ellen

It’s difficult not to be pleased to see the fireplace boiler working as planned in its new surround. The wood fire exudes such peace and tranquility on a snowy winter evening and adds heat to the radiant system. Directing heat … Continue reading →

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Fireplace Equipment Reconnected

Posted on December 27, 2019 by ellen

It took a couple days around the Christmas holiday to get the stove reconnected. The main circulating pump needed to have its water pipes reconnected and the wiring had been disconnected from the main pump, the aquastat controller and the … Continue reading →

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Fireplace with TV Mount

Posted on December 26, 2019 by ellen

There was a balmy break in the December weather. We have been enjoying temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s. So it was perfect for getting back to work on the fireplace boiler. I decided to use flat straight tile on … Continue reading →

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Fireplace Boiler Surround

Posted on December 6, 2019 by ellen

I started a new project that I have had in mind for several years. I have loved Old Hickory furniture ever since we visited the Old Faithful hotel in Yellowstone National Park when we were first married. It is made … Continue reading →

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Snug as a Bug

Posted on March 26, 2019 by ellen

Facebook reminded me that it has been seven years since we had our energy audit. Seven years since I retired. A bit over seven years since we purchased the house. The good news is that the property values have escalated, … Continue reading →

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Wood fired boiler!

Posted on October 30, 2018 by ellen

It works! I’m so pleased with the wood boiler system. This fall it was easy to start up. Just a few steps and it was all working as designed. I recorded the steps I took to get the first fire … Continue reading →

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Another Radiant Cooling SetUp

Posted on August 17, 2018 by ellen

I have again set up the 1/3 HP aquarium chiller that I bought in 2016. This time outside so that the heat from the chiller is not released in the utility room. The controller is inside and the wiring and … Continue reading →

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Sun Shades

Posted on August 15, 2018 by ellen

It’s been a slow summer for home progress. A series of family visits and the passing of my dear mother have taken our time and energy. I was also hospitalized three times and I’m getting tired of it. I’m having … Continue reading →

Posted in Living Room, Radiant Cooling, Reduce Reuse Recycle | Comments Off on Sun Shades

Gleaning More Materials

Posted on March 3, 2018 by ellen

I’ve used most of the building materials that have been stockpiled in the past; although there is more finish work in the house that needs to be completed. I hope to use the log railings for door and window trim … Continue reading →

Posted in Reduce Reuse Recycle, Solar, Spa, Trombe Wall | Comments Off on Gleaning More Materials

Safety for the Birdies

Posted on May 1, 2017 by ellen

Covering the chimney opening with barrier wire has been on the to do list for some time. Luckily some square wire mesh was accessible in the full garage so I cut some and installed it on the chimney. Every spring … Continue reading →

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Nest Thermostat Info

Posted on January 6, 2017 by ellen

It’s been cold outside. We woke up this morning to negative ten degrees. The Nest thermostat is only recording the temperatures and boiler use in the living room so it is an incomplete picture of our heat use. I need … Continue reading →

Posted in Monitoring, Radiant Heat | Comments Off on Nest Thermostat Info

Back to the Siding

Posted on November 11, 2016 by ellen

My brother generously offered to visit and help with the house construction. It is sort of a vacation for him and he likes house building projects almost as much as I do. He is much more of a perfectionist though, … Continue reading →

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Coolness

Posted on August 2, 2016 by ellen

I had to give up on the chiller again. I had repiped through the heat exchanger with a single path for the return water to pick up the coolness but the chiller could not reduce the temperature in the floor … Continue reading →

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Trying a Chiller Again

Posted on July 6, 2016 by ellen

I do not give up easily on an idea, especially when my research shows it is viable. It is just a matter of setting up the right combination of cooling and circulation to create a chilled floor. About a week … Continue reading →

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Cooling and Thermal Mass

Posted on June 28, 2016 by ellen

We are finding that the house holds heat well. In winter that is a good thing. In summer, it is more difficult to cool the house. It gets cool at night in Colorado. The humidity can go up at night … Continue reading →

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Concrete Bricks as Thermal Mass

Posted on February 10, 2016 by ellen

While painting the kitchen block wall I started wondering what kind of block is our inner south wall made of anyway? At one point I heard this type of block called “slag block” and in Arizona where there are many … Continue reading →

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Tweaking the Pump Wiring Again

Posted on January 31, 2016 by ellen

As part of the pump install I changed the wiring again. In the past I had trouble with the primary and secondary pumps working independently. I thought that was one of the things that wore out the Taco 011 pump … Continue reading →

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Heat is Back On

Posted on January 31, 2016 by ellen

I left the heat off until the days stopped being sunny. During that time the house temperature didn’t go below 64 degrees. Even when it got down to 20 degrees outside at night. We woke up to a steady 64 … Continue reading →

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Over-sized Pump vs. Undersized

Posted on January 25, 2016 by ellen

How did I end up with a Taco 011 pump for the secondary system anyway? The project spreadsheet has the original calculations. Pressure Loss Zone Length Delta T 20 degrees Loss @ 20 Rear Bedrooms 1 50 0.03 1.50 Family … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Efficiency, Radiant Heat | Comments Off on Over-sized Pump vs. Undersized

Ach Phooey! Taco Pump Siezed

Posted on January 24, 2016 by ellen

Since we returned from a trip to see our newest grandson about a week ago, I’d been noticing that the floor was not warm but the radiators in the back were. I thought since I had turned the heat down … Continue reading →

Posted in Condensing Modulating Gas Boiler, Maintenance and Repair, Radiant Heat | Comments Off on Ach Phooey! Taco Pump Siezed