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Posted by Brian on Wednesday, 10 February 2010, at 4:38 a.m.,
in response to Re: Best way to install radiant, posted by Corley

Corley,

Heat flow is not a static one directional study. It is a dynamic multi dimensional system. Simplistic heat calcs of a point in time lead to the wrong answers because they do not consider the time constants of thermal mass.

Dry dirt is a moderator. It is not a good conductor and is not a good insulator. This class of materials allows for slow absorption of heat over long periods. This long time constant means it can average temperatures over about one month per foot of dry dirt path. When pushed to a 20-foot path you get complete isolation of the thermal wave front to either side of the barrier.

A little solar gain and you push the average temperature up 10 or 20 degrees over the year creating a new deep earth temperature under the house that is raised 10 to 20 degrees. If you started in the 50s, you end in the 60s or 70s. This is a comfortable temperature and requires little or no need to change. This provides a large thermal well to the house. Designed right it will heat and cool the house completely.

Brian

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