We bought a house recently, it's about 30 years old. We never asked the previous owners how to use the heat, stupid yes I know! It has central air that was installed about 15 years ago, the vents are in the ceiling, duct work in the attic/crawlspace.
Now, the heat. There are thermostats in each room, but no convectors, only one in the foyer and one in a basement room. The appraisal says "radiant heat". We turned on the thermostat in the bathroom (on high) and still felt nothing. My husband checked the wires and it is drawing ampage for something! But what we have no idea. Also, our hot water heater is electric.
Can anyone tell me how this might work? What are we doing wrong?
2006-09-18 04:48:05 · 2 answers · asked by Jane M 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
We have checked all the circuits, one is off but we shut it off. Here's the kicker...after a minor flood in the basement we had an electrical current traveling through our metal banister so we shut off the breaker. Could that be the cause? But remember, my husband checked the wiring in the bath thermostat and it was pulling ampage for something....
2006-09-18 05:42:27 · update #1
A Radiant Heat System is made up of a boiler, a mixing device, a supply manifold, tubing, a return manifold, pipes, valves, insulation sheets and a floor surface covering material. These individual components work together to heat up the room from the floor up.
I suppose you need to find your water heater or a separate water heater... and trace it from there !
The California home I spent my first years in had radiant heat... concrete slab with cork floor tiles... nice toasty feet !! Once the house was properly insulated, the whole house would warm up rather efficiently.
Later we moved to a house with forced air heat... warmer, but not as efficient.
My little brother bought a ranch a few years back HIGH in the mountains... all electric heat (other than a wood stove)... we installed propane for water heat and added three on-demand water heaters. We then added radiant heat to all three bathrooms and the kitchen (tile floors). He removed the electrical wall heaters, added some duct work and ceiling fans to move the heat from the wood stove, and we re-insulated the next summer while replacing his roof... WOW what a toasty lil place !!
2006-09-18 05:12:11 · answer #1 · answered by mariner31 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe it's been turned off for the summer? check for switches. Is it electric? check for circuit breakers.
2006-09-18 05:37:51 · answer #2 · answered by zocko 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋