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Wet Wall Heating

Wood Burners, Biomass, Small Scale, Biofuels & Other Heating Alternatives

Last Post by bontwoody 4 years ago

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bontwoody

(@bontwoody)

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Topic starter 01/04/2022 5:23 pm

I looking for a way of heating upstairs rooms with a suspended timber floor. The downstairs room will have UFH in a screed slab powered by an ASHP.

Ive considered oversized radiators and even air to air AC units, but like the idea of using an UFH system in a timber framed wall.

There are systems out there for doing this ( https://surfaceheating.co.uk/product/drywall-wall-heatingcooling-system/) but I cant find anyone who stocks them.

I wondered if it might be possible to mimic such a system with aluminium speader plates under plasterboard. Ive seen comments from people about air locks and wondered how the proprietary systems solve this problem? Perhaps just place an air release valve at the top.

Has anyone out there tried to do this?

Thanks in advance

Mark

House-2 bed partial stone bungalow, 5kW Samsung Gen 6 ASHP (Self install)
6.9 kWp of PV
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Brendon Uys

(@heacol)

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02/04/2022 5:04 pm

Hi Mark

It is very possable to install under floor heating on a wall. Spreader plates are a good idea, use 16mm pipe and keep the run lenths to arround 60 meters. This will allow a higher velocity which will increase the efficiency and reduce the posibility of air locks. With a little planning it will be a relitivly easy install. I would install 1/2 inch battens on the current wall, attach the spreader plates to them and then put plaster board on top of that to finish the wall.

Just do not hang any pictures without the help of a thermal camera 🙂

Brendon

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bontwoody

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Topic starter 02/04/2022 7:05 pm

Thats great Brendon, thank you for the advice. Do you think there is any need for an air release valve? I could put the spreader plates on at a slight angle to make sure one end was higher and put it there?

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Mars

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02/04/2022 8:04 pm

@heacol, that's a great tip. I shudder to think of the upheaval that driving a nail through piping in the wall would be. Nightmare situation.

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Mars

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02/04/2022 8:33 pm

Another installer we know says he fitted a 3thermo unit with an ASHP and it worked really well. I think (but I could be wrong) it's waterless. The UK 3Thermo website, however, appears to be compromised so I won't share the link here.

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Brendon Uys

(@heacol)

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03/04/2022 8:18 am

@editor Be very cairfull, I have requested the data for the 3THERMO product as it is not on their website. Why, makes me question the capabilities of it. Theoretically it looks a good idea, if it works. I will update here when and if I get a reply.

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bontwoody

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Topic starter 03/04/2022 8:58 am

@editor I did see those, but wanted a system for a drywall rather than one you need to plaster over. What makes you think it is waterless?

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Mars

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03/04/2022 9:07 am

@bontwoody, I thought I saw reference that 3Thermo was waterless, but I could be wrong.

I know that there are also infrared matts that you can place over your drywall, but that would also require plastering – I think the running costs of those may be quite high.

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Brendon Uys

(@heacol)

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03/04/2022 9:40 am

@bontwoody No need for air valves as long as the run lengths are not too long. You can tell if there is an air lock, there would be no flow on that circuit and it is easy enough to get it out, just close all the others.

Infra red, paint on heating and in plaster low voltage heaters are all direct electric heating. If you want that, go and buy a fan heater, it will cost a lot less and cost the same to run, a lot.

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