by Alex Wilson
Solar energy is well suited to radiant-floor
heating because the temperature requirements
for the slab are low (80 to 125 F), and solar collectors
are much more efficient when operated
at relatively low temperatures.
But the nature of solar heat adds a number
of complexities when it comes to controls and
back-up requirements for radiant floors.
The Basic System
Solar energy can be used a number of ways
in radiant floors. The easiest approach is simply
to pump solar-collection fluid directly through
the tubing in the slab, without using any intermediate
storage.
The beauty of this approach is its simplicity,
but how do you control the slab temperature?
To avoid large fluctuations, the system