Copper pipes

[pipedesign]

I have a simple question !
Is it a problem if put the copper pipes coated with mineral wadding directly in the concrete floor?
The copper pipes are used for a heating instalation .

 

[krb]

Type K copper is used for potable water lines under slabs, but I have never seen it used in a heating application. If the system you are describing is an underfloor radiant system there are manufacturers of cross linked polyethylene tubing that is supposed to be the bestt pipe for underfloor systems. Try warmrite.com as a possible vendor.

In general, I have not seen copper placed in the slab. As I mentioned, Type K is used under slabs, since it comes in rolls which eliminates any joints under the slab. We stay away from having fittings buried under the slab to eliminate a possible leak.

 

[pipedesign]

Thank you !!!
But it must be someone who tried this system !!!
I don't see why it won't work ?!?

 

[TBP]

There were huge numbers of houses (Levitt houses) with copper radiant heat built in the eastern US just after WWII. There are a few systems still running, but most developed leaks, and were replaced by baseboard. The theories regarding the cause of the failures were numerous, and many centered around copper being corroded by the concrete. I'm not sure that this was the actual cause. Other factors, notably poor soil compaction resulting in settling (these houses were literally thrown up by the tens of thousands to house men just discharged from the military at the end of the war & their families), then cracking & shifting of the floors mechanically damaged/broke the copper. Other things like trees growing near the houses over time resulted in roots causing the same cracking. Other failures were from the copper being in contact with steel re-inforcing mesh, nails in scrap lumber left on the ground when the floors were poured, etc.

 

[pipeingg]

concrete is not a good conductor of heat and would be very costly to heat your room/rooms. However if you clad your floor with polystyrene the heat retention would make it worth while

 

[TBP]

Actually, concrete will conduct the heat just fine. However, problems often occur if there's a floor covering with a high insulating value, like carpet, with a thick underpad. What you can also get is a significant flywheel effect at times like spring when it's cold first thing in the morning, but warms up rapidly. The slab gets hot, then stays hot even after the heating system has cycled off. There are ways to deal with problems that surface, but some planning is required.

If the slab is on grade, insulation is important, especially if there's any amount of ground water to pull heat away from the slab. The kind of insulation used should be carefully considered. There have been a number of incidents where insects have really enjoyed eating and burrowing in foamboard.