Energy Efficient
Viega ProRadiant floor heating saves energy because it is efficient, compared to forced air or baseboard systems. With forced-air systems, the idea is to blast enough warm air into a room to heat the entire area. On the other hand, radiant floor heating uses warm water that is constantly circulating in the floor – providing heat right where it is needed, rather than wasting it up at the ceiling. Since radiant does not heat the air, you do not lose energy with air leaks at windows and doors throughout the house. According to the Radiant Panel Association, you can save 10 to 30 percent on your monthly heating bills. Other studies have also shown PEX piping used in radiant applications wastes less energy and water than alternative metal pipe systems. This is true because PEX serves as a good insulator and has thicker walls than metal pipes.
Forced Air Or Baseboard Heating Systems
Did you know that there is an ideal body temperature each of us is trying to achieve? This temperature is 85° and studies show we want our feet to be warm and our heads to be cool. This is exactly what the Viega ProRadiant system delivers – forced air is the opposite. You deserve a system that makes sense and provides the most comfort possible – radiant.
ViegaPEX™
What is PEX? PEX is cross-linked polyethylene. In other words, it is a type of plastic pipe created when links are formed between polyethylene molecules while the pipe is being manufactured. As a result of this “linking” process, the ViegaPEX Barrier tubing and FostaPEX tubing used for plumbing and radiant applications is more durable under temperature extremes or chemical attack. These attributes make ViegaPEX ideal for both drinking water and hot water applications like radiant heat.
Residential – New Construction Applications
Building a house can be one of the most exciting and scary times during a persons’ life. Once the contractor is chosen, a homeowner has about a million decisions to start making. One construction decision is pretty simple – the addition of a Viega ProRadiant heating system.
Upgrading to radiant while the home is being built is the most cost-effective time to install the Slab on Grade System. Basically, ViegaPEX Barrier tubing is tied down to rebar above the ground or walked into the Viega Snap Panel System, and concrete is poured on top of it. This is perfect for basements and attached garage spaces. Some people choose to make their house “radiant ready” by laying down the tubing, but waiting until a later date to install the controls, manifold and heat source – and this is okay, too.
There are some areas of a home where Viega Climate Panels make the most sense. Unlike systems that require concrete pouring, the Viega Climate Panels can be installed directly over a subfloor or concrete. They only add 1/2” to the height of the floor and can be installed under any type of floor covering. Viega also offers other residential retrofit applications.
When it comes to keeping driveways, walkways, patios and steps clear of ice in the winter, Viega’s S-No-Ice product is the preferred application. This special radiant heat product is designed especially for use outside and in colder climates. Installing a snow melting system eliminates the need for shoveling, plowing, sanding and salting. This leads to safe surroundings and less maintenance.
Residential – Retrofit Applications
Old houses have character but usually need a little fixing up. If there is one thing all old houses have in common, it is the lack of temperature control and those terrible icy wooden floors on cold winter mornings. Viega offers several radiant system solutions for improving a “little fixer-upper.”
When floor coverings (hardwood, carpet, tile) are in good condition and it doesn’t make sense to pull up the flooring, the best way to retro-fit these spaces for radiant heat is with the Viega ClimateTrak™ system or Heat Transfer Plates system. Both of these application alternatives are a good alternative to the Viega Climate Panels and deliver warm floors in the living space. These systems use aluminum plates where ViegaPEX Barrier tubing runs down the middle of the plates and are attached directly to the underside of the subfloor. This is a fast, lightweight application to install and provides the comfort of radiant heat homeowners want. See Viega ClimateTrak or Heat Transfer Plates below for specifics on each product.
There are some areas of home renovation where Viega Climate Panels make the most sense. Unlike systems that require concrete pouring, the Viega Climate panels can be installed directly over a subfloor or concrete. They only add 1/2” to the height of the floor and can be installed under any type of floor covering. Viega also offers this product for residential – new home construction.
When it comes to keeping your driveways, walkways, patios and steps clear of ice in the winter, Viega’s S-No-Ice product is the preferred application. This special radiant heat product is designed especially for use outside and in colder climates. Installing a snow melting system eliminates the need for shoveling, plowing, sanding and salting. This leads to safe surroundings and less maintenance.
Commercial Applications
Viega has been providing high quality radiant products for almost 10 years in North America, and almost 30 years in Europe. Viega radiant floor heating systems can be used on just about any flooring and installed in wet or dry installations using a variety of products specifically engineered to suit those applications. Viega takes the guesswork out of radiant design, radiant products and installation for contractors.
Installing radiant during construction is the most cost-effective time to install the Viega Slab on Grade System. Basically, ViegaPEX Barrier tubing is tied down to rebar above the ground or walked into the Viega Snap Panel System, and concrete or thin-slab concrete is poured on top of it. This is perfect for basements and attached garage spaces.
There are may be some areas of a home or office buildings where Viega Climate Panels make the most sense. Unlike systems that require concrete pouring, the Viega Climate Panels can be installed directly over a subfloor or concrete. They only add 1/2” to the height of the floor and can be installed under any type of floor covering.
New to the ProRadiant group products is Viega Climate Mat. This prefabricated mat has all of the ViegaPEX Barrier tubing built in and installers roll this out in large areas. The Viega Climate Mat is perfect for large commercial radiant applications – the tubing, supply return headers all built right into this pre-fabricated mat. In addition to heating large areas, the Viega Climate Mat will also offer snow melting and cooling possibilities.
Snow melting in commercial applications reduces liability and improves accessibility. Viega’s S-No-Ice is an excellent choice under pavers, where chemical melt aids, plowing and shoveling are made difficult by the many joints. Typical commercial applications include entrances to buildings, loading docs and parking lots. S-No-Ice contributes to safe surroundings and lowered maintenance costs.
Floor Covering
Viega is the only manufacturer who offers the patented Climate Panel system designed to go under any type of floor covering – hardwood, carpet, tile or vinyl. This gives homeowners a great deal of flexibility when designing their new home. Keep in mind, carpet is a good insulator and it can block radiant heat from getting into a room. If the carpet is too heavy, supplemental radiant heat in the lower wall is recommended. Area rugs leave floor space available for the radiant in-floor heat to do its job.
In addition to these options, engineered floors (sometimes also called laminated or floating wood floors) are a good choice over a radiant heating system. These systems are more stable than regular plank hardwood, so any gapping or movement will be minimized.
S-No-Ice
Ever dreamed of a day when the driveway didn’t need to be shoveled after a big snowstorm? Or your trucks could get into the loading docs before the plows were able to clear the snow? Well, that dream is now a reality. Viega’s S-No-Ice product is a hydronic snow melting system that makes sense in residential, commercial and industrial applications.
Residential Applications
Snow melting in residential applications is gaining widespread acceptance, especially in the northern states that might see snow six out of the 12 months of the year. Viega’s S-No-Ice can alleviate shoveling, plowing, sanding and salting. Typical application areas include driveways, walkways, patios and steps.
Commercial Applications
In commercial situations, snow melting can reduce liability and improve access during winter months. S-No-Ice is an excellent choice under pavers, where chemical melt aids, plowing and shoveling are made difficult by the many joints. Typical commercial applications include building entrances, parking ramps and parking lots.
Industrial Applications
Snow melting in industrial applications is installed where safe, clean and easy access to certain places is critical. Typical applications are hospital emergency entrances, helipads, loading docks and building entrances.
Less Dust For Allergy Sufferers
It is hard to believe, but homeowners with radiant heat can practically throw away the duster. How can this be true? Forced air systems heat a home by moving hot air through a home using a series of ductwork. Through this process, forced air systems also blow a lot of dust and allergens throughout a house – making radiant homes, healthier homes.
Controls, Manifolds, Mixing Stations & Fittings
There is a lot more to a successful radiant system than a little bit of tubing in the floor. It takes highly engineered controls, manifolds, mixing stations and fittings all working together to create a radiant heating system. These sophisticated components function as a system to provide the right amount of heat in the right places at the right time. For example, both the Basic Heating Control and the Advanced Heating Control modulate the temperature of water in the system as the outdoor temperature changes. A mixing station mixes cold and hot water to make sure it is the right temperature when it goes out to certain sections of the floor. Viega offers a variety of different manifolds – these control the supply and return of water to the lines (pipe) that run under the floor.
Installation
When it is time to install radiant, Viega recommends choosing a licensed plumber with experience installing radiant applications.
To find a radiant specialist in your area call 1-877-843-4262.
Climate Trak™ & Heat Transfer Plates
The Climate Trak system is designed for retrofit applications or in situations where the build up above the subfloor may be a problem. Viega’s Climate Trak and Heat Transfer Plates are similar, but each has advantages...
Climate Trak:
- Heavier aluminum than the Heat Transfer Plates.
- Fastest installation time (does not require Groove Tube adhesive)
- Easiest to install (Tracks and tubing are installed separately, so there is no struggling with the tubing while the fastening is being done).
- Predrilled holes for ease of fastening with screws.
- Comes in 4’ or 8’ long tracks that reduce installation time.
- Snap-in groove for tubing maximizes contact between the aluminum and the PEX tubing for efficient heat transfer.
Heat Transfer Plates:
- Made from thinner, more flexible aluminum than the Climate Traks.
- Comes in 20” long by 5” plates
- Requires a small bead of Groove Tube down the channel where the tubing is run right before installation.
