Our living room ceiling has large cracks throughout the room due to the previous owners using the radiant heat in the ceiling. Leah answers a viewers question about stress cracks, and she shows one of the the best ways to repair them in walls and ceilings. Attic step throughs happen more than one would think. It sounds like you are since you are not using it anyway. Plaster ceiling repair how to address cracks in plaster in a. Radiant heaters give you the option to customize the temperature of individual rooms. Installed in the ceiling and designed to look like a ceiling, they produce heat in lieu of traditional heating methods such as a heat pump or oil furnace. Radiant ceiling heat drywall falling again contractor talk. A prewired ceiling panel which has cracked as a result of a person stepping on it in the attic. The heat has caused large cracks gouges and i am not sure what to use to fill them in.
In the older form, electric heating elements are sandwiched between a layer of drywall and a layer of plaster. You now should have a leak repair lasting for many years. When these wires burn out, it is very difficult to repair the system without tearing out most of the ceiling. How to repair a ceiling crack diy drywall repair tips and. Radiant ceiling heat is a style of heating that is significantly different from the radiators or forced air ducts that you may be used to. When the fail, the only repair option short of tearing the ceiling down and starting over, is to install electric baseboard heat. Homes with ceiling radiant heat will typically have cracks in them. You should never try to use ceiling radiant in a vaulted ceiling as the surface temperatures would have to be so high that the losses through the roof would be greatly increased. How do i repair radiant heating cracks in our ceiling. If there is no attic, someone is sol, unless the want to replace the ceiling. Radiant ceiling vs radiant floor heating from above. There is a metal access plate there now, along with numerous repair couplings.
Find 1 listings related to radiant ceiling heat repair in poway on. The hardware of this device is mounted over the head making it very practical for homeowner living in small houses. The house is a two story and is in metro boston, ma area. How to repair a cracked drywall ceiling with the furring strip trick. Some cracks keep coming back no matter how well you repair them. Electric radiant heating is fairly common in bathroom floors, especially those with ceramic or marble tile.
Once this repair is made, the system should be retested for any other failures. Walls and ceilings sheetrock sagging on ceiling radiant heat i. Good for another 30 years, i thought as i patted myself on the back. I have radiant heat in my plaster ceiling and over the past 23 months of digging, major on going excavation, building destruction and construction four feet from my property line the ceilings have cracked in a number of rooms. Homeadvisor will connect you with prescreened and customerrated contractors in your area. Cracks appear in some of the ceilings along what i presume to be the edges of the underlaying lath boards. Ceiling heat removal demo cleanup how to diy youtube. Jun 17, 2016 looking up to radiant ceilings for heating and cooling. There are a number of different problems that can occur, and each needs attention in order to keep residents warm as temperatures drop outside. I owned a condo a few years ago with radiant ceiling heat, similar construction timeframe i guess warm air fell in the 70s. Our house is heated with electric radiant heat in the ceilings. The problem with this product is that it only works to prevent radiant heat transfer.
Im not the original owner and i think at one point the temp was just too high. Radiant heating systems are typically located in ceilings and in floors. After cables are installed,2 coats of a plaster product called radex is applied over the cables,then a texture is applied. This is typically caused by the weight of the system itself. My problem is that my ceilings are starting to crack and look like thier going to fall. In fact, the temperature variant from ceiling to floor is only about 1 c 2 f. The top layer of drywall is cut the layer toward the attic. Whether you are building a new home or remodeling an existing one, your feet will appreciate the soothing warmth provided by energyefficient underfloor heating. What are some common problems with radiant electric ceiling heat.
Here, youll discover ceiling options for your next project. Radiant panel repair pros in seattle, wa homeadvisor. Radiant ceiling heat general drywall discussion drywall talk. If a failure point is located, a repair splice can be made. It is hot water radiant heat and it is still in use. Radiant walls and ceilings are much like radiant floor heating in that they create a radiator out of the partial or complete panel, providing rich, even, comfortable temperatures throughout the room. I have seen in a couple of homes with radiant ceiling heat. The heat has caused large cracksgouges and i am not sure what to use to fill them in. The design and construction of your ceiling can make a room. And after 20 years in business formerly as the franz rogmans company, they certainly have that down.
Radiant heat is a popular energysaving device, but the expense of installing this heating system often makes homeowners concerned about repair costs. Apr 02, 2008 homes with ceiling radiant heat will typically have cracks in them. Installing tubing in the ceiling installing tubing in the walls installing a heated. It works best on hairline cracks, but its worth a try on wider cracks too. How do i repair the crack in my travertine floor over. This also works as a good supplement if the floor heat cannot entirely heat an area. Electric radiant heat ceiling repairs electrician talk. In most cases, this method will work 8085% of the time. Older radiant heating systems are more susceptible than newer ones. Cracks in ceiling with radiant heat coil fine homebuilding. This is one of the myths that is based on the false fact that we associate with the concept of heat instead of air. Our electric radiant ceiling heating system also eliminates cold and hot spots throughout the environment. Ranch style house built in the mid 70s, and the heat is still used. Frequently asked questions about radiant heat radiantec.
The thing about this radiant heat cieling is the cracks are occuring from heating and cooling of the cieling in a rapid manner, not from structual movement, that is why the crack will stay behind the paper tape. How to repair stress cracks in walls and ceilings youtube. Tools you will need to demo a heated ceiling mattock 2. Soak up the warmth of a radiant hydronic heat system in. Another thing common to radiant ceiling heat is ghosting of joist and the radiant elements through the drywall or plaster. For radiant heat in the ceilings or the floors, this guide can help estimate some of the most common costs associated with radiant heat repair. Hire the best radiant panel repair pros in seattle, wa on homeadvisor.
For those pesky recurring cracks, we prescribe goodbye cracks. We need to repair some cracks, what exactly is that concrete plaster called. Thermostat for radiant ceiling heat green building forums. Warm air rises and loses heat as it hits the ceiling, and then falls to the floor as it cools down. There are electric radiant products that can be installed below almost any floor, including hardwood and carpet.
Electric radiant heating the ashi reporter inspection news. Done well, under the proper circumstances, radiant floors are among the most comfortable and efficient means of distributing heat in most homes. Because radiant heat travels in any direction, radiant wall and ceiling heating is very useful and practical. They still use the heat, last time they where repaired it was done with mesh tape and spackle compound which did not hold up and i have tried repairing with elastopatch dap product which isnt working as well as i hoped. Radiant systems generally have wall thermostats to control each room. Typically one long crack that runs the length of the room. Without air circulation from a forced air system, any soot collects on the colder joist. Find local contractors to repair radiant panel heating units. Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community. Though it is not fun to do, radiant ceiling heat is normally repaired from the attic, if there is one. Oct 24, 2011 i have radiant heat in my plaster ceiling and over the past 23 months of digging, major on going excavation, building destruction and construction four feet from my property line the ceilings have cracked in a number of rooms. Currently they are redoing the kitchen which has a large crack which is about 8 to 10 feet long. The walls and ceilings are plaster on lath boards, 2x8 gypsum board.
Electric ceiling heat electrical inspections internachi. Radiant ceiling heat can never approach the comfort level or efficiency of floor radiant. We did not have any ceiling cracks, but skim coating or texturing the ceiling if you avoid screwing anything in should work fine, based on the experiences of others in our complex. I live in the chicago area and ive never had the need for a back up heat source. The disadvantages of radiant floor heating reliable. The panels do not require a duct system, are dust free and warm up faster. Radiant ceiling panels provide a different means for heating a home. This look at the costs of fixing both floor and ceiling designs will help you decide if radiant heat is right for your home. So does anyone know of a better thermostat that can regulate the room temperature with radiant ceiling heat. In older construction, radiant ceiling heat often consisted of wires sandwiched between a layer of drywall and a layer of plaster.
It forms an elastic film that stretches and contracts along with the crack. Common causes of problems with radiant ceiling heat include issues with wiring connections, broken heating elements and trouble with thermostats. I have radiant heat in my plaster ceiling and over the. The best way for one to reduce their energy consumption is to use electric radiant ceiling heat. Ceiling radiant complete radiant floor heat information site. If the installer did not correctly wire the system, it does not provide adequate heat. Radiant ceiling heat was real popular here in the 1970s. Thankfully, repairing this damage is generally cosmetic, so homeowners can. Unfortunately, radiant heat systems are not immune to damage. My house was built in the mid 70s and has radiant heat coils in the ceiling as the homes main source of heat. I understand that cracking is not unusual under the circumstances. One of friends recently purchased a house with electric radiant heat in the ceiling. Did you know that radiant ceiling is better than radiant floor. A warning about radiant barriers aka foil insulation.
I have radiant heat in my plaster ceiling and over the past. If you cant find the supply end of the hot water heat, chances are the ho may be mistaken about what he thinks he has. Another good way to increase the comfort level of any space. A direct transference of clean even heat from object to object without fans, pumps or hoses silent, motionless, and invisible. You might be able to break the plaster enough in that area to expose the wires and move them away but keep in mind, a much larger area will have to be. Recently i came a cross a basement infloor radiant system, and there was cracking of the concrete slab and some hollow sounding areas of the slab. Ceiling has radiant heat encased in cement which expandscontracts causing plaster to crack. Looking up to radiant ceilings for heating and cooling. Im going to assume it is dead beyond repair, and you dont want to pour a new floor to establish a new hydronic system. I taped and repaired the cracks, retextured and left it looking pretty good. Radiant heat in ceiling im looking to repair cracks in ceiling with electric radiant heat. Ditto what marc said and watch for addon not original penetrations through the ceiling that may have pierced the cables like plant hangers or.
If the pressure holds readd your water, add the heat and pressure up to 1520 psi. Mar 22, 2018 leah answers a viewers question about stress cracks, and she shows one of the the best ways to repair them in walls and ceilings. One of the most common problems in radiant heat ceiling systems is visible cracking and peeling in the ceiling. Are you willing to abandon the electric radiant heat. How do i repair the crack in my travertine floor over electric radiant heating. One thing you will run into is that the electric radiant heat is not usually permitted as a primary heat source. Radiantec recommends the use of glue, rather than a nail gun, when installing partitions to minimize this possibility. When the heat is turned on, the ceiling will dry first where its warmest, revealing the location of heated wires. My house was built in the mid 70s and has radiant heat. If this method is not effective in your circumstance, a manual repair would be required. The most practical thing for homeowner is to use radiant heaters to heat the ceiling mounts. Plaster ceiling repair issues are oftentimes covered up by wellmeaning but misinformed homeowners or. This makes the upper layer of the air hotter compared to the lower areas of the room, wasting up to 30 percent of the heat in the process. So i am considering buying a ceilingmounted curtain track.
In the face of huge popularity, growing success and satisfied customers, its difficult to criticize radiant floor heating technology. Ceiling repair radiant heat in ceiling jlconline forums. Lachance radiant heating we care about getting eichler owners their heat, says owner mike lachance. If excavation of the radiant heat line occurs, bcra recommends examination for failure starting at this point near the entry door. The plaster on the ceiling looks more like some sort of concrete and is just about as hard as concrete. Baseboard heat is the usual fix in most of these cases. What causes leaks in tubing or piping used for radiant heat in floor slabs and what repair options make sense when the radiant heat system is leaking. Electric radiant ceiling heating systems thermaray. In one bedroom i have a crack thats half an inch wide and about four feet long. Im looking for advice on the best methods to repair cracks in plastered ceilings with radiant heat. Modern radiant ceiling heat panels are much more convenient.
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