Radiant Sheetrock

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Dean83169

Dean83169

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I have found out that the sheetrock was specially ordered with the radiant heat built into it, Has anyone heard of this before? I have seen the wires dive directly into the sheetrock from the attic.
 
This was pretty common in the 70's and intothe early 80's. Pretty poor design, IMHO. I have hadcountless call to try and repair this stuff when it fails or, most likely, is damaged by a HO cutting a hole in it for the new recessed fixtures he bought at big orange. I typically replace with a BB heater and abandon the ceiling radiant system.
 
Yeah thats what they have and heard of the same thing happening, but they have someone who ( electrician ) knows how the circuits layout. I am curious as if someone knows some ind of trick to this crappy stuff.
 
Honest, the best trick with radiant heat sheetrock is as Jim said. Abandon it & install bb heat. IMO it's not worth the effort to try to repair the junk, even if you can.
 
Why would you put heat in the ceiling?
Heat rises...so what's the point?

A friend of mine had the radiant ceiling...he asked if we could put in recessed lighting...No can do. I could have, but knowing him, the price would have made it a no-go anyway.
 
Yeah but thats the easy way out is to install bb heat. The heat actually works very well in the rooms but I would hope someone on here has seen this before and has some trick to work around it. I heard there is a way that in the rock to isolate a certain grid. I know my options, this isnt my first rodeo and I appreciate all the ways around it but that isnt my question. Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?LOL
 
I think the only way to do it would be to get a mist bottle and spray the ceiling and wait to see what dries first? Thats my only opinion, but I would prefer not to work anywhere near it...
 
It can betraced with a tic-tracer. Amprobe makes a pretty good one for around $1200.00. Can't remember the model number but it also will locate ug and double as a circuit tracer.
 
celtic said:
Why would you put heat in the ceiling?
Heat rises...so what's the point?
.
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Heat does rise but it also radiates to cold. Even downward. More importantly the second floor is nice and cozy. :)
 
Radiant heat is not affected by gravity. Ever been in the warehouse stores with the heatpipe on the ceiling? You definitely feel it at the floor.
 
Dean83169 said:
I have found out that the sheetrock was specially ordered with the radiant heat built into it, Has anyone heard of this before? I have seen the wires dive directly into the sheetrock from the attic.
Click to expand...

Yes, my parents house had it and my neighbors had it. It was totally useless, and has since been disconnected in both homes.

The neighbors had me install an electric baseboard in its place. My parents added a zone onto the boiler and installed hydronic baseboard. Vast improvement in both situations.
 
:smile:
Dean83169 said:
I have found out that the sheetrock was specially ordered with the radiant heat built into it, Has anyone heard of this before? I have seen the wires dive directly into the sheetrock from the attic.
Click to expand...

JUST TAKE A LOOK IN THE AMERICAN ELECTRICIANS HANDBOOK, TWELFTH
EDITION, FIG 9-270, AND FOLLOWING, IT REFERS TO YOUR GYPSUM PRECAST
WIRED PANELS BUT ALSO SHOWS A "HOW TO" METHOD FOR RADIANT CELING
REQUIRING THE COMBINED SKILLS OF AN ELECTRICIAN AND A PLASTERER. I HAVE A CUSTOMER WITH SUCH AN INSTALLATION PUT IN ABOUT 1957 STILL WORKS OK FOR THE MOST PART.THE CUSTOMER WOULDENT PART WITH THE SYSTEM. WHEN EVENTUALLY A CABLE BURNS OUT , ONE CHOICE WILL BE
TO OVERLAY WITH A 1" THICK METRAL ENCASED RADIANT PANEL SUCH AS IS NOW AVAILABLE . JUST GOOGLE "RADIANT HEAT". OR MESSAGE ME , IVE SORTED THROUGH VCARIOUS CLAIMS BUT NOT ACTUALLY TAKEN THE LEAP YET.
 
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