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What are Radiant Heat Manifolds?
Radiant Heat Manifold plays a supreme role in Radiant heat applications. Manifold is the place where the water supplied by the heat source is separated into the smaller lines and further it is dispersed all over the Radiant heating system.Each set of radiant heat manifold package has one supply manifold, one return manifold these are the components which are pressure tested and all of them are preassembled in a factory. It also includes other vital components like flow indicators for each circuit, manual for balancing valves, automatic air vent on each of the manifold, shut off ball valves, drain valves, mounting brackets and temperature gauges.
These manifolds are suitable for a broad range of installations like staple up systems, infloor systems, concrete slabs, baseboards radiators etc. At the centre manifolds are at 2" and the maximum flow is 1.4 Gallons per Minute per branch. With each radiant heat manifold ½"PEX compression adapter is included by default. One may buy the other sizes of PEX adapters separately.
The number of the PEX tubing circuits can be matched to the branch size of the manifold in order to select the correct size for the radiant heat manifold. The general recommended installation practices are given below:
200-250 ft can be matched with 3/8" PEX tubing pc (per circuit), 300-350ft is fit for ½ PEX tubing pc (per circuit), 400-500ft with 5/8 PEX tubing pc (per circuit). If it is used for snowmelt applications then 250ft is fit for 5/8 PEX tubing pc(per circuit) and 300 ft with ¾ PEX tubing pc(per circuit).
The proper installation of the radiant heat manifold will ensure the best performance by the system. The manifold with the balancing valve should be placed on the top and there is another manifold called supply manifold with the flow indicators which should be placed in the bottom.
The mounting system offsets the heat manifolds from walls which give a convenient access, easier installation and maintenance. Flow indicators can be easily be adjusted to the increase and decrease of the water flow and they serve as secondary valves also. Shut off valves by default are 180 degree straight. 90 degree angle can also be purchased to upgrade a manifold.
The manual balancing valves which are on the return of the heat manifold are used to adjust the flow of water through selected branch from zero % to 100%. Radiant manifolds can service several rooms. The flow of water can be adjusted through manifolds branch and this would ensure that every circuit gets proper supply of hot water.
The flow to each branch can be controlled automatically, for this the radiant heat actuators needs to be installed. If the manifold is serving a single zone then actuators are not required and the single zone valve can serve the purpose.