Resistive Ceiling Heat

[Anonymous]

Posted by: dshale (old forum transfer)
Posted - 01/17/2002 : 17:01:13

About 20 years ago I installed resistive ceiling heat in two rooms. I loved it then
-- still do. I am now redoing two more rooms. This form of heat has gone out of style. Does anyone know where to buy it?

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 01/17/2002 : 19:55:21

Before you buy the newer style cable ceiling manufactured style heating panels you should read the link below. Might be of some preventive information to avoid future problems with cable ceiling heat. I am not confirming nor denying what is being said on that site but thought you should read it and make up your own mind.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/home/heatpan.html

http://www.torfree.net/ip/aa198/radiant.txt

Cable heating type of heat is now available in floors and walls also. They come in a variety of installation methods to chose from. They even come in ceramic or clay type floor tiles now.

Try the following link to get you started on the info your are seeking.

http://www.electricheat.com/radiant/about.html

Hope this helps

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: dsdale
Posted - 01/18/2002 : 11:28:11

Thank you for your response. I looked at the warnings on the sites you supplied. This is a 200 year old house and I am not going to risk burning it down with that stuff.

But actually, the heating system I used and am looking for is quite different. A single resistive loop, several hundred feet in length, is stapled continuously to rock lathe and then covered with plaster. Even with failure of the wire -- have you ever seen an electric cook-top fail -- the pretty intense heat is well sealed away from the air, and is safe. At least I believe so.

Does anyone know where I can get that type of ceiling heat?

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 01/18/2002 : 19:12:32

I was in the electrical contracting business for thirty years. I had few calls asking for repair of the cable ceiling heat you discribe. In the past I installed about 5 of those systems that you have. I never got a recall on any of those systems.

Cable ceiling heat is a contact style heat the didn't seem to become very popular in our area. The tendency to heat what it strikes leaving legs under tables cool seemed to be the reason it didn't become that popular around my area.

You might want to contact a local electrical supply house. Once this year I inspected a new installation exactly like the older installation of installing the loops sandwiched as you discrib. If they bought it and installed it within this year then it has to still be available. Try a larger electrical wholesale house and ask them if they have suppliers where they can get it for you. Today most are using the preconstructed panels like the link that I provided on new ceiling construction.

Hope this helps

Wg