1004 Improvements Section Question Regarding "radiant" Heating

[Wayne Henry]

Over the years this section appears to result in different responses when I review other appraisals. Do you check the box next to "Radiant" for heating, when the home has Hot water radiators or do you click other and put "HWrad". Radiant heating is quite different from the external hot water radiators in older homes. Radiant heating when google searched always yields photos which differ from Hot water radiators. I guess I want to know what Fannie Mae was thinking with this section. I did perform a search on there website and through there letters and could not find concrete guidance.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

Both are "radiant heating". But HWBB is a stand alone description. If the heat system is "Radiant" it's probably wise to describe it in the comments section - as in "radiant floor heat" or "radiant ceiling" (branded as "Ceil" heat) (something popular in this region in the 1950's and 1960's because of TVA's relatively cheap electricity). There are many in floor systems available - circulating warm water, electric resistance heat, etc.

I couldn't locate and Fannie instruction on this, but whatever you do, other than FWA, it's prudent to describe it further, remembering that, whatever you do, you'll open the door to a request for correction/explanation.

 

[timd354]

Over the years this section appears to result in different responses when I review other appraisals. Do you check the box next to "Radiant" for heating, when the home has Hot water radiators or do you click other and put "HWrad". Radiant heating is quite different from the external hot water radiators in older homes. Radiant heating when google searched always yields photos which differ from Hot water radiators. I guess I want to know what Fannie Mae was thinking with this section. I did perform a search on there website and through there letters and could not find concrete guidance.

Seriously? Hot water (or steam) radiators are the original form of central radiant heat systems. That is why they are called Radiators - they radiate heat.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

Seriously? Hot water (or steam) radiators are the original form of central radiant heat systems. That is why they are called Radiators - they radiate heat.

When i doubt, 'splain it out.

 

[timd354]

When i doubt, 'splain it out.

Like the OP, I am from the Baltimore-Washington area and radiant heat using radiators of all things (sometimes the large cast iron types, sometimes using the baseboard types) are very common in homes here that were constructed prior to 1950. I takes all of about 30 seconds to explain the heating (and cooling) system for the home in the appraisal report.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

Like the OP, I am from the Baltimore-Washington area and radiant heat using radiators of all things (sometimes the large cast iron types, sometimes using the baseboard types) are very common in homes here that were constructed prior to 1950. I takes all of about 30 seconds to explain the heating (and cooling) system for the home in the appraisal report.

My daughter and her family live in the District - each of their three homes has had hot water baseboard heat. Such isn't common in this area, but were we to build, I'd think long and hard about using hot water heat.

 

[timd354]

My daughter and her family live in the District - each of their three homes have had hot water baseboard heat. Such isn't common in this area, but were we to build, I'd think long and hard about using hot water heat.

Radiant hot water heat is awesome...it definitely "feels" warmer than FWA . The big drawback to installing radiant hot water heat is the installation expense, especially if you live in an area (like MD or TN) where CAC is needed since you have to run ducts and install an air handler for the CAC anyhow.

 

[TRESinc]

nothing beats the feeling of a warm tile floor in the middle of the night in winter. unfortunately my house has fwa so i installed heated flooring under my new tile to simulate the radiant heat my parent's house had.

 

[normando]

I notice the new thing in high end remodeling is radiant floor heat. They swear by it that the warmth is so good and energy efficient. Not sure if this is a trend.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

Radiant heat in the floors of upper end houses is relatively common. I remember talking with one homeowner who said that, were they to build the house again, they would have that heat in all of the house.