Using this method heat is distributed evenly through the floors, warming them, and radiating throughout the rest of the room. Once the floors are warm the objects in the room such as couches and chairs become warm too, making everything comfortable.
There are several options available when installing a radiant heat system, but if you are retrofitting a home and have access to the subfloor, the Quik Trak system will be a great fit. Quik Trak can be installed in ceilings and walls and can be used in new constructions, but they are typically used to add radiant heat under preexisting flooring.
The Quik Trak panels are about 4 feet long by 7 inches wide by a ½ inch thick and are only compatible with 5/16” PEX tubing. Quik Trak does raise the finished flooring about half an inch. They have an aluminum heat transfer sheet built in to hold heat and distribute it evenly. Quik Trak can easily be configured to fit the shape of virtually any room by combining straight and return panels.
For slab installations, you should install Quik Trak over a minimum 5/8” wood subfloor glued or nailed to the slab. For upper levels Quik Trak does not serve as a structural subfloor. A minimum 5/8” subfloor must go beneath the panels.
Wood finished flooring and carpet pads can be installed directly on top of Quik Trak panels, but you should take proper care to minimize the risk of puncturing the tubing. As a result, floor panels should be installed perpendicular to the direction of the tubing so the PEX will always be visible to the installer.
When installing Quik Trak under tile or linoleum flooring be sure to use ¼” to 3/8” of plywood or cement board as a buffer between the two.
Each Quik Trak panels should be affixed to a subfloor using a minimum of 10 screws, a process that can be assisted by Uponor’s Quik Drive kit [part E6050000]. Also be sure to use a thin bead of Quik Trak silicone sealant [part E6050010] throughout the grove on each panel to secure tubing and facilitate transfer of heat.
And in all Quik Trak applications, the maximum loop length for 5 ⁄16" hePEX tubing is 250 ft
