ᐅ Ice Storage Systems in Prefabricated Houses (New Construction) – Providers

There is no problem with condensation. Even though some calculate that the floors would get wet, I have been cooling this way for four summers and have never had any issues.

In fact, there is no condensation; the system regulates itself in time to prevent any from occurring. (I am not a system technician, this is how it was explained to me or how I understood it). I only have cold feet in the bathroom, the rest of the house is heated (or cooled) using wall heating (or cooling).

HeimatBauer schrieb:

There is an indoor sensor that measures temperature and humidity. The system automatically adjusts if there is a risk of condensation.

Where exactly are these values measured? In the indoor air or in the screed? Measuring humidity in the indoor air alone doesn’t seem very meaningful, does it? By the time moisture is noticeable in the indoor air, the dew point in the screed may already have been passed, and moisture could be spreading. There are countless opinions on this topic in various forums. Some people report issues with moisture, musty smells after extended operation, and corresponding climatic conditions.

We also had the preparation for cooling via the underfloor heating installed by the general contractor, but honestly, I’m still not completely comfortable with the concept. A friend placed moisture sensors under the screed, in the insulation layer, distributed across different rooms. He explained that condensation forms where temperature differences occur – within the floor structure – and if this isn’t detected and controlled, moisture can repeatedly enter the structure. The calcium sulfate screed certainly won’t benefit from this moisture over time. This seems to be less of an issue with cement screed, which might explain why some installations last longer than others.

The cost compared to active cooling with an air conditioning system is, of course, “tempting.” For now, we might just keep the preparation and see how well we can achieve comfortable indoor temperatures by shading from the outside.

Edit:
Our general contractor does not want to assume any warranty if damage occurs due to cooling through the underfloor heating system.

i_b_n_a_n schrieb:

Actually, there is no condensation; the system regulates in time so that none forms.

The system does not regulate anything. The corresponding thermostat would simply shut off if the humidity gets too high. That is enough for the air, as you can factor in the temperature drop. But this is just theory; it has never happened in my case.

Allthewayup schrieb:

The costs compared to active cooling with an air conditioner are of course “tempting”

You can’t really compare them. Underfloor heating generally achieves a temperature difference of 2-3°C (4-5°F). That may be enough for improved comfort, but it’s not comparable to air conditioning, which also dries the air. In operation, passive cooling is almost free—just a few circulation pumps, and that’s it.

Allthewayup schrieb:

Where are the values measured? In the indoor air or in the screed? Measuring in the indoor air seems to make little sense when it comes to moisture, doesn’t it? By the time it shows up in the indoor air, the dew point in the screed may have long been passed, and moisture spreads.

That’s why I wrote: In case of condensation risk, not just when the sensor is soaking wet.

Allthewayup schrieb:

Our general contractor does not want to assume any warranty if damage occurs from using the cooling function through the underfloor heating system.

That was never a topic of discussion for us, maybe because cement screed was used.

As I already mentioned in the other thread, it definitely depends a lot on the location. In more humid areas, a dedicated dehumidifying system that also provides the necessary cooling capacity is certainly advisable. Here, at 550m (1,804 ft) altitude in the Alpine foothills, the weather is quite different than in Cologne on the Rhine.

But my main concern was actually the frequently asked question why it has to be an ice storage system at all. We are all still waiting for an answer.