Radiant Floor Heating Systems

Radiant Floor Heating:
Radiant heat is also known as Infrared Radiation and works on the same principle as a microwave. Unlike traditional heating devices, where the air in the room is heated, radiant heating system warms the objects and people in the room. Radiant heat is conveyed through locations in the floor, in wall panels or in the ceiling. Here we'll have a look at radiant floor heating systems.

If you have ever tiptoed over a cold bathroom floor first thing on a dark, chilly morning, you will appreciate the comfort provided by a radiant floor heating system. The radiant floor heating system is placed either under a tiled floor, embedded in a concrete floor or attached to the underside of a wall-to-wall flooring mat.

Types of Radiant Floor Heating Systems:
There are three main types of radiant floor heating systems – an electric radiant system that consists of electric cables placed or embedded under the floor, a radiant air system that consists of hot air pipes under the floor and a hydronic radiant system, where there are hot water tubes beneath the floor.

Many people prefer to install hydronic radiant systems as these are comparatively low in cost than the other two radiant systems and require less electricity, which translates to lower electricity bills. The hot water in a hydronic radiant system is pumped from a boiler – a traditional wood, coal, gas or oil powered boiler or a solar heater - and passes through polyethylene tubing placed under the room flooring. With the help of a zoning valve and thermostat, you can regulate the hot water flow to get the exact required room temperature.

In a hot air radiant floor heating system, hot air is pumped through pipes laid under the flooring. The hot air can come through a regular furnace or a solar heater. Neither option is very practical in terms of cost and convenience. Using a solar heater, for example, may work during the day time but is quite useless for the night-time. Of course you can combine the solar heating with a conventional furnace for the night, but then you have to contend with the fact that air cannot sustain heat for a long period.

Electric radiant floors, as mentioned, have electric cables underneath. These work just fine, but can hike up your electricity bill plenty. Embedding the electric cables in a thick concrete floor can reduce costs to some extent as the concrete will trap and store the heat for several hours and you can switch off the heating system in this time. A tiled floor is also a good conveyor of heat, but if you have a floor covering that can put a spanner in the works. Floor coverings like a linoleum or a carpet reduce the amount of heat rising from the floor, so either have a thin, light covering, if you must have it, or place it only in certain areas. If you have a wooden floor, keep in mind the possibility of the wood cracking or distorting from the heat underneath. It is usually best to have a laminated wooden floor, which can withstand the heat better, rather than a complete wood en one.

Benefits of Radiant Floor Heating System:
Since radiant heating is about warming the things in the room rather than the air in the room, it requires lesser energy than traditional house heating systems and therefore is more cost-efficient in the long run.

Aside from the obvious benefit of keeping your feet warm, radiant heating keeps you healthy. It doesn't heat the air or cause it to circulate, so there is no question of spreading germs around or bringing about allergies or breathing problems. Since the heating system is neatly tucked away out of sight, there is no risk of children or pets harming themselves, and as the system doesn't operate on fans or blowers, you don't have to put up with any noise either.

A radiant floor heating system is also ecologically viable, given that it requires less energy and therefore consumes less fuel. It causes less pollution than traditional heating systems and can be used side by side with solar energy.

Drawbacks of Radiant Floor Heating System:
A radiant heating system cannot be installed in combination with an air conditioning system. If you need air-conditioning, you must install that system separately.

Initial installation charges for a radiant heating system are much higher in comparison to traditional heating systems. So getting a radiant heating system may not be viable for the average person's budget.