Radiant Floor Heat:  The Easy Energy Diet

Radiant floor heat is the most comfortable type of heating system currently available.  It fosters a ‘stable’ heating environment that virtually eliminates drafts and temperature variations.  Radiant heat also consumes up to 30% less energy than standard baseboard heat or forced hot air systems—less actually equals more!

Heat Where It Is Needed Most

As the furthest appendages from the human heart, the feet are typically the coldest part of your body.  Radiant systems put the highest heat output where it is needed most—right at your feet! Because your feet are in direct contact with the heat source, you are comfortable at a lower temperature setting.  Lower temperature setting = lower heating bill and no loss of comfort!

Stable Temperatures

Radiant systems heat the actual structure of the building, including floors, walls and even the furniture.  Because of their large mass, buildings are inherently resistant to quick changes in temperature. Because you are heating the structure and not the air, less heat is lost when you open a door or window. There is also less heat lost through walls and ceilings. For this reason, a properly designed radiant floor system is often able to reduce temperature variation from room to room to less than one degree. 

The Healthy Choice

Because no fans or blowers are required, allergens such as dust are not blown around or circulated throughout your home. Less dry air and less dust make for easier breathing.

Why So Efficient?

Radiant heat is proven to use less energy than any other heating system.  The secret behind this wonderful technology is actually quite simple—the water temperature needed to heat the floors is substantially lower than that required for baseboard heat or forced hot air systems.  Lower water temperatures mean that the heating equipment can function more efficiently and lose less heat to surrounding areas like basements and unfinished areas.

Installation

Radiant heating systems can be installed in new construction and in existing homes, over wood or concrete floors. These systems are easy to connect for new additions or for outside applications.

Options for Existing Space

Under floor systems are typically used for existing homes and buildings.  Installing radiant heat in existing spaces involves securing aluminum heat transfer plates with PEX tubing under the floors.  The heat from the transfer plates migrates through the flooring materials and delivers heightened comfort and energy efficiency.

Options for New Space

We have found that the best option for new construction is installing ½” plywood radiant panels on top of the subfloor.  These panels are assembled to create a serpentine channel that accepts PEX tubing.  A panelized radiant system has two primary advantages over other options. First, the panels accommodate almost any type of finished flooring material—wood, tile and even floating floors. Second, because this configuration puts the tubing in direct contact with the flooring material, there is better heat transfer and faster warm up times.  We recommend two manufacturers that sell this product: Viega and Uponor.

All Radiant Installations Are Not Created Equal

Over the years a substantial volume of our radiant work has involved fixing radiant systems that were not installed properly by others.  These repairs highlight two elements that are important to a good radiant installation. 

Quality transfer plates

For under floor installations, there are systems that utilize good quality heat transfer plates and then there are those that use noisy, poor performers.  Heat transfer plates are aluminum panels that both transmit heat to the floor above and, perhaps more importantly, allow the PEX tubing to expand without making noise.  PEX tubing expands up to 10% of its length as it increases in temperature.  ‘Do-it-yourself’ installations often staple the PEX tubing to the bottom of the subfloor.  With this configuration, as the tubing expands, noises emanate from the floor as the tubing moves on the rough underside of the subfloor.  Good quality heat transfer plates hold the PEX tubing off of the subfloor and avoid noise problems.

Digital temperature controls

One of the most common complaints with poorly installed radiant systems is the tendency to overheat during the spring and fall.  Radiant heating systems heat the structure and mass of homes and buildings.  In order to keep temperatures stable, radiant controls need to accommodate changes in heat load/outdoor air temperature.  Good temperature controls set circulating water temperatures based on how cold the outdoor temperature is (Outdoor Reset Temperature Control).  Additionally, good controls fine tune the water temperature based on the space temperature.  Too many of the budget and ‘do-it-yourself’ radiant systems try to use controls that are designed for baseboard heating systems.  These controls are poor substitutes and do not allow a radiant system to live up to its potential. Our customers are often delighted to find how well a once poor performing system operates after it has been upgraded to digital controls with an outdoor temperature reset.