Radiant floor heating is a delightfully cozy way to efficiently and comfortably heat every room in your home or business. Not only does it feel great on our feet, but it is a wonderfully sustainable way to heat a home from the ground up.
Today let’s talk more about this increasingly popular heating method and learn why it may be a good fit for you!
What Is Radiant Floor Heating?
Heated floors have been around for a very long time, even going as far back as the time of the Romans. In the modern day, we achieve the same feat by installing heating mechanisms into the floor of a home. These heating elements, located in the sub-floor, act to provide climate control for interior spaces.
Most conventional forms of heating involve blowing warm air into a cold room via air ducts and circulating that air to maintain or replenish its heat. Radiant floor heating, on the other hand, is different in that it directly warms the floor of your home and causes heat to naturally rise and radiate upward into your home air space. This even form of heating means that there won’t be any cold pockets or neglected spaces in your home.
The Two Main Types of Radiant Floor Heating
Both forms of radiant floor heating utilize thermal radiation technology. As heat rises from the floor, heat is circulated through a room via convection.
With this method, electric heating wires are evenly spread throughout the floor of a space. This form of heating can be used with any type of floor already existing in your home. Of course, electrically heated floors can also be used with new construction and laid into concrete as well.
It is also the cheapest type of radiant in-floor heating, requires less maintenance, and installs much more quickly than a hydronic system. However, the electric coils do not hold and retain heat as well as their water-based counterparts. In other words, once the system is turned off, the heat is gone, unless a thermal mass like concrete is present to hold the heat in.
With the hydronic method, water pipes are laid horizontally beneath the surface of your home’s floor area. As warm water flows through the pipes, a steady supply of in-floor heating is accomplished.
This type of in-floor heating is best suited to new construction and works in conjunction with concrete slab flooring. This heating method is cheaper to operate long-term and uses less electricity than in-floor electric heating. However, it does take longer to install and has a higher up-front installation cost.
A hydronic system also needs to be paired with one of the following heating systems to operate.
- An Electric, Natural Gas, or Propane Boiler
- An Air-Sourced Heat Pump
- A Geothermal Ground Sourced Heat Pump
The Pros and Cons of Radiant Floor Heating
There are numerous factors to consider when deciding to use radiant floor heating. Let’s look at both the advantages and drawbacks.
PROS
By having heat rise from your floors, there is no danger of pets or children accidentally burning themselves. The radiating heat that rises from an in-floor system is gentle and evenly distributed throughout a home.
Because heat naturally rises, an in-floor system is one of the most efficient ways to keep a home warm and toasty during the winter months. Additionally, heated floors are so well insulated and evenly warmed that you can lower your home thermostat, when compared with other systems. Radiant floor heating alone will save you an additional 15 to 30 percent on your heating bills.
These cost savings come as a result of evenly distributed in-floor heating and the fact that such systems can operate at a much lower temperature level than conventional forced-air duct systems. Additionally, water tends to retain heat better than air, and electricity does not lose heat as it travels through a home.
This is why in conventional homes, rooms farthest away from a furnace may feel colder than rooms that are closer to the furnace. As air travels through a long network of ductwork, it loses heat. Therefore, a conventional furnace has to operate at much higher temperatures and expends far more energy.
With a radiant in-floor heating system you never have to worry about unsightly floor vents, bulky hot water radiators, or the noisy HVAC systems that are in most other homes. With this type of home heating, the technology is virtually invisible, unobtrusive, and may take up less space when compared to forced air HVAC systems.
In most homes, the floor is the coldest part of a room. We put on extra socks, keep our slippers handy, and lay down extra rugs just to feel comfortable.
One of the most enjoyable things you’ll experience with heated floors is getting up in the morning and having a warm floor to walk upon. During the colder months of the year, having a cozy living space makes all the difference in terms of quality of life.
Young children will enjoy the extra warmth that heated floors provide also, as they will have a comfortable place to play with their toys. Pets too, won’t be as prone to jump up on furniture when they have a cozy floor space to sleep on. Plus, during the warmer seasons, when heating is no longer needed, this in-floor heating system can be switched off.
Not only can this type of heating be used in every room of your house, but it is a great system for use in commercial properties as well.
Additionally, radiant heating can be used outside your home too! Use it to heat patios, driveways, and even sidewalks. Never worry about shoveling snow or salting the ground to remove ice ever again.
Choosing to install a sustainable heating system like radiant floor heating will add value to your property overall and is therefore a great financial investment.
If you or your loved ones suffer from seasonal allergies, having a radiant floor heating system is a smart move. Homes that use conventional ductwork and forced air HVAC systems tend to move dust and other allergens around in the air. Regularly changed filters and duct cleaning can help, but the moving air of such systems can still irritate a sensitive person’s nose, throat, and lungs.
CONS
To a DIYers lament and for best results, this kind of floor installation is best left up to the professionals.
Because one has to hire a professional team to install these floors and because of the special nature of the parts and systems used, the initial cost can be pretty steep, when compared with other conventional heating systems.
Tile, concrete, some types of bamboo, and engineered wood flooring are the best candidates for a radiant floor heating system. However, carpet and hardwood floors may not be the best choices. Thick carpet and padding effectively block the heat from radiating upward due to their insulative qualities. Hardwood floors may buckle, expand, contract, or shift with the changes in temperature heated floors create.
Depending upon the temperature outside, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours for your heated floors to warm up a completely cold space. Therefore, it’s best to leave your heat on, even at a lower setting, while you’re away from the house for the day.
Radiant floor heating is only useful for heating and providing climate control during the colder times of the year.
During the warmer times of the year, radiant floor cooling may be used. However, it requires a separate climate control system, extra mechanical components, and equipment if it is to be used to provide in-floor cooling. Though it can be done, it may not be the best method for keeping a home comfortable during the warmer months, especially if you live in a very hot region.
Additionally, because cold air sinks to the ground, it may be better to install a radiant ceiling system instead, if one truly wanted to use this same method. Furthermore, radiant cooling does little in terms of managing humidity in a home.
During the hotter times of the year, a conventional air-based HVAC system or more sustainable alternatives are likely the best strategies. To learn more, read our article about alternative cooling and passive ventilation systems here.
Conclusion
There are a few things to think about before you take the leap to install radiant floor heating. By doing a little research and planning, you’ll be able to rest assured that you’ve chosen the best system that is right for your unique situation.
You’ll also want to consider regional limitations and energy costs. In some areas, electricity is cheaper than gas, while in other areas, the reverse is true. This can help you decide if you are going to go with an electric or water-based system.
Making the decision to utilize in-floor heating is a wise choice! Not only will you enjoy the even radiant heat it provides, but you’ll save money on your energy bills in the long run.
Summary
Radiant floor heating is a popular way to heat a home or business from the ground up. It is different from conventional forms of heating in that it directly warms the floor and causes heat to rise and radiate upward into the home air space. There are two main types of radiant floor heating: electric and hydronic. Electric heating wires are evenly spread throughout the floor of a space, while hydronic heating pipes are laid horizontally beneath the surface of the home’s floor area. Electric heating wires do not hold and retain heat as well as their water-based counterparts, so once the system is turned off, the heat is gone.
Radiant floor heating is a type of in-floor heating that is best suited to new construction and works in conjunction with concrete slab flooring. It is cheaper to operate long-term and uses less electricity than in-floor electric heating, but it takes longer to install and has a higher up-front installation cost. Insulation considerations for both systems must be taken into account. The pros and cons of radiant floor heating include added safety for children and pets, energy efficiency, and lower heating bills. It is best left to professionals for best results.
In-floor heating is a cost-effective way to heat a home, as it can operate at a lower temperature level than conventional forced-air duct systems. It is virtually invisible, unobtrusive, and may take up less space when compared to forced air HVAC systems. Heated floors provide a comfortable living space for children and pets and can be switched off during the warmer seasons when heating is no longer needed. However, the heating time for heated floors can vary depending on the floor type. Radiant Floor Heating is a versatile system that can be used in every room of the house, commercial properties, and outside.
It is also great for allergy sufferers, as it moves dust and other allergens around in the air. However, it is only useful for heating and providing climate control during the colder times of the year. Radiant floor cooling may be used during the warmer months, but it may not be the best method for keeping a home comfortable. Additionally, it does little to manage humidity, so a conventional air-based HVAC system or more sustainable alternatives are likely the best strategies. Research and planning are important before installing a system, as well as regional limitations and energy costs.
Infographics
Find out more about this topic and feel free to share it.
