Air Conditioning Heating HVAC

Heating - In Floor Radiant Heat

Radiant heating systems involve supplying heat directly to the floor or to panels in the wall or ceiling of a house. The systems depend largely on radiant heat transfer: the delivery of heat directly from the hot surface to the people and objects in the room via the radiation of heat, which is also called infrared radiation. Radiant heating is the effect you feel when you can feel the warmth of a hot stovetop element from across the room. When radiant heating is located in the floor, it is often called radiant floor heating or simply floor heating.

Some of the many benefits of radiant heating include:

• Total Comfort - by keeping your feet warm and letting the heat do what comes naturally, rise. The heat is even and comfortable. Provides uniform heat with little or no temperature stratification.
• No ducts, fans, or blowers...virtually noiseless with no air movements.
• Efficiency Savings - your radiant system, combined with the proper fuel, a high efficiency heat source (boiler). You could use 30% less fuel than the average forced air system.
• Zoning Flexibility - you can zone different areas of your house to fit your lifestyle.
• Reduced Allergens - radiant heat reduces dust mites and air borne allergens by 60-90%!
• Added Home Value - this is a great selling tool and adds great dollar value

Why Radiant over forced air?

You can see in the picture above a representation of temperature differences throughout the space heated by forced air. Much heat can be wasted in the ceiling while leaving the floors cold. This tends to produce drafty spots in the house and really affects your comfort in a negative way. On the radiant side, you can see the floor at about 80F with 65F at themostat level. The heat is even and comfortable throughout the living space. For frequently asked questions about infloor radiant heat click here, or for more information contact us.