Radiant floor heating has a number of advantages: More efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because no energy is lost through ducts. The lack of moving air can also be advantageous to people with severe allergies.
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Radiant heating can be installed easily especially if you install when your home is being built or when it is being renovated. It can be rolled out on the floor as the systems are already connected to the wires. Otherwise also, looking at all the advantages, ripping out the floor may be worth it.
One of the benefits of the radiant heating systems is that they are much more energy efficient than the forced air systems. Radiant floor heating is almost 30% more efficient than forced-air systems, especially those which use water as the medium. These systems need less energy to run which means you get lower electricity bills and thus save money as well. So, radiant systems are cost effective as well.
It is not a common methods of heating homes, but it is certainly very effective. We are used to heating systems which are convective, i.e. the circulated heated air through some space and warm your home. Radiant heating delivers heat through the building’s walls and floors. Let’s see the types of radiant floor heating and its advantages.
In some electrical radiant floor heating systems, the cables are run directly inside the material, such as gypsum and concrete, between the floor’s surface and the sub-floor. Other systems fix the cables to conductive panels which amplify the heat.
Hydronic heat is more popular. These systems have corrosion resistant tubes which circulate hot water throughout the house, via the boiler. The boiler is controlled with the thermostat. New systems have valves which can control the amount of hot water being delivered to each room, and thus allows heat to be shut off or reduced, without reducing heat to remaining part of the home.
There is almost no heat loss in radiant heating, which makes it cost effective too. All the heat generated by the system will warm up your home, unlike convective heating systems. Also, as the heat does not move via the ductwork, so radiant floor heating does not let allergens into your home, thus improving your home’s air quality. So the overall health in your home has the potential to improve.
You won’t hear air blowing throughout the home, as they operate silently. You will realize the sound of the conventional heating systems only when you experience the silence of radiant floor heating.
The electricity the system is connected to heats up the cables, which then heat up the floor. Usually, this is perfect for supplemental heat. It is not recommended to use electric radiant floor heating systems to heat up your entire home because doing so could prove extremely costly.
Floor heating is great because it offers an efficient alternative to furnaces, which require air to constantly be circulating the home. There are two types of floor heating systems. See which one works best for your home and life.
Radiant floor heating is easy to operate since it can be controlled with a thermostat. Just like a furnace, temperature and time can be controlled at the push of a button. They are also compatible with smart WiFi thermostats, increasing their ease-of-use. The best part? They require virtually no maintenance and often come with a 30-year guarantee.
Traditional radiators need to be running at 149-167 degrees Fahrenheit in order to successfully heat up a room. Floor heating systems only require a temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit to be effective. Since they require less energy, they can help decrease the cost of your energy bills. On average, electric radiant floor heating systems save 15% on heating bills because of their efficiency.
Unlike traditional radiators, radiant floor heating is safe. Say goodbye to worrying about sharp edges or hot surfaces, which can be dangerous for pets or younger family members. Since the radiant heating system is tucked under the floors, you won’t have to worry. Additionally, it is much better for the air quality in your home. Since you get heat from the floors, there is no air circulating in your home. This means that it keeps the air fresh and oxygen-rich.
Hydronic radiant heating works through the power of water. A boiler will heat up water and send it through tubing underneath the floor, effectively heating up your home. Hydronic heating is good to use as a whole-home heating system, unlike its electric counterpart.
Hydronic systems require a bit more work since they involve a boiler, pump, fuel lines, and the panels that go beneath your floor. They are far more complex to install than electric systems. For these types of systems, it is best to have an HVAC technician do the work.
Greater Comfort (Consistent Warmth) Another big benefit of radiant floor systems is the high level of comfort they provide, particularly when it comes to consistent warmth. The problem with forced air is that the HVAC system distributes hot air and then once the temperature drops, the process repeats itself, leaving temperature inconsistencies.
Radiant floor heating systems are also quieter and better for those with allergies — the latter being due to the combination of oxygen-rich air and minimal air movement (unlike forced air systems that distribute dust and other particles around as they provide heat). Radiant floor heating systems are durable, outlasting most home furnaces.
Radiant floor heating systems typically have higher upfront costs with estimates being anywhere between $10.00 and $20.00 per square foot for labor and materials. An electrician will also be required to connect the system to a power supply.
They only take roughly an hour to heat up and involve the use of a programmable thermostat, allowing homeowners to customize their temperature based on activity level. Even hydronic floor heating systems that typically work continuously still retain their heat. They work at much lower temperatures compared to traditional radiators.