
Is radiant ceiling heat good or bad?
Radiant heating systems supply heat directly to the floor or to panels in the wall or ceiling of a house. Radiant heating has a number of advantages. It is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because it eliminates duct losses.
How does radiant heat in the ceiling work?
How do Radiant Ceiling Heaters Work? A radiant ceiling heater works by transferring heat via electromagnetic waves. This means that it heats objects in the room, but not necessarily the air around them. Because of this, many people use them for supplemental heating during cold days or when they need more localized warmth.
How does a radiant electric system heat a house?
Radiant heating systems supply 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 infrared radiation. Radiant heating is the effect you feel from the warmth of a hot stovetop ...
How does radiant ceiling heating and cooling work?
Radiant cooling systems work by circulating cold water through a network of polymer pipes installed in floors, ceilings, or walls. The same principle goes for radiant heating where heated water is distributed from a warm-water source such as boilers, through a network of pipes that is also embedded in the floors, walls, or ceiling.
What Is Radiant Ceiling Heat?
Are There Any Disadvantages Of Radiant Ceiling Heat?

Is electric radiant ceiling heat Expensive?
Radiant Ceiling Heaters Can Be Costly To Operate Another disadvantage of using radiant ceiling heaters is that they can be quite expensive to operate. This is because they use a lot of electricity to run, and you need more than one unit to heat your home.
Is electric ceiling heat efficient?
Radiant ceiling heat: This system heats the room from the top to the bottom. It is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home and could possibly save you as much as twenty percent on your energy costs. There are many benefits to choosing a radiant heat ceiling as the heating option for your home.
Is electric radiant heat worth it?
When remodeling your bathroom, radiant floor heating is especially worth thinking about. You will save a lot on the labor cost if the flooring is being lifted up and changed anyway. The comfort and the cost savings of running the system on your heating bills will work out to your advantage in a longer run.
How well does radiant ceiling heat work?
Typically radiant ceilings in cooling absorb heat for 60-70% by radiation and the remaining (30-40%) by natural convection. The combination of these two effects significantly increase the performance of a radiant ceiling compare to radiant floor.
What is the biggest disadvantage of ceiling electric heat panels?
Con: Heat Rises Radiant ceiling panels are easier to install than radiant flooring panels but have a clear disadvantage: heat naturally rises. Nature will work against the heat's attempts at coming down towards your living or work area.
How does electric ceiling heat work?
Ceiling heating uses the entire surface for heat output and transfers the heat using electromagnetic waves. These rays spread out at right-angles to the surface – in other words, from top to bottom for ceiling heating. If the rays hit a solid object, the energy is converted into heat and emitted into the room.
Does electric radiant heat warm a room?
Using thermal radiation and electromagnetic waves, a radiant floor heating system warms up a room by heating the floor directly rather than warming the air in the room. Radiant systems heat the floor, and that heat radiates up and is absorbed by other objects in the room, helping to warm the entire space efficiently.
What are the disadvantages of radiant heat?
Cons: Radiant heating is installed beneath the floor, which makes it significantly harder to access the heating elements for repairs or maintenance. The cost of installing a radiant heating system is typically higher than forced air; installation of a radiant floor typically also takes longer to complete.
How long does electric radiant heat last?
Lifespan of Underfloor Heating The lifespan is over 25 years for an electric underfloor heating system as long as the flooring remains intact. A system using a gas boiler lasts approximately 10 years due to the many components that may need to be replaced. Water-based systems are designed to last for 50 years.
How is electric radiant ceiling heat installed?
Installation is simple: electric gypsum panels fit between the ceiling joists above the finished ceiling. A gentle curtain of warmth is then spread evenly throughout the room, now free from drafts and dust. The system is completely concealed.
Do you need ceiling fans with radiant heat?
Since radiant heat doesn't heat the air directly, there's no hot air rising (and no cold down drafts)in the room, and thus the warmth is evenly distributed throughout the space. There's no need for fans and other additional “tricks” to try to coerce the heat to where you are—at the floor level.
What are the pros and cons of radiant heat?
Pros and Cons of Radiant HeatUniform heating.No maintenance.No noise.Non-allergenic.Energy efficient.Easy to install.Flooring must be replaced.Slightly elevates the floor height.More items...•
Is ceiling heating any good?
Unlike floor heating or wall heating, ceiling heating can emit warmth without any obstacles getting in the way, and is not blocked by thick carpets or large items of furniture. If the days and nights get hot during the summer, the same system in the ceiling can be used to cool down the room.
What percentage of heat is lost through the ceiling?
5% of Your Home's Lost Heat is Through Ceilings A small portion of your home's heat is lost through your ceiling. If you get a home energy audit and find that much of your heat is escaping through the ceiling and into the attic, it may be time to test and see how much insulation you have, and how much you need.
What is the most efficient form of electric heat?
Efficient Electric Heating Systems Electric radiators and infrared panels are the most efficient forms of electric heating because they both utilize radiant heat to regulate room temperatures.
What is the most efficient way to heat a room with electricity?
Infrared panels These heaters provide all of their heat output through infrared warmth, making them super-efficient for homes and businesses. None of their heat is lost to air movement, allowing them to boast a very impressive 100% efficiency, as they convert every watt of energy taken from the wall into usable heat.
What is the temperature of a radiant ceiling heating system?
In fact, the temperature variant from ceiling to floor is only about 1° C (2° F).
Is a curtain of warmth concealed?
A gentle curtain of warmth is then spread evenly throughout the room, now free from drafts and dust. The system is completely concealed. This means no interference with furniture or decorating schemes since there are no radiators or registers to get in the way.
Is there wasted heat in a ceiling heating system?
Designed to provide maximum comfort at the absolute lowest cost, there is no wasted heat using our Electric Radiant Ceiling Heating System.
What are Radiant Ceiling Heaters?
Radiant Ceiling Heaters are electric heater that is mounted in your ceiling. It consists of a metal grid that hangs from the rafters and heats up when electricity flows through it (similar to how you might use radiant floor heat).
How is Radiant Ceiling Installed?
To install a radiant ceiling heater, a certified electrician will need to come and look at your home. The electrician will assess where you want the heater installed.
How long does Radiant Ceiling Heat Last?
Radiant ceiling heaters are designed to last an average of 15 to 30 years. However, this entirely depends on the model you purchase and the care it receives during its lifetime. With good maintenance, the radiant ceiling can serve you longer than this period.
What Is Radiant Ceiling Heat?
Radiant ceiling heat was introduced in the middle of the 20th century as more people could afford to purchase a home. At the time, the primary way most homeowners heated their home was with boilers, radiators, and space heaters.
What Is Plaster Ceiling Radiant Heat?
This design used a wire cable to gently warm a gel-like conductor inside the cable. This conductor then radiated the heat from the cable, warming the surrounding area.
Is Radiant Ceiling Heat Used In Older Homes?
Older homes are more likely to have radiant ceiling heat than modern homes. As such, over the years many systems have been abandoned in favor of heat pumps and furnaces.
Was electric expensive in the 70s?
Not with Electric going as high as they say..It was expensive in 70s I remember.
Can a realtor give you a referral for radiant ceiling heating?
Hskidmore07 try calling a home inspector a local realtor can give you a referral.. The inspector can tell you who the manufacturer was - we just went through a home inspection when we purchased our house with radiant ceiling heating.
Where does radiant heat come from?
Radiant heating systems supply 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 infrared radiation. Radiant heating is the effect you feel from 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.
Why is radiant heat better than forced air?
It is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because it eliminates duct losses. People with allergies often prefer radiant heat because it doesn’t distribute allergens like forced air systems can. Hydronic (liquid-based) systems use little electricity, a benefit for homes off the power grid or in areas with high electricity prices. Hydronic systems can use a wide variety of energy sources to heat the liquid, including standard gas- or oil-fired boilers, wood-fired boilers, solar water heaters, or a combination of these sources. For more on the different types of energy sources and heat distribution systems for home heating, explore our Energy Saver 101 infographic on home heating.
What is hydronic radiant floor?
Hydronic (liquid) systems are the most popular and cost-effective radiant heating systems for heating-dominated climates. Hydronic radiant floor systems pump heated water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern under the floor. In some systems, controlling the flow of hot water through each tubing loop by using zoning valves or pumps and thermostats regulates room temperatures. The cost of installing a hydronic radiant floor varies by location and depends on the size of the home, the type of installation, the floor covering, remoteness of the site, and the cost of labor.
Why are radiant panels uncomfortable?
Some people find ceiling-mounted systems uncomfortable because the panels heat the top of their heads and shoulders more effectively than the rest of their bodies.
What is radiant floor?
Electric radiant floors typically consist of electric heating cables built into the floor. Systems that feature electrical matting mounted on the subfloor below a floor covering such as tile are also available.
Why do radiant panels have the quickest response time?
Radiant panels have the quickest response time of any heating technology and -- because the panels can be individually controlled for each room —the quick response feature can result in cost and energy savings compared with other systems when rooms are infrequently occupied. When entering a room, the occupant can increase the temperature setting and be comfortable within minutes. As with any heating system, set the thermostat to a minimum temperature that will prevent pipes from freezing.
What is the best floor covering for radiant heat?
Ceramic tile is the most common and effective floor covering for radiant floor heating, because it conducts heat well and adds thermal storage. Common floor coverings like vinyl and linoleum sheet goods, carpeting, or wood can also be used, but any covering that insulates the floor from the room will decrease the efficiency of the system.
What Is Radiant Ceiling Heat?
Radiant heating systems installed in the ceiling are referred to as ‘radiant ceiling heat’. This approach works by supplying heat directly to the panels installed in the ceiling of a house.
Are There Any Disadvantages Of Radiant Ceiling Heat?
When it comes to the purchase cost of a radiant ceiling heat, it is significantly higher than that of a standard radiator. However, the investment ultimately pays off because water-based ceiling radiators actually cost up to 25% less during ongoing operation.
