- Radiant heating systems supply heat directly to the floor or to panels in the wall or ceiling of a house.
- There are several different types of radiant floor heat, from air-heated to hydronic.
- Radiant heat has been said to eliminate what’s known as “sick building syndrome,” as it eliminates recirculated air.
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 ...
Can you heat your entire home with radiant floor heating?
Yes! (Or Wherever you Have a Floor) The short answer to “Can you heat your entire home with radiant floor heating”? is yes. In theory, as long as you have a floor, you can utilize radiant floor heating. The heating system goes right into the floor, heating water or using electricity in an infrastructure of pipes.
Is radiant floor heating worth the cost?
There’s no concrete data showing how much you will save by installing a radiant floor heating system. Radiant floor heating does allow your heating system to work at maximum efficiency, so it’s likely that you will save some money on energy bills, but there is no exact percentage. 8. Radiant floor heating is a "fad." People have actually been trying to heat their floors for hundreds of years. In fact, the Romans invented the hypocaust system, which heated their mortar floors with tended ...
How much electricity does a radiant heater use?
The energy consumption depends on the rating of the infrared element, and that is usually in the neighborhood of 750 to 1500 watts. In a quartz infrared heater, electricity energizes a heating element in the same way it does in a conventional heater.
How does radiant heat work in a house?
Radiant heat is used to heat a home from the ground up. Heating coils or water tubes are installed in the floor, walls or ceilings and they radiate heat to a room thus warming everything in it. Radiant heat works by the same process that allows an oven to heat up your entire kitchen.
What are the pros and cons of radiant heat?
PRO: Uniform heating. Homeowners are eschewing traditional forced air in favor of radiant heat, largely because there's simply no question as to which provides a higher level of comfort. ... CON: Challenging to Retrofit. ... PRO: Quiet and clean. ... CON: Boiler dependent.
Is radiant heat run on gas or electric?
Radiant heating systems require either natural gas or electricity as a fuel source. In the case of electricity, the components are heated by electrical resistance. For natural gas, however, the system does require a boiler installation to heat the water that will flow through the pipes of the radiant heating system.
Is radiant heat worth the cost?
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 the longer run.
What type of flooring is best with radiant heat?
ceramic tilePorcelain and ceramic tile are widely regarded as the best choice for radiant floor heating. These tiles are thin and conduct heat extremely well. This reduces the energy (and time) needed to warm up a room. Tile will also retain the heat longer than other types of flooring, increasing your efficiency even more.
What are the disadvantages of radiant heating?
Cons of Radiant Floor HeatingInstallation Cost. When estimating the cost of an installation, a safe cost estimation bracket is between $10 to $20 per square foot dependant on the type of system you choose for your home. ... Installation Time. ... Floor Height Issue.
Do you need a furnace if you have radiant heat?
Because radiant systems use contact to transfer heat, they do not disrupt allergens in the home the way forced air can. Plus, the lack of forced air system means radiant heating and cooling requires a dedicated outside air system.
Can you have central air with radiant heat?
Sure you can. In fact, separate heating and cooling systems really make the most sense. Radiant floor heating keeps the heat near the floor where it does the most good; and air conditioning ductwork is placed only where it is needed to cool your home. The result is optimal comfort and efficiency all year 'round.
Can you heat a whole house with radiant floor heating?
Yes! While it generally is room-specific (i.e., for the kitchen or bathroom, where you are standing a great deal, or might be in bare feet), it is a viable and effective way to heat your home. If you plan to use radiant heating to heat your whole house, the hot water method (hydronic) is recommended.
How long does radiant heat last?
The average lifespan of an electric radiant floor heating system is 30-45 years. Many of these systems come with a 25-year warranty. A hydronic radiant floor heating system has a 15-20 year replacement time for the boiler, while a tankless boiler can last 20 years or more.
How long does it take to heat a house with radiant heat?
Most radiant floor heat systems take about a day to come up to full temperature. The reason for this is due to how the radiant heating system stores energy. Before a radiant floor can emit energy (heat) into a space, it first has to raise the floor temperature.
Should I turn off radiant floor heating in summer?
Underfloor heating can be switched off during Summer when the outside temperature is warm enough. This is because it takes longer to warm up and cool down than other heating methods, making it harder to adjust your settings when the outside temperature is warming your home.
How many years does radiant heat last?
In-floor radiant heat systems are durable and reliable, capable of outlasting your home furnace. With proper care and maintenance, a floor heating system can last up to 35 years.
How long does radiant heat last?
The average lifespan of an electric radiant floor heating system is 30-45 years. Many of these systems come with a 25-year warranty. A hydronic radiant floor heating system has a 15-20 year replacement time for the boiler, while a tankless boiler can last 20 years or more.
Can radiant heat start a fire?
Radiant heat is the energy that is transferred through the air to other objects when materials burn. If a house receives enough radiant heat for a sufficient time, it will ignite without flames contacting it.
Is radiant heat better than forced air?
Not only is radiant heat 30 percent more efficient, it also provides a more even, continuous level of warmth. In the radiant floor vs. forced-air heating debate, radiant floor always wins because it provides a quiet, even heat and eliminates the allergy problems often associated with heating ducts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How does radiant heat work?
Radiant heat works by the same process that allows an oven to heat up your entire kitchen. While heating coils do use electricity, the water in the tubes can be heated with a variety of fuels including gas- and wood-fired boilers.
How efficient is radiant heat?
Is radiant heat efficient? According to Scientific American, radiant heat can allow occupants in a room to feel warmer at a lower temperature. It transmits heat with up to 15 percent greater efficiency.
How does forced air lose heat?
Forced air systems can lose a considerable amount of heat via the home’s ductwork. Not only do the ducts have small openings through which heat can be lost, they also often travel through cold attics and basements. Since radiant heat does not involve the use of ducts, losing heat through them is not an issue.
Does radiant heat reduce heat loss?
In addition, radiant heat eliminates the cost of lost heat due to stratification. Stratification results from the fact that warm air rises after it leaves the register and then cools before falling again. The falling cool air creates drafts among other problems.
Is baseboard heating energy efficient?
When it comes to the radiant heat vs baseboard heating comparison, radiant heat wins again. Like forced air heating, baseboard heating is simply not as energy efficient. One of the issues with baseboard heating is that it involves heating large windows in a home during very cold spells. While this can have its advantages, it is also very expensive. There is also the fact that you will have to install multiple heaters if you have multiple windows.
Where does radiant heat come from?
According to the US Department of Energy, 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 what you feel when you can feel the warmth of a hot stovetop element from across the room. But when that radiant heating is in the floor, you might hear it called radiant floor heating or, simply, floor heating.
Where did radiant heating originate?
In fact, it’s said that the radiant heating systems can be traced all the way back to the Roman Empire.
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.
How does warm water flow?
According to a previous article by Uponor, warm water flows through flexible plastic tubing embedded in a concrete slab or placed on top or underneath the subfloor in a hydronic radiant heating system. The warmth from the flowing water through the tubing radiates up from the floor to bring comfort to people in a space.
What is radiant floor?
Electric radiant floors typically consist of electric cables built into the floor. Systems that feature mats of electrically conductive plastic mounted on the subfloor below a floor covering such as tile are also available.
What are the benefits of radiant heat?
The benefits of radiant heat are many—including health benefits, energy savings, and design flexibility.
Does radiant heat help with sick building syndrome?
Radiant heat has been said to eliminate what’s known as “sick building syndrome,” as it eliminates recirculated air.
How does radiation heat?
Radiant heat uses invisible electromagnetic infrared waves to heat you. It doesn’t heat the air like happened in the house you grew up in. The objects that are in the direct pathway of the infrared rays absorb the energy immediately. Once they heat up, they radiate heat to other objects in the room. It’s a fascinating way to transfer heat very efficiently.
What is high efficiency boiler?
High efficiency means that almost all of the heat produced when burning the fuel remains in your home instead of going up a chimney. Modern boilers are in the 90+ percent efficiency range. Radiant heat can be installed in an existing home, but it can be very expensive.
Is radiant heat new?
DEAR LUCY: Radiant heat is by no means new. It’s as old as our solar system. When you go outdoors on a sunny late-winter morning like today and feel the warmth of the sun when it’s invisible infrared rays hit you, that’s the oldest and most basic form of radiant heating. It’s time tested, and in my opinion, the best form of heating you can have.
Does a basement floor have radiant heat?
The entire basement floor becomes a giant radiant panel that heats everyone and everything in the space. Walking in bare feet or laying on the floor is pure ecstasy. I have baseboard radiators in all the other rooms of the house. There are many pros and few cons, in my opinion, when it comes to radiant heating.
Do you have to install a radiator?
You don’t have to install wall or baseboard radiators. People choose them as that’s almost always the cheaper alternative. It’s possible to have a radiant heating system totally invisible with all the piping hidden in floors or ceilings.
Can you watch a radiant heat video?
You can watch a very fascinating radiant heat video that shows new radiant heat transfer plates. Just follow this link radiant heat transfer plate video.
Can you put hot water in a room?
In new construction, a heating contractor can install the plastic piping that delivers hot water to each of the rooms in little time. The wise homeowner plans ahead so that the rooms that are not used that often are put on the same zone. Rooms that are frequently used at the same time are put on just one zone so that fuel usage is minimal.
How Do Radiant Heaters Work?
These heaters work by generating infrared radiation. The objects kept nearby radiate heat energy at a capacity equal to the temperature of their own. The radiant heaters produce infrared energy, which moves in the electromagnetic waves invisible and absorbed by the objects that fall between the path.
Do radiant heaters heat the air?
In the case of Radiant Heaters, things are different. It generates heat inside and then radiates it to the nearby person or object. This heating process makes the room warm faster than the working principle used in other Heaters.
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.
