Radiant floor heating is a superior method of heating your home. To be a true heating panel, the surface temperature of the panel (the floor) must be controllable. Floors generally operate at less than 85 degrees. It is only a "radiant" panel if 50% or more of the heat transfer is by radiant energy.
But what exactly is radiant energy? Hold your hand over a cup of coffee and feel the heat. The logical conclusion is that heat rises. Logical maybe, but incorrect! "Hot air" rises but "heat" can travel in many directions. That is why you can feel the heat of the coffee cup when you place your hand to the side of it. Radiant energy transfer is caused by a warm surface giving up its heat to a cooler surface. Consider how the sun (10,000° F) heats the earth (61° F). The sun radiates its energy towards the earth. The radiant energy is absorbed by the earth and is released as heat.
A radiant floor heating system simply radiates heat upward from the floor to provide optimum comfort and many other benefits. Here is an overview to how it works: warm water (or a special heating wire) circulates through tubing under the floor. This turns the flooring into an efficient, low temperature radiator.The heat source to produce the warm water is a boiler with a certified efficiency rating (The same boiler can also be used to heat the pool, snow melting, heating a hot tub, or domestic hot water needs.)
The tubing for a radiant floor heating system is located in one of three places:
In a concrete slab
Under wood subfloors
On a subfloor of wood, precast concrete or concrete slab-on-grade then covered with gypsum. Here are the components required for a radiant floor heating system:
Heating Source this can be electricity, solar, natural gas, propane, oil, wood, or any other heating source.
Boiler houses the water to be heated
Pump to circulate the water through tubing located under the floor.
Tubing the water will circulate in tubing running beneath the floor in the concrete, under wood floors, or on a sub floor of wood, precast concrete, or slab-on-grade concrete.
The number one benefit to a radiant floor heating system is comfort. Whereas a forced air system delivers heat which quickly rises to the ceiling a radiant floor heating system "radiates" heat from the floor and delivers the heat evenly throughout the rooms.
Here are some of the other benefits:
Silent operation No hum or whistle of a forced air systems.
Inconspicuousness of the system- you dont see vents or hear air blowing.
Energy savings Evenly distributed heat from a radiant floor heating system can allow the thermostat to be set 2-4° less than in a forced air heating system. This can reduce energy costs by 10-40%. (Check with the utility in your area to verify what a 2-4° temperature decrease would amount to in savings in your area).
A healthier home forced air systems can spread dust, pollen, and germs.
Even, quiet warmth: even with wood, tile, or uncovered concrete floors.
Also, radiant heat is less likely to dry out your breathing passages and skin.
