Radiant floor heating is both efficient and aesthetically amazing. It does not come with clattering radiators, whooshing vents, or dust-spewing ductworks that are common with other heating systems. With the removal of the many components from the heating system, there is increased energy efficiency, reduced energy bills and financial strains.
The radiant floor heating system works absolutely differently. Warmth is conveyed to the floor by electric wires or hot-water tubes that are buried beneath the floor. Waves of heat radiation pass from below the floor to warm up all objects that come into contact with the floor and the waves of radiated heat. When thermal radiation strikes any object it is radiated back. The result is fairly constant level of temperature in the room, in which the occupants remain comfortable as no objects draw heat from them.
Radiant heating systems are substantially different from the conventional heating systems that use forced-air as the base. In conventional systems, the air inside the room has varied levels of heat depending on the number of objects it has come into contact with; or what is known as stratification of air. In the systems, heated air rises up, shed heat and then drops down during cooling. The result is massive inconvenience for occupants of the room. For instance, the head may be comfortably warm but the toes are freezing cold. The air that flows inside rooms heated with conventional systems also have the problem of cycling. That is, there are up and down jarring in which the temperature can rise quickly to 70 degrees and then shut off quickly. In radiant floor heating systems, however, the temperature continues to rise evenly above the floor, effectively ensuring that there is continuous heat where room occupants are.
Radiant heat is usually supplied either by electricity or hot water. The electric radiant systems use networks of zigzag wire loops to convey heat to the floor. However, it is the hot water systems that are more popular and cost-effective for heating entire houses. Hot water circulates from water heaters or boilers via flexible half-inch polyethylene tubing, and the floor is usually covered with finish flooring, but with caution not to insulate the room too much to have the heat radiated.
Radiant floor heating systems cost more to install and require separate cooling systems for maximum efficiency. Extra labor will also be required to install the system underneath the floor. Yet, after the heating systems begin to work, they exhibit a greater degree of efficiency than forced-air floor heating systems. And none of the heating systems can match the level of comfort offered by radiant floor heating systems.
Radiant floor heating can be expertly installed by R.A. Heating
