Your Guide to Radiant Floor Heat

Your Guide to Radiant Floor Heat

Radiant floor heat is a sensible and logical heating solution when considering heating options for the existing home or in home renovation and construction. The concept is based upon the fact that hot air naturally rises, therefore supplying heat to the floor area itself will allow you to take advantage of the natural benefits of the heat. The idea is to save energy and consequentially to save money with the system.  In addition to savings on electric bills, many of the companies selling and installing these systems offer discounts to veterans and there are also potential tax credits on both state and federal levels that may allow for a further reduction of costs. Radiant floor heat is a system that has a flexible array of designs to best fit the application. There are three types of radiant heat on the market. Air-heated, electric and hydronic systems are used depending upon the application. Most companies offering these products have the option of installation or do it yourself packages. The systems are designed to save money and energy, however the amount of actual savings depends upon the structure itself and the correct selection of the system to apply. Air-heated systems are typically not used in residential applications due to efficiency drawbacks of forced air heating. Air cannot hold large amounts of heat; therefore the efficiency does not significantly increase by installing this system in the home. Moving air also carries allergens within that can cause irritation and discomfort. 

The electric systems are applied to concrete floors and work more efficiently with thicker concrete. Electric current is sent to conductive mats within the floor and as a result heat is produced throughout the surface of the floor. The concrete can be charged and hold heat while the system is not running, however maintaining a constant temperature is commonly recommended. These can be installed in an existing floor and are commonly used in home additions where extending a heating system may not work well. The electric systems are not dependent upon air movement and thusly do not increase movement of allergens within the home.

Hydronic systems are the most common and cost effective option in floor radiant heat, especially due to its relative ease of installation as well as its lower energy costs. In this system heated water is pumped through tubing within the floor structure supplying heat to the surface. A water heater is used in combination with a pump and tubing placed within the floor. The diffusion of heat from the tubing causes the surface to emit heat above. This is the most cost effective because it uses the least amount of energy with a typically high increase in efficiency compared to conventional systems.

Conventional systems heat air and then force it throughout the house which is inefficient by comparison due to its performance to energy costs ratio.  These systems are designed to save money and energy on heating costs while maintaining or increasing the comfort of those within the home or structure.  The radiant floor heat options is out there and there are a variety of companies offering these products. Shopping around is advisable to best maximize the veterans benefits as well as to find the system that best suits your needs.