RADIANT FLOOR HEATING
Radiant floor heating is known as the "quiet hero" of house heating.
Because the heat is emitted from the floor, it is efficient and quiet, and it does not circulate allergens throughout the home’s air. It’s not drafty because there’s no ductwork, registers, or returns. Radiant floor heating gives you the sensation of standing at a window on a sunny, chilly day with the sun warming you, but without the sun having to warm the outside air. As thermal radiation waves ascend from below, they warm whatever things they come into contact with in the room, which subsequently transmit that heat. Even if the atmospheric temperature stays constant, these things have been warmed and are thus not taking heat from your body.
How Radiant Floors Work
Warmth is provided by hot-water tubes or electric wires buried beneath the floor in radiant floor heating. As previously stated, heat waves ascend and warm the items they impact. Because these items have their own heat and aren’t sucking yours, you stay warm. Compare this to traditional forced-air heating, which is found in the majority of American houses. Air is blown from registers at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, where it climbs to the top of the room before falling back down as it cools. This explains why your toes may be freezing even though your head is warm. Forced-air heating systems also cycle. You turn on your furnace, it heats up to the temperature you set, and then it turns off. This cycle continues, raising the temperature in your home. Radiant floors provide an even, consistent, and cost-effective heat that works well with most varieties of completed flooring, including hardwood and tile. Carpet is not typically advised since the cushioning beneath it stifles the heat.
Types Of Radiant Floor Heat
Radiant floor heat is classified into two types: electric and hydronic. There is a third option, air-heated floor heat, but it is extremely expensive in residential applications and is rarely utilized. Please contact JNW Mechanical Inc. at any time for a thorough explanation of radiant flooring and which kind is most suited to your house and budget.
⦁ Electric Radiant Floor Heat
Electric radiant heat is provided by electric resistance cables installed beneath the flooring. Electric floors are often not employed as the primary source of heat in a home since the comparatively high cost of power makes this option unfeasible. This form of floor heat is utilized as additional heat, such as in a restroom or an extension. To save energy expenses, programmable thermostats are advised for both air and floor temperature limitations. The electric wires are incorporated into the floor or can be pre-attached to mats for ease of installation, and they are put atop a thin-set mortar bed over a subfloor. If removing your old flooring isn’t an option, there are firms that manufacture electric radiant pads that fit in joist bays beneath the subfloor.
⦁ Hydronic Radiant Heat
Hydronic radiant heat systems are often intended to heat a whole house. A boiler or water heater boils water to between 100 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit and circulates it beneath the floors via tubing. As previously said, as copper and metal degrade over time, PEX tubing is currently the tube of choice. This flexible tubing may be put in a variety of ways, including grooved panels or snap-in grids on top of the subfloor, clipped into aluminum strips on the bottom of the floor, and buried in poured concrete.
The Cost Of Radiant Flooring:
The installation of radiant floor heat is more costly than that of more traditional heating systems, such as forced air heating or hydronic (baseboard radiators). However, it saves money in the long term due to lower thermostat settings and improved efficiency. Furthermore, radiant floor heating does not handle a home’s cooling, so it is a different investment to think about. As with any heating job, you must determine the expenses of supplies and equipment, as well as labor.
