View Our Radiant Flooring Gallery

RADIANT FLOOR HEAT CONCEPTS
Summary by Solar Assist
Download printable details here

“Radiant” heat relates to one of three of the most prevalent means that heat is transferred.  Radiant heat is long wave infrared energy radiated from any “hot body” to any “cooler body” within sight.  In other words, if you’re in the sun you’ll feel warmer than if you’re in the shade.  If you can see a wood stove you’ll be warmer than if you are around the corner from it.  This is the concept that makes radiant floor heat so comfortable; you’re almost always “in sight” of your floor and therefore warm.  An added benefit is that not all the energy from a radiant floor is from radiant heat, only most of it, that’s why it categorized as radiant. Warm feet help make warm homes.

Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating is in the family of Hydronic Heating which includes hydronic baseboards, radiators, fan convectors as well as radiant walls and ceilings.  All these are tied together by the fact that the system relies upon a transfer medium of water or a water based fluid and tubing that acts to distribute the fluid to the heat emitters.  Hydronic heating has several advantages over other radiant heat sources. What makes water based hydronic systems advantageous is that they emit their energy independent of heat source. Heat sources such as natural gas, propane, wood fire or electricity may be used in conjunction with hydronic radiant heating systems.  The water distributes the heat energy; the heat energy can be gotten from any source.  At any time in the future, due to energy supply or energy cost issues, a hydronic systems heat source can be switched to a more affordable or environmentally benign source.  The only partial exception to this general statement is that if the system is not well designed from the start it might have less potential for a complete switch.  Careful attention should be given to the home’s insulation details, especially as it pertains to the floor (an integral part of the heating system with radiant floor), and the tubing detail. Once a tubing detail is chosen it is typically permanent.  A low temperature tubing detail can improve comfort, efficiency, and allow for flexibility of heat source into the future.  Switching fully of partially to an Air Source or Ground Source Heat Pump or a direct solar source can only be accomplished with the correct low temperature tubing detail.  These sources will be very effective as energy costs continue to trend upward.