Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant floor heating technology is not new. It has been in use for hundreds of years. The Romans used a rudimentary system based on hypocausts where hot air was circulated through underground sluices. The Koreans, similarly, diverted heat from kitchens and stoves to warm floors using a method called ondol. Modern versions of floor heating evolved over the years, where a network of copper tubing was installed during construction and hot water was pumped through it to warm the house. The only disadvantage was that copper corroded over the years, leaving the system redundant.

Although the principle remains the same, the improvement in materials used has drastically enhanced the efficiency and durability of radiant floor heating systems. In comparison to forced air heating, radiant floor heating distributes warmth evenly across the room, eliminating cold and hot spots. Visible registers, expensive ductwork, dust, mites and clinking radiators are also eliminated, which enhance the house aesthetically. There are basically two types of radiant floor heating systems to choose from – the hydronic, which uses water, and the electric.

Hydronic Heating

Here hot water is transported throughout the house using a zigzag connection of pipes made of polyethylene or polybutylene. Tubing can vary in diameter from 16mm to 25mm depending on the requirements of a particular room. Water is heated using conventional boilers which utilize gas, oil, electricity or even solar power. Setting up a hydronic heating system costs more than the electric variety but the long term gains in terms of energy bills are higher. Wet systems can be installed directly into the concrete, under hardwood flooring with nailers, and in joist spaces. In the first case, once the tubing is complete, a homeowner can choose any of the traditional flooring materials such as tiles or wood. Using thick carpets over hydronic floors is often counterproductive. Electronic controls and thermostats allow users to choose which area of the home needs heating, thus saving even more energy. Using condensing boilers can save upto 40% of your electricity bills.

Electric Heating

Conventional wisdom finds that electric floor heating is normally suited for smaller areas such as bathrooms because they use between 6 and 10 watts of electricity per square foot. Previously, insulated cables were laid at fixed distances on the floor, completing a loop, which was then connected to the power supply. Done manually, the distance was often uneven, leaving both icy and toasty spots all over the home. The latest in electric floor heating are nylon mats with embedded wiring. Electric mats work well in climates which require moderate heating. The biggest advantage this system offers is with regard to floor height, which can be considerable in a hydronic system, thus making remodeling jobs tricky. Electric floor heaters also warm up the room much faster than wet systems, taking less than an hour when fitted under tiles. Finally, these systems are much cheaper to install upfront and have fewer components than the hydronic system, thus reducing maintenance costs drastically.

Although radiant floor heating costs more than conventional forced air heating, it beats conventional systems both in terms of quality and long term savings. Electric systems are slightly more expensive to run, but they too have their advantages and can be used as the sole source of heat in a home. Considering how cold feet get in the winter, it makes absolute sense to heat the floor beneath rather than the air above our heads!