Why is In-Floor Radiant Heating Right for My Project?
The Best Choice for Comfort, Efficiency, and Indoor Air Quality
The Best Choice for Comfort, Efficiency, and Indoor Air Quality
In-floor radiant heating has been in use for thousands of years, but modern advances have made it an affordable, reliable, efficient, comfortable, and high-quality alternative to traditional forced-air HVAC systems.
Radiant Floor Heating Comfort Benefits
The primary benefit of an in-floor heating system is the increase in comfort over traditional forced-air heating systems. Floor surfaces (and other objects in the room) stay warm to the touch. The even, ambient warmth feels like a comfortable summer day in the middle of winter. With warm floors, you no longer need slippers to keep your toes cozy.
Improved Indoor Air Quality with Hydronic Radiant Heat
Since heat is generated within the floor in a radiant system, conditions are extremely unfavorable for molds, viruses, dust mites, and other allergens. Without dusty air being circulated through ducts—as in forced-air systems—radiant in-floor heating offers one of the most hypoallergenic heating options available. Many in the medical community agree it reduces allergens and irritants compared to other systems.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability of Radiant Heating Systems
When designed properly, an in-floor heating system can heat a building more efficiently than most HVAC systems. Modern natural gas and propane boilers can achieve efficiencies up to 96%, and electric models often exceed that. Pairing radiant heating with renewable energy sources like solar hot water collectors or geothermal heat pumps can further reduce operating costs and environmental impact.
Safety Advantages of Radiant Floor Heating
The low surface temperatures in a radiant heating system reduce burn risks compared to some forced-air or baseboard systems. Installing radiant heat under baths, showers, and garage slabs helps surfaces dry faster, lowering the chance of slips. Plus, eliminating heat registers creates a cleaner, more streamlined look in your home.
Low Maintenance Requirements
When properly installed, hydronic radiant heating systems require minimal maintenance compared with most other heating options. This makes them an excellent long-term investment in both comfort and convenience.
Flexible Installation Options for Radiant Heating
Radiant heating can be installed in many different ways, making it ideal for both new construction and retrofits. Tubing can be embedded in a concrete slab, stapled to a subfloor with a lightweight topping pour, installed over the subfloor with engineered plywood and heat transfer plates (like the RHT Floor Panel System), or stapled between joists below the subfloor with heat transfer plates. When floor installation isn’t possible, radiant heating can also be integrated into walls or ceilings.
Get a free Radiant System Quote
If you would like to receive a free quote for a radiant system, we would be happy to work with you on your project. The process is simple: just tell us a few basic details about your project, and we will get to work on a quote for you.
For more details on determining the size and spacing of PEX tubing for your radiant project, see our article: PEX Tube Sizing and Spacing.