Comparing Radiant Floor Heating: The Ultimate Showdown. (2023)

FAQs

What is the best radiant floor system? ›

Porcelain and ceramic tile are widely regarded as the best choice for radiant floor heating. These tiles are thin and conduct heat extremely well. This reduces the energy (and time) needed to warm up a room. Tile will also retain the heat longer than other types of flooring, increasing your efficiency even more.

Hydronic radiant floors – The most popular and cost-effective type of radiant heating, hydronic radiant floor systems pump water heated from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern under the floor. Manifold setup allows varied heating of different zones. This is ideal for homes that already use a water heater.

Concrete naturally absorbs heat. By adhering cork or synthetic cork floor underlayment to the slab before installing your radiant heating system, you'll ensure that the heat goes upward through the floor instead of absorbing into the concrete below which will reduce energy use without sacrificing comfort.

Radiant floor heating systems do not require any maintenance. Once they are installed, they will last for 20+ years without any issues.

If you've ever wondered, “Do heated floors use a lot of electricity?”, the answer is: less than you would think. In reality, a radiant heating system for a small bathroom uses about the same amount of energy as a freezer.

When remodeling your bathroom, radiant floor heating is especially worth thinking about. You will save a lot on the labor cost if the flooring is being lifted up and changed anyway. The comfort and the cost savings of running the system on your heating bills will work out to your advantage in the longer run.

Hydronic radiant heat is considerably more energy efficient than electric. Once the floor is heated, the structure of the house helps maintain and hold in the heat for long periods of time. This can help save energy costs in the long term.

Compared to traditional radiators, radiant heating panels are highly efficient – which leads to lower running costs. Traditional convection radiators work by heating the air around them. The air circulates around the room, eventually heating the people and objects in the room.

The main cause of problems with in-floor radiant heating systems is a defect in the wall thermostat. When your thermostat is defective, it will keep the heating from working properly. Thermostats that fail to close properly cause the room to be cold at all times.

What is the downside of underfloor heating? ›

Disadvantages of Underfloor Heating

Due to systems being a lot larger and more complex, installation times are also a lot longer than that of traditional heating systems. As underfloor heating operates at a low temperature, it will inevitably take longer to heat the room from the bottom to the top.

Underfloor heating can be switched off during Summer when the outside temperature is warm enough. This is because it takes longer to warm up and cool down than other heating methods, making it harder to adjust your settings when the outside temperature is warming your home.

Radiant-floor heating systems typically use water temperatures of 85-140°F (30-60°C), compared with baseboard hydronic systems that typically operate at 130-160°F (55-70°C). At these operating temperatures, boiler life can exceed 45 years, according to information from DOE.

Loose cable is by far the cheapest way to heat a floor and it's just as effective as the other systems. The drawback of loose cable is installation time; you have to position the cable in a serpentine pattern, fasten it with lots of hot glue or staples, and then “embed” it.

Many people ask us if it's necessary to also install insulation below the radiant tubing, heat transfer plates, and reflective barrier. If you can only do this once because the ceiling will be finished then the answer is absolutely yes. The amount of insulation is dependent on what is above and below.

What happens if radiant floor freezes? One potential drawback to using water in a heating system is the potential for damage due to freezing. This could occur if the heating system failed or was switched off during extremely inclement weather.

Electric radiant heating systems do not generally need any ongoing maintenance or servicing. Once installed by a professional, they should not require frequent servicing, making them a hassle-free, underfloor heating option.

Can radiant floor heating heat an entire house? We're happy to say that it absolutely can, in the right scenario, which is an exciting prospect, especially considering radiant heat's benefits of no air blowing (which reduces indoor allergies) and soothing whole-room comfort (no cold air pockets in your room).

The heat transfer through convection is much lower with ceiling heating than with underfloor heating. This leads to less dust turbulence and fewer allergens in the room air. This is another reason why more and more hospitals are opting for heating and cooling ceilings.

Pro: Radiant heating is significantly more energy-efficient and evenly distributed in comparison to forced air systems. Con: Although operating costs are very small, particularly for installation throughout a home or commercial building, radiant heating can be expensive.

Is radiant heat bad for wood floors? ›

According to Mickey Moore, Technical Director of the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association, the temperatures used in floor heating will not damage the wood in any way.

It is advised that in the depths of winter, an underfloor heating system should be kept on at all times. Although it should be at different temperatures depending on usage and activity in the house. This is because underfloor heating can take two to three hours to warm up, so it is best to not completely turn it off.

This plastic tubing can last between 30-50 years. However, since water must be heated and travel through the system, a boiler and a pump are also required. You can expect a boiler to last 15-20 years, but a pump may fail after ten years.

If the Underfloor Heating System is damaged or not installed properly, fire or shock could occur resulting in serious personal injuries or damage to property.

Disadvantages of Hydronic Heating

Heated liquid must travel through the whole system, so it takes longer to heat a space. Since hydronic systems take longer to heat up, they are better when set at a consistent temperature. The need for extra space near convectors may interfere with furniture arrangement.

#warmupsa underfloor heating products are perfectly safe, even if your house has been flooded!

As a rule of thumb, you will need 10 watts of heating power for every square foot of floor area in a room. This means that a 1,500-watt heater can be the primary heat source for an area measuring up to 150 square feet.

The best way to prevent a fire is to never leave a space heater running in a room unattended—that way, if anything does go wrong, you can take action quickly. If you have kids or pets that could knock a heater over or drape fabric on it, keep a very close eye on its operation.

Do not ever leave the heater unattended. Avoid the carbon monoxide poisoning by turning off the heater and unplugging it before leaving the room or going to the bed. Signs of too much carbon monoxide in the rooms include headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, discomfort, vomiting, nausea and weakness.

Modern radiant floor heating is built to resist leaks because they are fixed systems that do not permit oxygen to enter and degrade the piping. But leaks can still occur.

Is radiant floor heating noisy? ›

Forced air heating systems create a blowing noise that makes a sound in the background. As the forced air heating system cycles on and off, the noise in the background turns on and off. By contrast, radiant heat is silent heat, with no noise of air whooshing or blowing.

Because of the relatively high cost of electricity, electric radiant floors are usually only cost-effective if they include a significant thermal mass such as a thick concrete floor and your electric utility company offers time-of-use rates.

The one thing to be aware of is that any furniture used on top of underfloor heating should have a small air gap beneath it (around 30mm minimum) to allow the heat to escape. If your furniture doesn't have a suitable air gap beneath it then we suggest not installing underfloor heating in that area.

Grant's underfloor systems operate at their most efficient when they are not frequently switched off and on. This is because the floor screed takes time to heat up but, once up to temperature, it only requires a small amount of energy to maintain this condition.

Gas or oil-fired radiant heating systems that require cooling can use super efficient mini-split systems for spot cooling or, again, go to a whole house cooling system (expensive). A better option is to use a geothermal or air-to-water hydronic heat pump that generates chilled water that can be used for cooling.

Winterizing a radiant heat system is done by replacing water with antifreeze. Winterizing a radiant heat system keeps it from freezing when not in use or when exposed to temperatures that may cause freezing of regular water. A radiant heat system can be winterized with a special type of antifreeze.

Yes!

The heating system goes right into the floor, heating water or using electricity in an infrastructure of pipes. While it generally is room-specific (i.e., for the kitchen or bathroom, where you are standing a great deal, or might be in bare feet), it is a viable and effective way to heat your home.

The electric wire or hot water tubes, as well as any insulation boards or underlayment, will increase the floor height anywhere from one-eighth of an inch to an inch. This can make a space feel smaller and impact many design ideas you might have.

The Launstein testing found that quarter-sawn planks up to 7 inches across (when properly installed) can work well with radiant heat systems. The testing also found that hardwood flooring that is three-eighths of an inch thick conducts heat better than thicker floors and resists gapping.

Should I turn down radiant floor heat at night? ›

Radiant heat should not be turned off at night. Harris is correct, the lag time is too great for this to do any real good. The amount of time that a radiant heat system lags varies depending on the thermal mass that the heating tubes are in, but could be anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Radiant heating system panels, and their associated components that are installed in interior or exterior assemblies, shall be insulated to an R-value of not less than R-3.5 on all surfaces not facing the space being heated.

1 a minimum R-10 (in units of h·ft²·°F/Btu) perimeter insulation but if it's heated an additional R-5 is required with the height/depth subject to climate zone. For commercial buildings, edge insulation of R 7.5 to R-20 is required for all heated slabs again depending on climate zone.

In short, vinyl plank floors and radiant heating systems work exceptionally well together. There's no risk of damage, nor will you risk voiding your warranty. All you need to do is ensure that your heating system on average, won't exceed 80-85°F, as this is usually the safe temperature limit for vinyl plank flooring.

Disadvantages of Underfloor Heating

Due to systems being a lot larger and more complex, installation times are also a lot longer than that of traditional heating systems. As underfloor heating operates at a low temperature, it will inevitably take longer to heat the room from the bottom to the top.

Energy-Efficient and Cost-Effective

With duct-based heating systems, you'll always have a bit of duct loss as well. However, with radiant heating, the floors are heated directly, resulting in less lost energy. Radiant floors are so energy efficient that they save an average of 15% on heating bills.

Added Value

Many prospective homebuyers see radiant heat flooring as a value upgrade. Much like a renovated kitchen or bathroom, it can be sold as an improvement to an existing home. In a competitive market, it can even end up being the thing that cinches the deal.

Radiant cooling systems have been embedded in the ceilings of adobe homes, taking advantage of the thermal mass to provide a steady cooling effect. Homes built on concrete slabs are prime candidates for radiant heating systems, and radiant floor cooling takes advantage of the same principle using chilled water.

It is advised that in the depths of winter, an underfloor heating system should be kept on at all times. Although it should be at different temperatures depending on usage and activity in the house. This is because underfloor heating can take two to three hours to warm up, so it is best to not completely turn it off.

Though they are sold primarily for domestic hot water, tankless heaters are actually well-suited for radiant heating, which operates at low temperatures compared with, for example, hot-water baseboard. So using the unit for radiant heating generally has little or no effect on the sizing calculation.

What happens if something goes wrong with underfloor heating? ›

If your underfloor heating is not heating up and there is no sign of life on the thermostat then you need to check the electrical supply. One of the most common reasons for electric underfloor heating not working is that somebody has switched off the fused spur that supplies the underfloor heating with power!