With the winter months approaching, minds turn towards keeping things nice and cozy. There are a remarkable number of ways of keeping your home warm, some that everyone knows and others which might not be so familiar. From the traditional furnace and forced air which warms most American homes, through central heating radiators and combi-boilers, the range of options on the market continues to grow. Today we’ll be looking at one innovative family of heating solutions: radiant heat. While it may seem futuristic, modern systems are really an update on truly ancient technology- the underfloor heating of lavish Roman villas worked along the same principles. But what is radiant heat and how does it keep the winter chills at bay?
What is Radiant Heating?
Radiant heating is a system which heats surfaces, rather than the air around them.
A radiant heating system (and there are a few variations on the theme) heats up the surfaces around it. This turns them into mini heaters, spreading the warmth and eliminating the cold spots and uneven temperatures common with other systems.
Types Of Radiant Heating
There are a few different types of radiant heating systems, ranging from small plug-in units which use halogen to full under-floor setups which heat a whole room. Today we’re going to look at those larger systems.
- Electric Radiant Heating: Common in bathrooms and smaller spaces, electric cables or mats are placed under your floor coverings. They’re really simple to install and turn your floor from a heat-sink into a heat-source. Generally, they make the floor warm to the touch but might struggle to heat the whole room alone.
- Hydronic Radiant Heating: Generally more energy-efficient than other forms of whole-room heating, hydronic systems circulate hot water through a network of thin pipes under your floor. These systems are an ideal way of heating the whole house.
- Radiant Panels: If you don’t want to go to the effort of pulling up flooring, radiant panels are a good option. They can be mounted on walls or ceilings, making them a really flexible choice for smaller spaces and awkward room-shapes.
How Radiant Heating Works
Radiant heating works by allowing heat-transfer between the system and the surfaces it’s mounted on. This means that your cold ceramic tiles are transformed into mini-heaters, eliminating that first unpleasant step out of the shower. Likewise, they can be used to turn a wall from a heat-sink into a heat-source. As this heat is transferred, it radiates out (hence the name) into the room, warming it evenly.
Each room which has a radiant heating system installed will be its own node on the network. This allows homeowners to tweak the settings, offering an unparalleled level of zone-control. If you like your bathroom toasty but bedroom on the chilly side, that won’t be an issue.
As the surface on which the radiant heater is installed on heats up, the heat spreads out. Installing radiant floor heating means that there are no cold-spots or hot-spots, just an even, comfortable heat. It also manages to do this without the need for frequent cycling, offering fantastic efficiency- the energy you pay for is all transferred into heat.
Advantages of Radiant Heating
All the various ways of keeping your home cozy have their advantages and disadvantages. Radiant floor heating is no exception. Here are a few of the things that it has over its competitors:
Energy Efficiency
Most Americans will likely be familiar with forced air systems. They’re still the most common way of heating our homes. Unfortunately, they’re not the most efficient way of doing the job. A good amount of the heat that’s produced (and that you’ve paid for) is lost before it reaches your rooms.
Radiant heating systems don’t have this issue. The heat is transferred to your surfaces as soon as it’s produced, cutting waste dramatically. This means that you use less energy for the same level of comfort. As bills continue to rise, that’s nothing to sniff at.
Improved Comfort
When it comes to heating, comfort really is king. Forced air and baseboard heaters create hot and cold spots through a room, leaving an uneven heat. They also require air to circulate, often rather forcefully to work at all.
Radiant systems don’t have these problems. They heat the whole surface, producing a natural-feeling, breezeless and even heat through the area.
Silent Operation
While there’s something quite comforting about the sound a fan-heater makes, this constant companion in the winter months can get a little grating. Thanks to their requirement for air to move, taking the heat with it, forced air systems can be pretty noisy.
With radiant heating, there’s no need for the rattle of a fan. The heat is produced either by electrical elements or water moving through a pressurized pipe- both of which are utterly silent.
Allergy-Friendly
Forced air systems, by their very nature, push dust and spores around your home. Particles find their way into the vents and, when the heat is turned on, get blown about. For those of us sensitive to these contaminates, winter can be an unpleasant time.
Again, because air isn’t being pushed about your home when you use radiant systems, this simply isn’t an issue.
Aesthetic Flexibility
Without the need for vents, radiators or other bulky elements, underfloor heating just looks better. With the elements or pipes hidden away under your flooring or behind walls, you have total design freedom in your home.
Even surface mounted panel radiant heaters are fairly unobtrusive and lightweight. This means that they can be incorporated seamlessly into any space.
Potential Drawbacks of Radiant Heating
To go along with the pros, there are always a set of cons to consider. Here are some of the disadvantages of radiant floor heating.
Initial Installation Costs
There’s no getting around it, installing radiant floor heating is an expensive business. The larger and more complex the system, the higher this will be.
Installation Complexity
Installing a radiant system can be a fairly disruptive process, requiring access under flooring. This means that it might be best done as part of an extensive remodeling.
Slower Temperature Adjustment
While forced air is almost instantaneous, radiant systems take time to heat up and cool down. This can require some adjustment from homeowners used to quicker changes.
Flooring Material Compatibility
Flooring like carpets can interfere with how effective your radiant underfloor heating is. This requires some thought when upgrading your home, somewhat limiting your choices.
Where Radiant Heating Works Best
Radiant heating could be the ideal solution for a number of spaces, including the whole home if you’re undertaking an extensive remodeling. It’s particularly suited to spaces such as:
- Bathrooms and Kitchens: Warm floors after a shower are simply magical.
- Basements: Concrete is generally pretty chilly. Not anymore.
- The Entire home: If you’re building or knocking back to brick to start again, a whole home system might be worth the investment.
- Rooms with high ceilings: Able to produce consistent temperatures, radiant heating excels in high rooms.
- Garages: Normally chilly spaces, radiant heating allows your home workshop or storage to maintain an even, comfortable temperature.
Installation Process
If you do decide to upgrade, the process goes something like this:
Site Assessment and Planning
Professionals will visit your home and take measurements. They’ll advise you on your options and how to choose the right system for your space.
Subfloor Preparation
Floor coverings will be lifted and removed, the subfloor cleaned and prepared for the installation. Depending on your floor, extra insulation might be installed at this point to boost the efficiency of your system.
Installation
Depending on which system you’re installing, this will involve laying mats or a network of hydronic tubing. This will all be secured in place before the floor itself is put back.
Connection
Electric systems will be hooked up to the mains, via a thermostat. Hydronic systems will be connected to the boiler.
Testing and Finishing
The penultimate step is making sure the installation works as intended. Once everything has been tested, your flooring will be replaced, covering the heating system and putting your room back to normal.
Radiant Heating Vs Traditional Heating
As we’ve mentioned, radiant heating compares well against more traditional methods in some areas but not others.
In terms of energy efficiency, especially in a well-insulated home, radiant heat beats out things like baseboard heaters and forced air comfortably. Likewise, in terms of comfort and even heat, radiant systems have the edge.
Without the need for ducts and air currents, radiant heating also wins out when it comes to indoor air quality.
On the negative side, the installation is disruptive and expensive. It’s up to homeowners to decide if that’s worth it or not. It’s likely preferable in extensive remodeling projects and new-builds, but traditional systems may be more practical otherwise.
Is Radiant Heating Right for Your Home?
If you want to remodel, prioritize energy-savings and improve indoor air quality, radiant heating might be worth considering.
It requires certain lifestyle changes and, let’s face it, the budget to install it, but when done well, it can revolutionize a home.
Before making any decision it’s always worth talking to the pros. They’ll help you weigh out the various considerations, including costs, benefits and feasibility for your particular situation and make recommendations for all your potential options.