Page 44 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine

The Homeowner’s Handbook SIXTH EDITION

Everything You Need to
42 Know About Radiant Heat

Consider the four big benefits of radiant heat, and you’ll

understand why it is poised to grow as the heating system of

choice in today’s high-performance homes.

RADIANT FLOOR HEATING—A concept that’s been
around since ancient Roman times—isn’t a tough
system to understand, install, operate, or maintain.
In fact, it’s one of those systems people hear about
and think, “Wow. I’d like to have heated water cir-
culating underneath my floor, warming everything
it touches.”
Here are the four key benefits of in-floor radiant heat systems:

#1: COMFORTwww.greenbuildermag.com 11.2015
IMAGE CREDIT: UPONOR
“Comfort” is a key reason people consider installing a radiant # 4: COST
heat system in their house. With radiant, heat slowly rises from
the floor as opposed to blowing down at different temperatures Before looking at cost, consider durability: A radiant system
with a forced air system. Radiant floor heating produces room lasts two to three times longer than a typical furnace, primar-
temperatures at 75°F at floor level, declining to 68 °F at eye level, ily because it doesn’t have as many moving parts. The boiler
and then to 61°F at the ceiling. system can last 20 to 30 years; the piping in the floor—radiant
heat system manufacturer Uponor offers a durable crosslinked
According to the Radiant Panel Association, a radiant heat polyethylene (PEX)—will last for the life of the home.
floor normally feels “neutral” with a surface temperature lower
than normal body temperature, although the overall sensation The actual costs for installation and equipment vary greatly,
is one of comfort. depending on the manufacturer, type of system, the size of area
to be heated, type of zoning and controls required, flooring type
# 2: EFFICIENCY and labor cost. There are other factors as well, such as whether
you are ripping out an existing floor or installing the system
The water in a hydronic radiant floor system has the capacity in a new concrete floor.
to transport energy 3,500 times greater than air, so it can heat
(and even cool) using less energy than a forced-air system. This While radiant is more expensive up front than a forced air
amounts to greater comfort at a lower thermostat setting, which system, by rolling it into your mortgage you can enjoy the
provides reduced energy use and lower energy bills. benefits of the system immediately; if you chose forced air,
you pay less up front but will have higher utility bills, lower
In fact, more people are comfortable with radiant floor heat- indoor air quality and reduced comfort.
ing set at a lower thermostat setting than with forced-air heat-
ing at a higher setting. In addition, a radiant heating system To learn how radiant heat systems work, visit Uponor at
works in zones, allowing different areas of a home to be at www.uponor-usa.com
varying temperatures.

# 3: HEALTH

A radiant floor heating system provides very high indoor air
quality because it does not use fans or blowers, which can cir-
culate dirt, dust and other allergens throughout a home. Plus,
warm radiant floors can eliminate the need for carpeting which
is a breeding ground for dust mites, a very common cause of
allergy-related respiratory diseases.