The Amazing Advantages of Radiant Floor Heating

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One of the hardest things about winter is going from a warm, cozy bed to icy floors. Hardwood, tile and vinyl floors are beautiful, but they’re not the most desirable beneath our feet when the weather is cold. Even when the heat is turned up, your floors will still be cold due to heat rising. Radiant floor heating is the solution. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t solely to warm floors. “Radiant floor heating is arguably the ideal home heating system. It’s comfortable, efficient, unobtrusive, quiet, and does not blow dust and allergens around the way forced hot air systems do,” says Bob Villa.

Keeping your floors toasty in the winter isn’t a new idea. It dates back to Roman history with the invention of the hypocaust floor heating system, and is still popular in many other countries. However, it’s not yet widespread in America, so here are answers to some common floor heating questions.

1. “Is it expensive?” Not really. The price range of an installation is between $1800 – $4800. This depends on your floor, the size of your HVAC system, climate conditions, builder flexibility/experience and system complexity. Whatever you spend, you should see some savings on your utility bill.

2. “Isn’t radiant floor heating only for tile and concrete?” No. Like everything, systems evolve and radiant heating is now available for every type of floor, including hardwood and carpet.

3. “Will the floor get hot?” According to The Radiant Panel Association, radiant floor heating produces room temperatures very close to ideal: about 75 F at floor level, declining to 68 F at eye level, then to 61 F at the ceiling.

4. “How does it work?” Very efficiently. As warm water circulates through the tubing (or as electricity warms the heating elements), the concrete flooring turns into an inconspicuous radiator. Typically, radiant heating systems warm floors to temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees F. The warm surface then slowly radiates heat upward into the living space, rather than blowing around the heated air. This natural heat transfer is both more comfortable and energy efficient.

5. “Is it possible to zone different parts of the house?” Absolutely. Radiant floor heating is a highly efficient way to heat a house, increasing comfort as it reduces energy costs. It’s quiet, invisible and delivers an even blanket of heat, right where you want it.