Many consumers are turning to radiant floor heat systems to warm bathrooms, kitchen areas, and their whole properties. There are several benefits to be had by this approach, some less obvious than others.
When considering whether installing one of these systems would be appropriate for you, the first major point to consider is the installation side. Because the total heating element is placed under the floor, it must be installed in one go, meaning that these systems can be very difficult to place in existing homes. So as a result of this, radiant floor heating is growing to be increasingly widespread in newly built houses, and also extensions of previous houses.
The Benefits
The main benefits of using infloor heating is the even distribution of heat. With houses and apartments that make use of radiators and forced air heating set ups, each room has its heat source in a certain place, and therefore the room will be warmer the nearer you get to that source. With radiant floor heating, the whole floor is the heat source, so that the room is heated uniformly, generating a much more comfortable atmosphere.
Another large feature which is largely unheard-of is the advantage of floor heating when compared to forced air heating. Forced air systems pass air through a duct, which picks up dust, allergens, and other airborn mites. With these in the air every time that the heating is on, those people susceptible could very well prefer the fact that under floor heating does not have this result. Because the floor space is the heating element, air does not have to circulate around the room to distribute the heat, which keeps dust and allergens down, and therefore under control.
Types of Radiant Floor Heating
There are two predominant forms of under floor heating, both with their own advantages over each other. These are electric, and hydronic radiant floor heating.
Electric radiant floor heating is used largely for its ease of installation, as all it consists of is a wafer thin pad that lies underneath your desired floor, meaning that installation can be achieved fairly quickly and easily, and as it is powered by electricity, you can easily install this solution in a single room.
Hydronic radiant heating on the other hand consists of pumping hot water beneath the floor, with the pipes set in a special concrete. This means that a lot of work is required for installation, and therefore is suited for new houses, and extensions to existing houses. These pipes are then connected to a water heater, and each room can have their own thermostats. These systems are normally more efficient than electric setups, but the cost and time of installation are factors to consider.
