Underfloor Heating

Heated Floors- General Information and Common Types

Radiant heated flooring is a popular heating method used in residential homes and large structures alike. The concept is simple – applying heat under the floor of a structure will heat the entire confinement as heat rises and the objects in contact with the heat become heat conductors. Although this may sound complex, it is actually a very basic process. A good example can be seen when cooking; the pots and pans become hot because they are in contact with the stove, and if one were to remove these items from the stove and carry them across the room, the heat can still be felt emanating from the heated pots and pans. This is the simplest way to view radiant heating.

Although there are several kinds of radiant heating systems, including wall and ceiling panels, radiant heat flooring is by far the most common. The main difference between convectional and radiant heating is that convectional heating systems circulate hot air, distributing it throughout the structure through vents, while radiant heating systems supply heat directly to the infrastructure of the confinement, thereby evenly transferring heat carried by thermal conductors such as concrete, hot water pipes, or thermal mats. Since the heat is radiating form the floor and anything attached to the floor, the amount of heat lost through the ceiling is minimized and ultimately energy costs are reduced. As the circulation of allergen carrying air is minimized, radiant floor heating is considered hypo-allergenic. Thus, users with sensitivities to dust, dander and pollen will no longer be forced to deal with the circulation of filthy, congested air.

The term “radiant” heating can be somewhat misleading, as this heating method also uses the basic concept of convection to heat an enclosed area. Radiant heated flooring is a broad term, encompassing multiple heating systems that can be installed within the floor of a structure. These heating systems are powered through various methods, and are best used in certain situations. To find out which radiant heated flooring would be best for a particular structure or financial budget, it may prove beneficial to continue reading about the various types of radiant heated flooring, as well as installation procedures, and the energy/money saving aspects of each radiant heating method.

Radiant Heated Flooring Types

There are 3 main types of radiant heated flooring; air-heated radiant floors, electrically powered radiant heated flooring, and hydronic radiant heat flooring. Of these 3 types, hydronic (liquid-based) radiant heating is the most commonly used. To figure out which heating solution would fit a particular situation, it may be best to consult with a heating professional for more advice. The following information will provide basic insight to the options available, and the entailment of such options.

Hydronic Radiant Heat Flooring

Hydronic radiant heat flooring systems are definitely the most cost-effective radiant heating solution, hence their comparative popularity. This method of heating relies on hot water which is heated in a boiler, and then pumped through intricately laid tubing that lines the flooring of the structure in a specific pattern, which is designed to maximize heat distribution. The boiler is usually installed on the outside of the structure, or in a special room. This boiler can be powered using a variety of methods, including gas, oil, or electricity.

The temperature of the water that is pumped through the tubing is regulated via thermostat to control the temperature of the house. In fact, many hydronic systems give users advanced control by letting them regulate how much hot water is pumped into the tubing of each room, thereby giving them control over the temperature of each individual room. Heating a room hydronically is the fastest way to increase the temperature of a room. Once the thermostat has been set and the heating has been activated, the entire room can be warmed within a matter of minutes. This decreases the amount of energy that needs to be used in order to heat a room in a timely manner.

Electric Radiant Heat Flooring

Electric radiant heat flooring systems  deliver heat through electrical cables that are wired underneath  the floor. These cables transfer heat to a slab or mat that into turn heats the flooring of the structure. Since electricity is not generally cheap, this is not the best method in terms of conserving money. The only instance in which this method of radiant heat flooring would be cost-effective would be if the system was being used to heat a large slab of thermally conducive concrete, such as gypsum concrete.   Even with the use of such a slab, the user would need to have an electricity service that charged on a  time-of use basis. A time-of-use payment basis means that the price of the electricity varies depending upon the time it is used.

Certain hours of the day are considered more expensive in certain areas, which means there is a period of the day when the electricity is cheaper. This time period is usually called “off-peak” hours.  Letting the thermal concrete slab gather heat during off-peak hours is one way users can maximize comfort while minimizing energy use. Since the concrete slab should be able to hold this heat for many hours until the next day when off-peak hours return. Charging the concrete slab every day during off-peak hours is the only to use an electrically powered radiant heat flooring system efficiently. Due to their costly and high maintenance nature, electric radiant floors are generally only used in situations where an expanded area of a structure cannot be added to the pre-existing heating system.

Air-Heated Radiant Floors

Air-heated radiant heat flooring systems pump heated air through the subfloor of a structure to provide a subtle heating effect. Although air is used to bring heat throughout the structure, the air is not heavily circulated, so this is still an optimal option for individuals with allergy sensitivities. Since air is a poor conductor of heat, air-heated radiant heat flooring is considered the least efficient form of radiant  heating. Most professional s agree that this form of radiant heating has no place in residential situations, and would be more suitable for industrial warehouses where temperatures only need to be maintained and not increased. Therefore, air-heated radiant floors are more of an insulation solution than a heating method.

Heated floor installation options

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 3:21 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.