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What is Radiant Floor Heating?

As we transition into cooler temperatures, do you ever find yourself, in the early morning, tip-toeing across frigid floors? While flooring has so many advantages, one of its drawbacks is the lack of a cozy, comfy space in the colder months that are commonly experienced in the Loveland area.

What if there was another option than just having to grin and bear cold flooring in the frosty months — would you ditch your layers of socks and dance for joy? Radiant floor heating is an excellent alternative to arctic floors! Learn more about what they are in today’s post!

The answer to icebox feet is radiant floor heat!

All About Radiant Floor Heat

If your current floors don’t evoke a snuggly, warm feeling because they are physically freezing, radiant floor heat is an innovative solution to this problem.

Radiant heating, is a system that applies direct heat to a surface, namely, walls and flooring through infrared radiation. You can compare radiant heating to a stovetop — not only can you feel its heat through the direct contact of the pan, but also from a distance.

What does radiant heat rely on?

Radiant heat establishes its heat through convection. Convection occurs when the medium (the floors) is heated and causes the warmed air to rise — heating both the floor and space around it.

Are there different types of radiant floor heat?

There are three different types of radiant floor heat and they include:

  • Hydronic (liquid) radiant floors – This type of radiant heat flooring is one of the most popular and cost-effective systems. They work by pumping heated water from a boiler throughout small passageways under the flooring, heating the floor as a result. These floors can be regulated from room-to-room by having zoned areas that can pump throughout one room while avoiding others.
  • Air-heated radiant flooring – This type is rarely used in residential spaces because it is not energy-efficient at all. Not only is air-heated flooring unable to hold heat, but it also does an insufficient job of heating a home as a whole. This system is still used, however, generally avoided because it is expensive and not very effective.
  • Electric radiant flooring – This type of radiant flooring works by a series of electric cables within the floor that are laid as a mat of electrically conductive plastic covering the subfloor space. Because they use electricity, they are not the most energy-efficient, but better than its air-heated counterparts. They are, however, more cost-efficient when they have additional thermal mass — such as concrete — or your utility company gives you the option to pay off-peak hour electricity rates. If the thermal mass is large and expansive enough it can maintain a comfortable temperature for up to eight to 10 hours during the day without having to use any additional electricity.

People opt for electric radiant heat floors when adding additions to their homes where expanding the traditional HVAC doesn’t make sense.

Radiant heat is an amazing option for any home who struggles with cold floors in the colder fall and winter months.

Talk with the radiant floor heating experts when you connect with us today!