Have you experienced radiant floor heat? Though still relatively uncommon in houses it has been used in hotels for a couple decades now.

If you haven’t experienced it, just think about having warm floors to step onto as you get out of bed in the morning.

That’s the luxurious bonus that comes with radiant heating, but far from the main reason to consider it.

Benefits of Heated Floors

A hydronic heating system pipes warm water under a floor to heat the space above it. Using this form of radiant heat to warm your home has a number of advantages, such as:

• Hydronics is the most cost-effective space heating system
• A boiler is the most efficient way to warm the water
• No duct losses = even more efficiency
• Reduction in spread of allergens and dust
• Water is the same temperature as hot tap water so one boiler can do it all
• Stays warm for a long time in the event of power outage
• Heat is delivered evenly
• Temperatures in zones (rooms) easily controlled
• Quiet operation

Set-up and Installation

The tubes that carry the warm water for an in floor heating system are usually embedded in a concrete slab, although other methods can be used. Heating pipes can also be attached to wooden sub-floors with specially-designed staples and suspension clips.

If you are considering a home improvement project that includes in-floor radiant heating, properly installing all those pipes, whether embedded in concrete or not, can seem quite daunting. Though it isn’t beyond a highly-skilled handyman, it is a task best left to trained professionals.

Here in the Lower Mainland you have access to an experienced hydronic radiant floor heating team, capable of doing the complete installation of the floor, heating tubes, boiler and control systems, in Efficient Furnace.

It’s Been Around a Long Time

Hydronic radiant floor heating was invented a couple thousand years ago, when the Romans figured out that running warm water, steam or air through channels under a stone floor was an effective way to heat their living spaces.

It’s come a very long way since then. Though stone flooring is rare in modern homes, ceramic tile is not and that is the most common flooring surface used in homes that use radiant heat. However, hardwood, cork and even carpet are also viable floor surfaces for this type of heat.

Whatever floor surface you prefer, if you are building a new home or planning on home renovations, you owe it to yourself to consider modern hydronic radiant in-floor heating.

By: Andrew Lake