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Originally Posted On: All About Radiant Floor Heating – Kaiser Air Conditioning (kaiserac.com)

 

Renovating and improving your home not only gives you a better quality home, but it can also raise the value of your home if you are to sell it! If you want to add value to your home, you may want to consider adding hydronic or electric radiant floor heating systems to your house.

Do you want to learn more about radiant floor heating costs, the types of floor heating, and more? Keep reading this guide to learn about the benefits of this type of flooring

 

What Is Radiant Floor Heating?

Radiant heating is a type of floor heating that helps keep your home warm. What many people don’t know is that 10% of the heat that your boiler produces escapes through the floor. By having heated floors, you can heat your home much more efficiently!

In radiant floor systems, there is a direct source of heat in the floor panels of your home. Radiant heat uses infrared radiation to transfer the heat. This is the kind of heat that you can feel from a stove element, so radiant floor heating transfers heat in a similar way.

There are a few different types of radiant floor heating.

First, there are traditional radiant air floors. These aren’t the most cost-effective solution because air doesn’t hold heat as well as other materials. In this type of radiant flooring, the air is pumped through the floors.

Second, there are electric radiant floors. These systems use electric cables that are built into the floor to conduct heat through the flooring. The cables are often part of a mat that is mounted below the flooring.

This type of flooring is also a bit more expensive because of the high cost of electricity. These are good options if you are replacing a floor or if you are adding on to your home.

Finally, there are hot water radiant floors, also known as hydronic floors or liquid floors. This type of radiant floor heating is the most cost-effective option, and is also the most popular system available!

Essentially, there are tubes beneath your floor that pump hot water through your home.

 

How Does Radiant Floor Heating Differ From Conventional Heating?

There are a few key differences between radiant floor heating and conventional heating.

The main difference is how the heat is distributed. If you use underfloor heating, it uses radiant heat that comes through the floor. It has a more even distribution and retains the heat for longer.

If you use a radiator or another type of heating system, it uses convection to distribute the heat. The air that is warm will rise to the top of your room to the ceiling, where much of the heat is lost. One drawback of this type of heat is that you will have less even heat distribution in your home.

Because of this, there will be hot and cold spots in your house.

Another difference is how efficient your heating system is. Because much of the heat is lost from radiators and other heating systems, it will cost more money to keep your house warm.

Radiant floor heating is a good way to keep your house warm without having to pay more on your energy bill.

 

Radiant Floor Heating Cost

The cost to install radiant floor heating will depend on many factors. First, the size of your home plays a big role in the overall radiant floor heating cost. If your house is bigger, that means it will require more material to keep your entire home heated.

Radiant floor heating generally costs anywhere from $10-$20 per square foot. If you want radiant floor heating throughout your entire home, the installation and labor costs will jump.

Another thing to consider is what kinds of floor coverings you have in your home. This will effect how well the heat is transferred to the surface of the floor, so you want to have flooring that conducts heat more easily.

The best types of flooring for underfloor heating are stone and tile floors. They have high thermal conductivity which means it will be easier to conduct the heat, and the material retains the heat longer than other types of materials.

Another good material for underfloor heating is wood. While this doesn’t conduct heat as well, it will still work. If you have thinner wood floors that are made from a dense material, it will work more effectively.

Another thing to consider for radiant floor heating cost is how much it will save you in the long run.

While it may be a more expensive purchase upfront, you can save money on your monthly energy bill!

 

Pros of Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant floor heating is beneficial for many homes. Here are the top benefits of radiant floor heating.

 

More Efficient

First, radiant floor heating is more efficient and uniform. Because the heat is coming through your floors, there will be no cold patches in your home. The heat will spread evenly and efficiently.

Because the heat comes through the floor, radiant floor heating is also more energy efficient. It is more difficult for the heat to escape, so you get more bang for your buck when it comes to heating your home.

 

Better Air Quality

Because radiant floor heating doesn’t use ducts, it doesn’t circulate dust in your home the same way radiators and other heaters do. This keeps your air quality cleaner and easier to breathe!

This type of heating system is also better because your air will stay oxygen-rich. In other heating systems, the high temperatures can reduce the oxygen levels. If you want better air quality in your home, radiant floor heating is a great option for you!

 

Cons of Radiant Floor Heating

While radiant floors are a great option for many people, there are some negative aspects. Here are the most common drawbacks of radiant floor heating.

 

Quality Installation Cost & Time

The biggest drawback with this type of heating system is that it has a higher initial cost and it takes a long time to install. As was mentioned before, the initial setup costs about $10-$20 per square foot. This doesn’t include other fees, like having an electrician connect your system to your home power supply.

It also takes a few days to install. If you are installing radiant floor heating while you are renovating your floors, it may make the process go by more quickly!

 

Flooring May Need to Be Replaced

If you aren’t renovating your floors when you install radiant floor heating, you will need to replace your floors.

To install this type of heating system, you need to remove the floors to place the system below. However, if you are planning on changing your floors or if you are building a home, this wouldn’t be a drawback!

 

Install a Radiant Floor System Today!

Radiant floor heating is a great option for people who want an efficient way to keep their homes warmer. If you are interested in installing radiant floor heating or other types of floor heating in your home, Kaiser Air Conditioning can help!

In addition to HVAC and furnace services, we offer radiant floor installation. Contact our team today to learn more about radiant floor heating or to schedule an appointment!