Radiant floor heating – a cost-effective option for homeowners

Written by: Eric Fleming

Radiant floor heating is based on the premise of supplying heat to a building by having it radiate from a heated surface such as a floor or wall.

What is radiant floor heating?

There are many types of radiant heating that you may already be aware of such as a traditional radiator that uses hot water to heat metal pipes. But in floor heating, or underfloor heating, is slightly different.

In radiant floor heating, a system of pipes is installed in the subflooring (or in the case of post-build installation, the flooring is pulled up and pipes placed beneath it). Heat generated from water flowing through pipes or from electricity, heats the pipes and in turn, the floor. Heat then rises from the floor which heats the room.

Why should homeowners want in-floor heating?

Radiant floor heating is quite efficient, not only in energy consumption, but also when compared with traditional heating methods. Radiant floor heating runs at a constant lower temperature, evenly heating a room throughout the day. A traditional gas or oil furnace runs until a certain temperature is reached, shuts off, and then starts up again later.

In addition, since the heat rises evenly, your home won't have hot or cold spots as you experience with areas close to, or far from, a standard heating duct. There is also a lack of heat stratas caused by hot air quickly rising, cooling near the ceiling, and falling back down to the ground. In-floor heating, on the other hand, rises gently and constantly so the cool air is always near the ceiling, not lower.

There are few cons against radiant floor heating. The initial setup costs can be quite high and require a substantial upfront investment. However, once installed, a radiant floor heating system can save upwards of 30% versus forced air heating.

Different types of underfloor heating

There are two types of underfloor heating: electrical and hot water. In either case, a series of coils – operated electrically or by water-filled pipes – are set beneath the floor surface.

Electric radiant heating is most common for heating a single room like a bathroom or kitchen in an existing home. Hot water underfloor heating is most commonplace when building a house from the ground up. Hot water radiant heating costs more to install, particularly when retrofitting a room. However, when installed during construction where pipes are buried in the cement subflooring, it can be the least expensive option.

To determine if radiant floor heating is right for your home, submit a free BuyerZone request for price quotes. We’ll get you connected with multiple providers who can assess your home and help determine the solution that will work best.