There are three types of radiant floor heat:
Air heated radiant floors (air is the heat-carrying medium).
Electric radiant floors.
Hydronic (hot water) radiant floors.
All three types can be further classified as wet or dry installations.
Air heated radiant floors (air is the heat-carrying medium).
Electric radiant floors.
Hydronic (hot water) radiant floors.
All three types can be further classified as wet or dry installations.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Installations that make use of the large thermal mass of a concrete slab floor or
lightweight concrete over a wooden subfloor are called wet installations.
Those in which the installer sandwiches the radiant floor tubing between two layers of
plywood or attaches the tubing under the finished floor or subfloor are called dry
installations.
Air-Heated Radiant Floors
Because air cannot hold large amounts of heat, radiant air floors are not cost-effective in
residential applications, and are seldom installed. Although they can be combined with
solar air heating systems, those systems suffer from the obvious drawback of only being
available in the daytime, when heating loads are generally lower.
Electric Radiant Floors
Electric radiant floors typically consist of electric cables built into the floor. Systems that
feature mats of electrically conductive plastic are also available, and are mounted onto
the subfloor below a floor covering such as tile.
Because of the relatively high cost of electricity, electric radiant floors are usually only
cost-effective if they include a significant thermal mass, such as a thick concrete floor,
and your electric utility company offers time-of-use rates. Time-of-use rates allow you to
"charge" the concrete floor with heat during off-peak hours (approx. 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
If the floor's thermal mass is large enough, the heat stored in it will keep the house
comfortable for eight to ten hours, without any further electrical input (particularly when
daytime temperatures are significantly warmer than nighttime temperatures). This saves
a considerable number of energy dollars compared to heating at peak electric rates
during the day.
Electric radiant floors may also make sense for additions onto homes for which it would
be impractical to extend the heating system into the addition. However, homeowners
should examine other options, such as mini-split heat pumps, which operate more
efficiently and have the advantage of also providing cooling.
Hydronic Radiant Floors
Hydronic (liquid) systems are the most popular and cost-effective radiant heating
systems for heating-dominated climates. Hydronic radiant floor systems pump heated
water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern underneath the floor. In some
systems, the temperature in each room is controlled by regulating the flow of hot water
through each tubing loop. This is done by a system of zoning valves or pumps and
thermostats.
lightweight concrete over a wooden subfloor are called wet installations.
Those in which the installer sandwiches the radiant floor tubing between two layers of
plywood or attaches the tubing under the finished floor or subfloor are called dry
installations.
Air-Heated Radiant Floors
Because air cannot hold large amounts of heat, radiant air floors are not cost-effective in
residential applications, and are seldom installed. Although they can be combined with
solar air heating systems, those systems suffer from the obvious drawback of only being
available in the daytime, when heating loads are generally lower.
Electric Radiant Floors
Electric radiant floors typically consist of electric cables built into the floor. Systems that
feature mats of electrically conductive plastic are also available, and are mounted onto
the subfloor below a floor covering such as tile.
Because of the relatively high cost of electricity, electric radiant floors are usually only
cost-effective if they include a significant thermal mass, such as a thick concrete floor,
and your electric utility company offers time-of-use rates. Time-of-use rates allow you to
"charge" the concrete floor with heat during off-peak hours (approx. 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
If the floor's thermal mass is large enough, the heat stored in it will keep the house
comfortable for eight to ten hours, without any further electrical input (particularly when
daytime temperatures are significantly warmer than nighttime temperatures). This saves
a considerable number of energy dollars compared to heating at peak electric rates
during the day.
Electric radiant floors may also make sense for additions onto homes for which it would
be impractical to extend the heating system into the addition. However, homeowners
should examine other options, such as mini-split heat pumps, which operate more
efficiently and have the advantage of also providing cooling.
Hydronic Radiant Floors
Hydronic (liquid) systems are the most popular and cost-effective radiant heating
systems for heating-dominated climates. Hydronic radiant floor systems pump heated
water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern underneath the floor. In some
systems, the temperature in each room is controlled by regulating the flow of hot water
through each tubing loop. This is done by a system of zoning valves or pumps and
thermostats.
Alternative-Heating-Info.com
Types of Radiant Floor Heat