The Ultimate Guide to Radiant Floor Heating

Homeowners are continually looking for ways to improve the comfort and functionality of their properties while also adding energy efficiency. In many cases, these two goals work against each other, as more luxurious features result in more resource consumption.

But when working with the most innovative materials on the market, such as radiant heat flooring, homeowners can actually accomplish both at the same time.

In a radiant floor heating system, a network of subfloor pipes (hydroponic systems) or heating mats (electric systems) warm the floor and release heat in a stovelike manner throughout the day. This eliminates cold pockets in homes and provides a more stable, comfortable living environment around the clock. 

Although radiant heating systems are scientific in their design, they are far from a new concept. Many publications credit the Romans for inventing the concept of radiant floor heat, but some archaeologists believe that Chinese and Korean cultures as early as 5,000 BC used the idea of heated floors to improve the comfort of their dwellings.

Given that the benefits of radiant heating systems date back so far, why aren’t all homes equipped with them in 2022?

Generally, the upfront cost of installing radiant floor heating can be a bit more expensive than simply dropping a forced air unit somewhere in the home, so builders looking to cut corners use this as an excuse for bypassing them during construction.

However, the upfront cost of radiant floor heating will pay for itself in the form of lower energy consumption over time. For example, traditional radiators need to be heated to as much as 167 degrees Fahrenheit before they can heat a room. Radiant heating systems, on the other hand, only need to reach 84 degrees Fahrenheit to heat an equivalent space.

And this is just one of their benefits. To find out everything there is to know about subfloor heating systems, keep reading the following infographic by Warmup that will serve as your ultimate guide to radiant floor heating!

While Water Heaters Only, Inc does not install radiant heat flooring, we often install and/or replace the water heaters connected to hydroponic radiant heat flooring systems. These type of water heaters are considered a specialty type of unit, usually a hydronic water heater type model. Often this types of water heaters will also have a higher recovery rate, so they can provide hot water for both the radiant flooring and household usage.

Water heaters for radiant heat generally have special inlet and outlet connections that standard style residential water heaters do not. If you are interested in radiant heat or need a water heater for a radiant heat system call to speak with our water heater experts 24/7. We are happy to discuss the pros’ and con’s of these style water heaters.