How Does Radiant Floor Heating Work?
When you are looking for options to heat your home efficiently, consider radiant floor heating. At Tile This, we offer radiant in-floor heating system products that delivers cozy, warm, and soothing heat into interior living areas.
The Operation of Radiant In-Floor Heating
Heat emanating from under floors rises to gently warm up the room. They also warm other items in the room, such as furniture and other furnaces. All of this occurs in a silent process. On the other hand, forced air heating continual works to increase and maintain the air temperature as it flows through ducts into living spaces. The drawback is that as the warm air travels from the vents into the room, some of the heat gets lost as it moves toward cold or cool spots in the room. Radiant in-floor heating is much more energy efficient than forced air or baseboard heaters and thus prevents higher energy bills. With the addition of a programmable thermostat, you can lower your energy costs even further. For these reasons, homeowners often choose in-floor heating to heat their home spaces.
Types of Radiant In-Floor Heating
The two common forms of radiant floor heating systems are hydronic and electric – each provides a different source of heat. A hydronic radiant heat system includes tubing installed beneath the floor covering that conveys heated water. An electric system features a system of heating cables under the floor covering. Both systems include insulation under the heating elements to minimize heat loss to the subfloor area.
Hydronic In-Floor Heating
Hydronic systems heat water with a boiler and distribute it with a pump. As the heated water moves through the system of flexible tubes under the floor covering, the room receives heat and its temperature increases. Many systems today use flexible materials such as polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubes as opposed to copper or steel tubes more common in the past.
Electrical In-Floor Heating
In an electric radiant in-floor heating system, resistance cables are often inserted into heating mats and generate heat. The system relies on a supply of electricity, electrical resistance surrounded by layers of insulation, and a thermostat which can help maintain the desired temperature. This system is placed on top of a thermal blanket which is then covered by the floor. For information about the floor heating options we offer at Tile This, call us today at 952.882.0436 or use our contact form to leave us a message.