Central heating has been a mainstay of residential and commercial construction for decades. But there is another option: radiant floor heating. Although radiant floor heating is certainly not new, it is suddenly gaining attention as a money-saving alternative to central heating.
Radiant floor heating is not a good choice for existing homes and businesses. The amount of money required to retrofit an existing structure with radiant floor heating would be unreasonable. But for new construction, radiant floor heating offers the opportunity to save tremendously over decades of use.
More About Radiant Floor Heating
Beehive Plumbing, based in Utah’s Salt Lake City region, provides hydronic radiant floor heating services to both commercial and residential customers. They say radiant floor heating is gaining a lot of traction in the Beehive State. It works by heating spaces through the floor rather than using radiators or a forced air system.
Tubes running through the floor of a given space carry a consistent stream of heat through a building. That heat radiates through the floor to gently warm the entire space in a more consistent manner. As for what generates the heat, there are two options:
- Hydronic – A hydronic system utilizes a heated liquid, usually water, which flows through tubes embedded in the floor. The liquid is warmed by a heating element.
- Electric – Rather than liquid-filled tombs, electric systems utilize resistance wires buried beneath the floor. Those wires produce heat as electric current flows through them.
The nice thing about radiant floor heating is that it can be utilized in every room in the home. It can even be utilized outdoors. If you had the money and were willing to invest in it, you could deploy radiant heating under your driveway and patio as a way to ensure neither one gets icy during the winter months.
How Radiant Floor Heating Saves Money
Radiant floor heating is considered a money-saving alternative to central heating because it is so energy efficient. Its efficiency is rooted in several key principles:
1. Eliminating Duct Losses
Have you ever noticed that homes with central heating systems suffer from heat loss through the ducts? Those rooms furthest away from the furnace tend to be colder because the warmest air never reaches them.
Radiant floor heating does not involve ducts. Therefore, there is no heat loss. Minimizing heat loss means maximizing energy efficiency. It is as simple as that.
2. Distributing Heat Consistently
Radiant floor heating distributes heat consistently and evenly. The heat cycles centralized heat is known for are nonexistent. As a result, homeowners can lower thermostat settings and still be more comfortable.
3. Operating at Lower Temperatures
The consistency radiant floor heating brings to the table allows for operating at lower temperatures. You don’t need nearly as much heat to warm up a space as compared to forced air and radiator systems. Lower temperatures require less energy.
4. Eliminating Blower Systems
A forced air system requires a blower to circulate air throughout the house. That blower consumes electricity. There are no blower systems in radiant floor heating, so that’s one less component contributing to energy consumption.
It is worth noting that hydronic radiant floor systems don’t have to be powered by electricity. They are flexible enough to work with heat pumps, solar systems, and high efficiency boilers. The right energy source can save even more money.
Anyone looking to build a new home or commercial structure in a colder environment should at least look into radiant floor heating. It is a money-saving alternative to centralized heat utilizing radiator or forced air systems. It is a workable alternative for most applications.
