Radiant Direct

Can I use a tank style water heater for my radiant heating system?  The short answer is yes, but beware of the limitations and liabilities that go with this type of solution.

What is the most efficient heating system?  How much money will I save with a radiant heat system?  We regularly get these and similar questions - and with good reason.  A heating system is a major expenditure and with the cost of energy these days, it is important to know that you are investing in a heating system that will minimize the ongoing costs of operation.

Many people would like to replace or enhance an existing heating system with radiant floor heat. Good news! It can be done. Of course, the cost and difficulty varies considerably from project to project. In some cases, a do-it-yourselfer can manage it themselves. In other cases, a local radiant heat contractor might be necessary. In any case, it is critical that you start planning your project well in advance of installing radiant floor heating.

A crucial consideration in planning your radiant heating system is deciding which type of fuel you would like to use.  The most common types of fuel used in radiant floor heating include  electricity, natural gas, oil, propane, and wood. However, all fuels are not available in every neighborhood, so be sure to check and see which fuels are available to you. Additionally, some fuels are more efficient than others, while some are cleaner and more environmentally friendly than others.

One of the advantages of radiant floor heating is the many types of surfaces that can be used. The type of floor covering in your home can be an important factors in designing and planning a radiant floor heating system; due mainly to the different levels of heat conductivity with different floorings. Under proper conditions, nearly any floor covering can be successfully implemented in a radiant floor heating system including carpet, concrete, hardwood, linoleum, marble, stone, and tile.

This is a handy glossary that covers terminology relating to radiant heat systems. Have a suggestion for an entry? Please tell us about it and we will add it!

Radiant heat is not new. Here we will explore radiant heat and the advantages of radiant floor heating. Heating by way of a radiant floor system has been growing in popularity in North America for the last few decades. Europeans have been enjoying the comfort of radiant heating in their floors for most of the last century. Romans were using a convective based radiant floor system almost two thousand years ago. (Although you had to be the Emperor to afford it.) In fact, our planet has been heated by radiant energy as far back as we can remember. Ever wonder why you can get so hot when you're out in the sun during the summer, but it can be sub-zero in outer space? The answer lies in how radiant energy is transferred. Thermal energy can be transferred from warm objects to cool objects in one of three ways: Conduction, convection and radiant.