Effective Design Of A Radiant Floor Heating System

Step 1 heat loss q btu hr per zone.

Effective design of a radiant floor heating system.

All the necessary components of a well engineered and efficient hydronic radiant floor system are explained in a straight forward and non technical manner. Due to it s density and low conductivity concrete retains heat very well. Slab insulation methods calculating heat loss tubing options system options and much more all written in easy to understand language for the homeowner with pictures and diagrams. There s two basic types of concrete floor heating hydronic and electric.

The first part contains a general overview of radiant heat and it s various applications. Common floor coverings like vinyl and linoleum sheet goods carpeting or wood can also be used but any covering that insulates the floor from the room will decrease the efficiency of the system. Therefore you won t hear anything while they re on. How does radiant heat work.

The floor heating cables of these two most popular brands take the pie for being the best electric radiant floor heating cables. Both provide heating in a room from the floor up for consistent efficient warmth. For hydronic underfloor radiant heating systems the systematic design process can be described as a 12 step program beginning with the heat loss and ending with the head loss. The second section gets down to the nitty gritty details of actual radiant floor installations.

Ceramic tile is the most common and effective floor covering for radiant floor heating because it conducts heat well and adds thermal storage. You can set the temperature to whatever feels most comfortable to you. Warm water systems run hot water through pipes to create heat whereas electric underfloor heating heats wiring beneath the floor to generate heat. Radiant floor heating systems are known for being quiet.

Unlike forced air systems there isn t a loud furnace that kicks on. There are two types of radiant floor heating electric and water based systems. Radiant floor systems have a limited heat output. When using thermal solar collectors to heat the air it is even possible to get seasonal heat storage in large thermal masses in masonry floors and the dirt rock beneath them.

The most cost effective system for medium to larger homes is hydronic since the amount of power it would take to heat a whole home with electric would be substantial. Because floor heating systems directly warm the people and objects in a room via radiant heat they do not disturb any existing dust and. Sun touch is a technologically driven product preferred by tech savvy users while heatwave s cables are greatly easy to install. This topic is part of our p rofessional development curriculum.