Radiant heating systems are very efficient home comfort options, but it’s important to know how they work before pulling the trigger on a conversion. This will help you decide whether they’re the ideal system for you.
Radiant heating systems work by directly supplying heat to panels in your walls or ceiling. The radiation from these surfaces warms the spaces they surround, much like how heat from a stovetop can warm the entire kitchen.
Hydronic (hot water) floor systems are a very popular form, largely because they are the most affordable (when compared to air-heated and electric). There is no heat being lost through ductwork, which makes them more efficient than traditional forced-air systems.
This system works by distributing water warmed by a boiler through a network of tubes that are installed under your floor. In most systems, the flow of hot water through various loops of tubing is controlled to arrive at your set temperature. The cost of an installation will depend on various factors such as type of installation, home size and location.
Radiant floor heating systems can be installed in several other ways. A “wet install” entails embedding tubes (for a water-based system) or cables (for an electric system) in a slab under your floors or down in your basement. An HVAC specialist will help you determine which method will work best for your home.
“Dry installs” are also gaining in popularity. These involve cables or tubes that are organized in an air space under your floor, making installations cheaper and faster. But because they heat an air space, the operating temperatures have to be higher.
For more information on radiant heating systems and how they can keep your home more energy-efficient without sacrificing comfort, contact Ibbotson Heating & Air Conditioning Co. We have been serving residents in the northwest Chicago area since 1948.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about radiant systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ibbotson Heating & Air Conditioning Co. services Arlington Heights, Illinois and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
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