The first being, just how old it is, with most people believing that it’s only been around for the last 20 years or so.Īnother common myth is that it only heats the floor, not your home. While radiant heating has been around for thousands of years, many people still believe it to be a new technology, which in turn has led to several myths and misconceptions surrounding it. Both methods will give you efficient, consistent heat, but you may find that depending on where you are installing the heating, that one method works better for you than another. In a dry system, the tubing or the cables are placed in a cavity below the floor or between floors. It’s called a wet system because the wires or tubes are placed into a wet material once the material cures the floor will be dry, even if you use a hydronic heating method. In a wet system, the tubing or wires are embedded in the concrete or another material that can easily transmit heat. Image Credit: PennState College of Earth and Mineral Sciences There are two basic styles of installing radiant floor heating – wet and dry installations.īoth systems can use either hydronic or electric power to heat the floor, the installation names come from how the tubing or electric wires are installed. Radiant In Floor Heating Installation Types It wasn’t until Frank Lloyd Wright began to see the benefits of the system, however, that it became more widespread in use.ĭepending on the type of system you choose, there are only a few key components that you need to make the system operational.įor hydronic systems, all that’s necessary is a hot water heater or boiler, the in-floor pipes, which are usually made of PEX tubing, and the plumbing manifold including any necessary valves and fittings, which runs the hot water from the boiler to the floor.įor electric systems, you’ll need a heated floor mat, which is wired to your home’s electric panel, and in all systems, you’ll need a thermostat to control the system and the heat. In 1907, it was discovered that small hot water pipes could be embedded in concrete or plaster, and the process began to be put into use. Radiant heating first came to the US during the Civil War when heated air similar to the Chinese concept was used to help warm hospital tents. This led to a refinement of the method, as well as some of the first research into how radiant heat transfer worked. This system disappeared with Rome, however, and wasn’t revived until around the 17th century in Europe, when Sir John Stone first began using heated water circulated through pipes to heat first greenhouses and then commercial spaces. the Romans began perfecting this system by creating layers of tile, concrete, and an additional layer of tile that was raised on pillars that allow the heated air to circulate more freely. Radiant floor heating systems go as far back as 5000 BC in China and Korea.Īround the third century B.C. Many people assume that radiant floor heating is a fairly new concept, but it’s actually one of the oldest ways to heat a home.
Now let’s dive into the history radiant heating, how it works, and what radiant floor heating systems are used for commercial and residential applications.
#Radiant heating system install
It’s are easy to install and cost-efficient. Water-based radiant floor heating is typically used to heat large floor areas and entire houses and usually embedded at the building phase.Įlectric radiant floor heating is a great choice for small-scale projects such as warming up your kitchen floor or a cold bathroom. Of these three, the most commonly used are electric and water-based systems. In this article we cover three main radiant floor heating systems: electric, water-based, and air floor heating. This method of heating is much more efficient and comfortable than systems that heat the air with the heat coming from the ground up, the room’s temperature will feel much more consistent with no cold spots or drafts. Radiant floor heating systems warm the objects and people in the room directly by infrared radiation. That’s what will happen if you have radiant floor heating installed in your home. Imagine stepping from a warm bed or shower on a cold day onto a warm floor.
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