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Hydronic Radiant Floor Heat Systems |
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Radiant Floor Heat Index
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Hydronic radiant floor heat systems consist of hot water pipes running below the
floor joists, or under the floor covering. The hot water in the tubing warms the
floor and rises into the living space of the home, heating it. These systems are
typically more expensive to install, but the operating costs can be lower.
Many options are available for heating the water in hydronic systems as natural gas,
LP gas, oil, electric, solar, or wood heating sources may be used to heat the water.
In small homes a large domestic water heater may be used to supply the water for the
system, larger homes may require a boiler. Some systems allow the hot water heater to
provide both domestic hot water and water to the heating system. The system usually tries to keep the floor around eighty degrees farenheight. This temperature is about right for people, as they feel comfortable at that temperature. And since the heat is produced at floor level, the feet are warm. And it the feet are warm the whole body feels warm. Because radiant heating systems warm the objects in the room first, then the air, heating is much more comfortable. Air stratification is not a problem with hydronic floor heat, like forced air. With forced air the warm air is up on the ceiling. That is OK if that is where people spent their time. But very few people sit on the ceiling. Hydronic radiant floor heating, like other radiant heating, can be "zoned". This means each room in the home can be set up in its own distinct heating zone and the temperature individually controlled. Thus rooms little used can be kept cooler than rooms which are occupied more often. Installation of a hydronic radiant floor heat system can be a do-it-yourself project. New materials and kits are available to make the job easier and faster. This can also bring the installation cost down. |