Radiant floor heating receives a lot of positive press, and for good reason. It is considered more energy efficient, can contribute to better indoor air quality, and can save you money. It also produces a warm, cozy environment that is comforting and inviting during the cold Northern Virginia winters. If you’re considering adding radiant heating to your indoor space, there are few basics to know about this heating option.
How it works
Radiant heating depends on heat transfer. A heating system in the floor warms up the people and furniture that come into contact with the floor. Heat then radiates into the indoor space. Think of it working just like a hot stove radiating heat into the kitchen when you’re cooking. Radiant heating systems also rely on convection, heat rising from the floor to the ceiling, to heat a space.
Benefits
Radiant floor heating systems have several benefits for indoor spaces. First, these systems often heat a room more efficiently because there is no heat loss through ducts. This means the system doesn’t have to work as hard to heat the same space, which saves you money on energy bills, and it also conserves fossil fuels because you require less energy to heat your space.
Secondly, radiant systems provide an environmental benefit. Since these systems eliminate ducts and forced air, you can eliminate a wide array of pollutants and improve your indoor air quality.
Types of systems
There are two ways to install radiant floor heating. First, you can use electric systems. These consist of electric cables or mats of electrically conductive plastic installed under the flooring, which you control with a thermostat. The other way to install radiant heat is hydronically. Pipes circulate heated water in a pattern under the floor to deliver heat. These systems are controlled by a boiler or by adjusting the amount of water circulating through the pipes.
Radiant heat can increase comfort and air quality in any indoor space. To learn more about installing a system for your indoor space, contact Jones-Rogers, Inc. We’ve proudly served residential and commercial customers in Northern Virginia.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about radiant floor heating and other HVAC topics, visit our website and see our special offers.
Jones-Rogers, Inc. services Northern Virginia.
Many Northern Virginia homes and buildings used to rely on “natural” ventilation to maintain a flow of fresh air – the movement of air in and out the gaps and cracks around doors and windows, as well as just leaving windows open, period. These days, we recognize that that unintended gaps and cracks lead to significant energy waste – which translates to higher utility costs – and that natural ventilation fails to provide adequate