Radiant Heat = Warm Feet

Radiant heating is a system that is installed in the flooring during construction or remodeling that provides heat to a room by radiating it out through the flooring material itself. By heating from the ground, heat naturally rises throughout the room, providing even, efficient and cost-effective heat to a room. The heat is supplied through a network of heating elements installed directly into the flooring (usually dry system), or suspended beneath it, in the subfloor (usually hydronic). Thus, there are two main types of radiant heating systems.

Dry system radiant heating is typically installed using grooved wood panels above the sub floor and below the finished floor. These systems can be installed under a variety of flooring materials, including tile, marble, vinyl, wood and carpeting.

Hydronic radiant heating systems pump heated water through special tubing installed in loops below the subfloor. The water heats the surrounding air and flooring material. These systems are popular for retrofits and are less costly to install than the in-floor systems. Below floor systems require a higher source temperature, however, and therefore can be somewhat less efficient to operate.