One can find reviews on hydronic radiant floor heating from these sources: Building Green, Department of Energy, Green Building Advisor, Scientific American, Old House Web, House Needs, Back Woods Home.
Hydronic heating makes the most sense in new construction where you will heat the entire house with the radiant floor heating system and have room for all the mechanical equipment and a source of fuel other than electricity.
The Energy government website has a very thorough article on what radiant heating systems are as well as their advantages. Garden Web has a page of customer reviews for various floor heating sytems.
Three common types of heating systems are forced air, radiant heat, and hydronic heating. Forced air systems use a furnace to heat air and distribute it through ducts. Radiant heating involves warming surfaces, such as floors or walls, which then radiate heat into the room. Hydronic heating uses hot water circulated through pipes to provide warmth, often in baseboard heaters or radiant floor systems.
The answer is no. Radiant ceiling heating does not work as well as radiant floor heating in that heat rises so having heat in the ceiling will not be as efficient as heating in the floor.
There are several kind of floor heating systems available, the most common and popular are, electric floor heating systems and hydronic floor heating systems.
Imagine waking up on a cold morning and stepping out on a warm floor. This is great, especially if the normal climate is cold, such as in the winter months or in the mountains. An experience like this is possible through a radiant heating system installed underneath the floor. Radiant heating consists of heat generated through either electrical heating elements or heated water. Both types of systems are installed underneath the floor, thus the entire house is warmed as a single unit. How does one choose whether this system is the right one? Here’s how. 1) The first step is deciding whether to purchase an electric or hydronic radiant heating system. Electric systems are easier to install and cost much less than hydronic systems. They also eliminate a lot of the labor costs because the electrical heating system can often be connected directly to the system already present in the home. Hydronic systems require tubing to be placed beneath the floor, pumps to move the hot water, and probably a second boiler or water heater. In addition, the tubing is usually placed beneath a concrete floor, which means the additional expense of pouring concrete, letting it dry and installing the tubing before pouring. 2) The existing flooring can partially determine the choice. Since electric radiant heating requires a space between floors in order to insert the electrical elements. The good news for a hydronic system is that the floor does not need to be remodeled in order to install it; the joist underneath the subfloor will usually work fine. If the decision is made to remodel the floor, concrete or ceramic tile works best with radiant floor heating, especially with a hydronic system. The heat from the water is easily conducted through the floor into the air of the house. 3) There is one downside that makes hydronic radiant heat systems more attractive than electric systems: electric systems cost more in the long run than hydronic systems. For this reason, there are typically installed only in a small part of the house, like a bathroom or bedroom. Hydronic systems actually save up to as much as a third from the yearly heating costs.
Radiant floor heating is an excellent choice for bathrooms. It creates more of a spa environment. They are cost efficient and have thermostat control.
form_title=Radiant Floor Heating Installation form_header=10543 Choose the kind of heating system you currently have.*= () Gas fired forced air (central heating) () Radiant heat inside the floor - indoors () Electric fired forced air (central heating) () Radiant heat inside the floor - outdoors () Hydronic baseboard heat () Boiler radiator () Electric wall heater () Wood or Pellet stove () Heat pump How much is the area (in sq.ft) would the system cover?*= {Select One,Less than 1500 sq ft,1500 - 2500 sq ft,More than 2500 sq ft} Radiant floor heating will need to be installed in how many rooms?*= {Select One,1,2 - 5,6 - 10,11 - 15,More than 15,Don't know} Is the radiant heat system that you are installing a new installation or will it replace an existing one?*= {Select One,Installing new system,Replacing old}
Yes, radiant floor heating can provide efficient and consistent warmth throughout a room or building. It works by heating the surface of the floor, which then radiates heat upwards, creating a comfortable and even temperature. However, the effectiveness of radiant floor heating may depend on factors such as insulation, floor covering, and room size.
Hydronic (using water heated by a boiler pumped throughout the floor)Electric (direct conversion of electricity into heat energy using resistance wires)Hydronic systems use a boiler to heat the water and transport it through a complex series of piping, pumps, valves, expansion tanks, controls, etc. to your floor. This is an elaborate plumbing system with water pipes throughout your floor. Hydronic systems are typically serviced annually by a professional. See a photo of a typical Hydronic panel.Electric floor heating quickly and easily installs beneath your floor covering and is switched on and off by a Thermostat which senses the floor and/or air temperature and reacts accordingly. The thermostats are most often fully programmable with built in programs and a timer. No moving parts, no maintenance and no plumbing leaks.
Radiant floor heating, or floor heating, is accomplished by supplying heat directly to the floor. This type of heating is far more energy efficient than forced air heating as nothing is lost through ducts. There are three types of floor heating: radiant air floors, electric radiant floors, and hydronic radiant heat. The hydronic floor is a liquid based system that uses little electricity and is the best choice in areas with high electricity costs. The method for installing electric or hydronic radiant systems are very similar. The wet installation is the oldest form of these flooring systems. In the wet installation, the cables or tubes are laid in the concrete slab foundation of the home. High heat capacity is possible when installing the system in a thick concrete slab. A dry installation is when the cables or tubes are suspended between the joists, underneath the subfloor. This type of installation requires the use of reflective insulation under the cables or tubes. This will make sure the heat is reflected up through the floor and not downward. There is now an improvement on the dry installation process. This is done by using a plywood subfloor made with built in tubing grooves and heat diffuser plates. This can make the installation less expensive and heating more efficient than a regularly dry installed system. Ceramic tile is the best choice for floor covering over the radiant heating system. Other floor coverings can be used, however, it must be remembered that the floor coverings can cut down on the efficiency of the heating system. Ceramic tile conducts the heat instead of insulated the house from the heat. Once your flooring heating system is installed and operating, you will immediately experience the benefits. One the lesser known advantages of a floor heating system is beneficial for the allergy sufferer. Since air is no longer forcing heating through the house, dust and allergens are no longer being forced through the house. The air is also not being dried out by the heating system, eliminating the need for humidifiers in the house. The biggest benefit of course, is not having to walk on a cold floor.
Hydronic in-floor heating systems offer more even heat distribution, energy efficiency, and can be compatible with various flooring types. They also provide a comfortable and quiet heating experience, reduce allergens in the air, and can be controlled room by room for personalized comfort.