Table of Contents
What is radiant heat?
Radiant heat, also known as thermal radiation, is the transfer of electromagnetic radiation which describes the heat exchange of energy by photons. Radiant heat is a mechanism for heat transfer which does not require a medium in which it propagates (unlike convection and conduction).
Is radiant heating any good?
Radiant heating has a number of advantages. It is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because it eliminates duct losses. People with allergies often prefer radiant heat because it doesn’t distribute allergens like forced air systems can.
What does radiant heat mean in a house?
With radiant heat, the heating panels are in the flooring. There’s little heat loss because the panels are in direct contact with the floor beneath your feet. Instead of blowing the air out of vents, it heats the floor which provides a continuous leave of warmth.
Do you need HVAC with radiant floor heating?
But, can you have central air with radiant heat? It’s not surprising to find that it’s the most common cooling system used with underfloor heating, as most homes will have a central HVAC system installed before radiant floor heating.
Is radiant heat more expensive than forced air?
Even though radiant heating systems are much more expensive to install than forced-air systems are, they’re much more efficient than forced-air systems. This means the cost to operate a radiant heating system is going to be less expensive month-to-month.
Can I cool my house with radiant heat?
Radiant-floor heating systems usually do not include a provision for cooling. The same tubing that circulates hot water in winter could potentially be used to keep people cool in the summer. But while these dual systems are entirely possible, they are, at least so far, rare in U.S. homes.
How can I cool my house with radiant floors?
You can use the following AC systems to cool a home that has radiant floor heating installed:
- Split Central Air Systems.
- Radiant Cooling.
- Ductless Mini-Splits.
- Window Air Conditioning.
- Packaged HVAC Systems.
Do you need a furnace if you have radiant heat?
Because radiant systems use contact to transfer heat, they do not disrupt allergens in the home the way forced air can. Plus, the lack of forced air system means radiant heating and cooling requires a dedicated outside air system.