Radiant Floor Heating Systems
- Radiant floor heating system installed by Energetechs
Radiant floor heating (sometimes called hydronic floor heating or in-floor heating) is widely thought to be the most energy efficient form of heating for homes. This is not necessarily true. The efficiency of any home’s heating system has more to do with the efficiency of the furnace (or boiler) and the quality of the installation (ductwork, pipework, register, radiators, etc.) than with the type of heat delivery system. Radiant floor heating does have the advantage in some situations of being quiet and cozy (warm under foot) but it also has the disadvantages of being unable to filter the air in the house, and making it difficult to move heat from one area (e.g. near a wood stove) to the rest of the house. So, as with everything we do, we look at each situation differently using a whole “House-as-a-system” approach to determine whether radiant in-floor heating is right for you.
Hot Water Heating
Radiant in-floor or underfloor heating systems can be combined with a variety of extremely energy efficient technologies such as tankless (on-demand) water heaters, solar water heating panels, or geothermal heat pumps. Any of these systems can be exceptionally efficient and save a great deal of energy. However, regardless of the type of water heater used, it is vital to focus on reducing the heating requirements of the home FIRST and then to properly size the system to the actual requirements of the house. This is where the maximum energy savings can be realized. Not only is there a minimum amount of wasted heat but, with the system sized properly it can operate at its maximum efficiency.
Radiant Floor Heat or Baseboard Heating
Once it has been determined that hot water heat makes the most sense for a particular home, the next question is whether to use radiant hot water heating pipes under the floor (electric radiant heat pads can also be an option for small spaces however they tend to be more expensive to run than hot water heating) or hot water baseboard heaters. This decision can be influenced by many factors including: what type of finished floors will be in the house; how quickly the heating system needs to respond to changes in temperature or thermostat settings; accessibility for running heat pipes; and the amount of insulation under the floor. The latter is one factor that can severely reduce the efficiency of an in-floor heating system. If there is inadequate insulation under the floor there will be too much heat lost to the ground or air and the overall performance of the system will be compromised. Our expert staff understand the complexities of these decisions and can help guide you to the right system for your individual needs.
- Solar Water Heating Panels on a house near Missoula
Solar Water Heating Panels
Once a home’s energy requirements have been minimized with the careful installation of excellent insulation, air-sealing, windows, etc., and it has been determined that some form of hot water heating system is appropriate (whether it is radiant flooring or baseboard heating), it is important to consider the option of pre-heating the water using solar hot water heating panels. Sometimes called Solar Thermal Panels (as opposed to solar electric panels) these can dramatically improve the overall energy savings of a hot-water heating system. Typically the solar panels are used to preheat water in a storage tank (like a large domestic hot water tank). Then, when the home’s thermostat calls for heat, the preheated water is run through a high-efficiency gas or electric water heater to bring it up to the temperature required to heat the house. This is often achieved by the use of an instantaneous (on-demand) tankless gas water heater (up to 98% efficient) or with an electric ground source (geothermal) heat pump. This decision is influenced by the relative cost of the available fuel source(s) and the installed cost of the system. Geothermal heat pumps tend to be VERY expensive to install but can make economic sense in locations where natural gas is not available, especially as some utility providers offer significant rebates and incentives for the installing a ground source heat pump.
Hot Water vs Forced-air Heating
This is a BIG question and one which our team will be happy to help you find the right answer for you. For many people it comes down to a question of cost, however there is much more to be considered. Some people really like the feeling of radiant floor heat, others really like the fact that a forced-air heating system has the ability to filter the air in the home. There is very little difference in the energy efficiency of either system if they are both installed correctly. Remembering that an energy efficient home has to be significantly air-tight and therefore requires some form of Heat (or Energy) Recovery Ventilation, it can sometimes be easier to combine some of the ductwork for the ventilation system with the ductwork for a forced-air heating system, but even this is not always the case.
As you will have gathered by now, the decisions about whether to use hot-water vs forced-air heat, radiant floors vs baseboard heaters, on-demand gas vs electric boiler, solar pre-heat, etc., etc,. can be complicated and technical. The good news is that we are here to help and with many years of experience with all of the above we can guide you through the maze to the heating system that makes the most sense for your home. Because we don’t just install one type of heating system, we will help you to consider ALL of the options rather than pushing you towards a one-size-fits-all solution. So please call us for a free consultation today.
We invite you to give us a call or send us an email via the “Contact Us” page above.
CONTACT US – Energetechs, Inc., – ph.
