Radiant heating, also known as thermal radiation, efficiently warms spaces by emitting heat from a central source, such as underfloor systems, wall panels, or baseboard heaters. Unlike traditional forced-air systems that circulate warm air, radiant heating transfers heat directly to people and objects, providing immediate comfort and reducing energy loss.
Common radiant heating options installed in Airdrie and Calgary homes include in-floor heating, wall-mounted panels, and ceiling heaters—the latter being ideal for garages and workshops. These systems are also allergy-friendly, as they don't circulate dust or allergens.
Compared to forced-air heaters, radiant heating systems offer numerous advantages, including:
- Directional Heat Delivery: Heat is directed to occupied areas, minimizing energy waste.
- Quick Warm Up Times: Generally, the heaters get to full heat output within a minute or two, and the experienced effect is as quick. It then takes a little longer for the surfaces in range to warm up.
- Multiple Heating Zones: Most forced air heated homes have a single thermostat, and therefore a single zone. This is due to the fact that forced air systems are inherently difficult, and expensive, to zone. Radiant heated homes have multiple zones because they are easy and inexpensive to create. This allows you turn the heat off in a vacant guest room, or turn down rooms for certain times of the day when they are unoccupied.
- Efficient In Large Spaces: Large office buildings only require specific areas to heated. With radiant heating, you can easily have several different zoning areas and only heat particular zones if and when required. In contrast, forced-air heating systems require that all the air, in the entire building, needs to be heated to the temperature desired in order to warm the one or few areas where the warmth is required.
- A Reliable Source of Heating for Outdoors: Forced air heating relies on containment of heated air so by default does not work outside. Radiant heating does work, as long as the heaters are suited to the external environment and sized appropriately it will be a workable option. Radiant heating is often used for warming spectators at hockey areas.
- Allergen Friendly: One of the reasons people like radiant heating so much is because it doesn’t spread dust, dirt, and allergens through vents in the home. Instead, the device has the heat rise from the floor to heat the room above without forcing or blowing any air.
- Low maintenance – Radiant heating systems have fewer moving parts and don’t require duct cleaning or filter replacements like forced-air systems.
- Silent operation – These systems produce no noise during operation, unlike the hum and blow of traditional HVAC systems.
If you're considering a radiant heating system in Calgary or Airdrie, contact our licensed technicians for a comprehensive consultation. We specialize in the installation, maintenance, and repair of hydronic heating systems.
Contact us today at 403.945.8324 to schedule your radiant heating consultation.