Radiant Heating Systems

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Radiant heating, otherwise known as thermal radiation, is simply heat that radiates out from a central source such as an old-fashioned radiator, underfloor heating, and baseboard heating. Radiant heat transfer is caused by a warmer object giving up its heat to a cooler object. Radiant heating systems function in a very different manner than traditional forced air heating systems. In contrast to a forced air heater that keep indoor spaces warm by blowing heating air around, radiant heaters generate heat internally and then radiate the heat to nearby objects.

People and objects in the heated area feel the warming effect much sooner than with a conventional heating system that operate from a centrally located main unit and a series of ducts and air vents. Radiant heat eliminates the inefficient heat loss created by rising heat, as warmth is not distributed through the air. Popular residential radiant home heating system include: in-floor heating, wall heaters, and ceiling heaters for garages and workshops. These systems are allergy-friendly, while forced air pushes allergens throughout the house. There are many ways to heat your home with a radiant heat source.

If you are in the market for a radiant heating system, call our team today for a thorough inspection and consultation. As heating experts as well as plumbers, our fully licensed and experienced technicians are uniquely qualified to handle all aspects of radiant heating installation, maintenance, and repair work with ease. 

To schedule an appointment for radiant heating installation or repair, give us a call at 403.945.8324

Hydronic heating systems use tubing to run a hot liquid, such as water or glycol, through loops of plastic piping. Usually, these tubes are installed within a concrete slab foundation or floor joists as a radiant infloor heating system, and allow the heat to radiate evenly across the entire floor surface. The are also present along base board heaters or through radiators to heat a given area. 

Using conduction, a boiler system quickly and efficiently heats the water that will eventually circulate through the pex tubing laid within your concrete slab or under your floor joists. The water heated from the boiler system must first flow into a plumbing manifold system that is connected to a thermostat that directs the correct water temperature to various zones within your home.

Pumps then circulate the heated water throughout the house through the tubing heating the floor through conduction as well as radiating heat into the room. The heated flooring surfaces then radiate the heat they acquired from the liquid circulated through the tubing into the room as well. Eventually the desired temperature is reached by the heat that radiates from the floor as well as the solid objects around the room. 

They are energy efficient radiant heating system that allow temperature control to different rooms through zoning in contrast to forced air systems that usually have only one temperature setting to heat an entire home. Hydronic heating systems are energy efficient because you are able to feel comfortable at lower temperatures than conventional heating, which in turns lowers your monthly heating expenses.

In comparison to forced-air heaters, there are numerous advantages to using radiant heating systems including:

• Delivery Of Heat Is Directional. This means that heat is delivered to where is it is required, so instead of warmed air rising to the roof, heat is projected to the occupied areas. Heated air rising to the ceiling is wasted energy.

• 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.  

All Heating systems are composed of three essential parts: a heat source, a heat distribution system, and a control system; and every hydronic heating system will require the following devices to heat a home:

• Boiler System: Heats the liquid that runs through the tubing
• Heat Conductor: For hydronic heating systems water is most typically used, however some units allow other liquids or water and antifreeze mixes. Glycol is a common antifreeze that is added to a closed loop hydronic system.
• Manifold: The plumbing manifold (aka thermostat) of a boiler system is the control centre for controlling water flow and temperature.
• Tubing: PEX tubing is the standard and universal with all hydronic systems.
• Heat Exchanger: The baseboard heater, radiator, or in-floor component that transfers heat 
• Pump: Pumps constantly keep the heated liquid in a hydronic heating system in circulation to maintain a consistent room temperature

Similar to slab heating that has tubing encased in a concrete slab, hydronic in-floor radiant heating systems use a boiler to pump heated water through a network of pipes located with the floor joist space to heat the floor surface. 

You can get a good idea of the quality of a radiant floor install by how equally spaced out each pex tube is laid out. When radiant floor heating is correctly installed there will not be any cold spots or hot spots in the room – the heat will be consistent. However, if done incorrectly you end up with cold spots in the room, warped flooring where too much heat is being released, and various other issues.

The cost of a hydronic radiant flooring system can typically be about 50% more than a forced air system. Although it is costly, the benefits are great and will save you more money every year for the life of your home.

For most radiant heating installations that are not encased in concrete, heat transfer plates are necessary. The high efficiency of radiant systems only occurs due to the low required water temperatures to satisfy the heating load, therefore the lower the required water temperature to heat your home the more efficient the system becomes.

Keeping in mind that radiant heat works by transferring heat energy from one object to another, and that water and metal are more efficient carries of heat energy than air, heat transfer plates improve the conductivity of heat out of the radiant tubing, and increase the surface area to speed up heat transfer. Without heat transfer plates, higher water temperatures are required to produce the amount of heat needed - which ultimately increases your utility bills!

When comparing quotes for in-floor heating, double-check to make sure heat transfer plates are included in your quote. Heat transfer plates are not required by code to pass an inspection, and not every contractor uses them. Trying to save a few dollars may end up costing you a lot more down the road with increased utility expenses, and repairs for troublesome areas not receiving enough heat.