Having radiant floor heating will add comfort and warmth to your home, especially during the winter months. If you are building a new home, or doing a remodel, consider radiant floor heat as an option. This is also energy efficient and can help you to save money in the long run. You can also choose to have floor heat for a room, select rooms, or the entire home. Since there are several options, investing in floor heat is a beneficial choice for your home.
Radiant Floor Heating
There are two types of radiant floor heating systems for the home. One is electric that uses electric wires. Another option is hydronic, which transfers heat through hot water tubes. Both of these are underneath the floor when they are installed. Electric floor heat is ideal for smaller areas of the home. A hydronic system is best for a larger floor or even the entire home. Depending on how large of an area you are looking to heat, either can be a good option for your home. The heat will rise from the floor, which helps to keep your toes warm instantly. Forced heating system will make it difficult to warm the floor and your toes.
All floorings can be used with heated floors, but some will work more efficiently than others. If the floors are ceramic tile, concrete, or stone, they will have more thermal conducting properties. They can conduct, transfer, and hold the heat effectively at the warm and comfortable temperatures. Floors that are solid wood can expand and shrink because of the temperatures. With the fluctuating temperatures, this can lead to unsightly gaps in the floor over time. When the floors are plastic laminate or vinyl, you can notice some temperature limitations with it. Also remember that if you have carpet, this will drastically reduce the heat flow from the floor.
