Radiant Heating

There are two main types of in-floor radiant systems Electric resistive and Hydronic . Hydronic radiant infloor , which consists of a series of tubes carrying warm water, is idealy compatible with GeoThermal and SolarThermal technologies optimized for direct use of lower operating temperatures

Benefits of hydronic radiant heating systems:

• Quiet, even heat since heat is generated from the floor up
• Easy to maintain (no filters to change)
• Versatile (can be installed in new construction or retrofitted)
• Can be zoned (install throughout the home, or only in a few areas)
• Saves space with no ductworkInvisible (no vents or cold air returns)
• Energy-efficient (heat close to the floor, especially in rooms with high ceilings)
• Rooms retain heat longer

Disadvantages of hydronic radiant systems:

• Installation cost is high both from labor and material costs
• No cooling in most residential situations requiring addition of ductwork for air conditioning

Under the Sub-floor vs Over the Sub-floor

For new construction and retrofit situations we recommend over the sub-floor or part of the sub-floor installation methods as with the Warmboard product. The less thermal resistance between the radiant system and the floor surface the better because the system can run cooler for the same floor surface temperature. Also putting the hydronic tubing over the sub-floor means that the sub-floor acts as a thermal resistance downward that combined with insulation in the joist cavities directs the heat upward into the room it was intended for.

Thermal Mass

The advantage of a high thermal mass such as a concrete slab is that it will remain at a constant temperature for a long time. However that means it also changes temperature slowly when you need it to. Rather than high thermal mass we prefer controlled thermal mass.

Radiant Controls

A radiant floor is only as good as the flow control of fluid through the tubing. We combine a stainless steel storage tank in either GeoThermal , SolarThermal or combination systems together with a modular control approach that minimizes custom pipe work and maximizes extendibility.