How well does Radiant Floor heat work?

Radiant Floor heat is a highly efficient way to heat a house. It increases comfort while reducing energy costs. There are two types of in-floor heating: 
Electric & Hydronic (hot water). 
​In an electric setup, the warmth is supplied by electric wires. In a hydronic setup, the warmth is supplied by hot-water tubes, both buried underneath the floor. As the heat rises from below the floor, they warm up and radiate a steady heat. The air temperature remains relatively constant which keeps you comfortable because the surrounding surfaces aren't stealing warmth from your body.

How does it differ from conventional heating?

A conventional forced-air heating system blows heat out of the registers when you turn it on. Which rises to the top of the room, where it quickly blanket heats the room and then cools as it drops. It quickly takes you to whatever temperature you have it set at and then shuts off. The air in the room becomes uneven with your head being warm and your feet frozen. Those ups and downs are absent with radiant in-floor heat. The warm air still continues to rise, but it does so evenly over the entire floor which keeps the cool air closer to the ceiling.

Hydronic - Hot water systems

This is the most popular and cost effective way to heat an entire house. Hydronic systems circulate water from your water heater through loops of 1/2-inch polyethylene tubing (as shown in the picture). These flexible tubes can be installed through a variety of ways in your home:

- on top of the subfloor in grooved panels or snap-in grids
- clipped ­into aluminum strips on the underside of the floor
- embedded in poured concrete (the most common)
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​Once the system is in place, you can cover it with most types of finished flooring if you choose, including hardwood and tile. 

Your ​Hydronic system can be up to 30 percent more energy efficient than conventional heating, depending on how well insulated your house is. It's best to install when you are building a new home versus trying to install them with an already built home, as the tubes can be buried in concrete slab. However, it is still possible to install on top of slab concrete and underneath flooring for the same feel.
Remember, there's no comparison when it comes to comfort because radiant always wins, feet down.

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