Radiant Heat verses Forced Air
A room with floor Radiant In-Floor space heat will have a very uniform temperature from the ceiling to the floor. Heating a basement floor is the ideal application for our radiant heat systems. If you've lived in a house with forced air, you can crank the heat up, but the basement floor are still chilled. Installing a floor warming system will add comfort and warmth to your lifestyle.
A room heated with a forced air furnace will have cold floors and the warmest
air at the ceiling. Although the air may be heated, the floors will be
chilled and uncomfortable, especially for children playing on the floor.
Below is an in-depth comparison of our radiant heat systems vs. forced
air and gas systems.
Heating
System Comparison
|
Efficiency
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced Air & Gas
Heating System |
Efficiency
at 100% of capacity
|
100%
|
60-90%
|
Efficiency
at 50% of capacity
|
100%
|
30-60%
|
Efficient -
relative thermal
|
100%
|
50-75%
|
100% of energy
is delivered to
heat element
|
YES
|
NO
|
Proper sized
capacity of "Off Peak" conditions
|
YES
|
NO
|
Maintenance
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced Air & Gas
Heating System |
Annual Maintenance
Required - filters to clean or change
|
NO
|
YES
|
Easy to repair
|
YES
|
NO
|
Controls -
simple and reliable
|
YES
|
VARIES
|
Cost
Savings
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced Air & Gas
Heating System |
Expandable
- easily and econimcally
|
YES
|
NO
|
Floor covering
- Compatible
with all
|
YES
|
YES
|
Floor space
required for installation (mechanical room)
|
NO
|
YES
|
Decorating
limitations for furnishings, wall coverings, etc. (no registers,
grills, radiators)
|
NO
|
YES
|
Installation
and Operation - simple
|
YES
|
NO
|
Structural
building cost increases required to accommodate
|
NO
|
NO
|
Venting required
to outside and combustion air required
|
NO
|
YES
|
Concrete required
- regular or lightweight
|
NO
|
NO
|
Remodeling
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced Air & Gas
Heating System |
Retrofitability
- in existing concrete or ashpalt
|
YES
|
NO
|
Retrofit into
joist space effectively
|
YES
|
NO
|
Simple modification
for remodeling
|
YES
|
NO
|
Easy and effective
for large or small areas
|
YES
|
NO
|
Minimal floor
section height increase (1/8" or less)
|
YES
|
YES
|
Health & Safety
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced Air & Gas
Heating System |
Health & Medical
(doesn't distribute dust, pollen, allergyns through the air)
|
YES
|
NO
|
Environmentally-friendly
(Greenhouse, glycol, etc.)
|
YES
|
NO
|
Safety (no
high-voltage, no hot surfaces, no combustible gases)
|
YES
|
NO
|
