For it's simplicity, comfort, and "green" status, radiant heating is a growing trend in home building.
Radiant heating is the process by which a room's temperature is controlled using warm (or cold) water flowing through plastic tubing. The tubes are typically installed under the room's flooring, but are also applied in walls and ceilings on occasion.
Radiant heating works by heating the floors of a room which then heats the mass of the room. Unlike air duct systems, the heat stays lower in the room and temperature remains constant throughout.
There are other reasons why homeowners and builders are moving towards radiant heat, too:
- Dust- and mold-circulating air ducts can be eliminated making the home more allergen-free
- Without ductwork, heating and cooling is much more quiet
- Heating bills are lower by up to 20 percent because the water in the pipes doesn't need to be as hot as the water in a traditional radiator
That said, installing radiant heating can be expensive.
Radiant heating is recommended for construction projects in which rooms are completely gutted, or for a new room additions to a home, or for new homes built from scratch.
Homeowners wanting to retrofit a room (or rooms) for radiant heating should talk to an experienced contractor for opinions and cost comparisons.
Source
Perks of Radiant Heating
Leslie Banker
REALTOR.org
http://www.realtor.org/RMOArch.nsf/pages/ArchCoach200802?OpenDocument
(Image courtesy: Moser, Inc)
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