Radiant heating has recently become a popular heating solution for many homeowners. But what you may not know is that it has been around for decades as it started as a hot air heating system in the ancient times of the Roman Empire. It functioned by heating the air in a cavity under the floor, which would then heat the room above. The heat would be generated by fire or furnace, which would be fed with firewood regularly to maintain the heat.

However, the system has since evolved. Today, we have two primary types of radiant heated flooring systems. One is electric, and the other is a hydronic heated flooring system. Let’s look at how they work.

Hydronic heated flooring

Hydronic heated floor utilizes a boiler that pumps heated water via plastic tubings installed under the floor to deliver even heat in the room above. Hydronic heated flooring is easy and cost-effective to install in homes that already have a boiler in place. It is also ideal for newly constructed homes because it is easy and inexpensive to install before installing the drywall and floors.

If your home doesn’t have a boiler, it can be an expensive option because you must buy and install one. Generally, hydronic heated flooring is not the best option for remodeling because it requires extensive construction to facilitate the installation. Repair is also a challenge because it can be hard to locate the break when you experience a leak.

Electric heated flooring

Electric underfloor heating systems are effective, energy-efficient, and maintain the warm for hours. An electric floor heating system comes in the form of a heating cable laid in a serpentine pattern under the floor and radiates the heat to the room above. You can control the heating system with a thermostat or timer to optimize energy efficiency and get extra warmth when needed, thanks to its quick heat-up time.

Unlike heated hydronic flooring, electric heated flooring is suitable for remodeling projects as long as you engage an experienced floor heating company such as Heavenly heat. The only thing the installers need access to is the subfloor. If you want to replace the floor in a room, this is the best time to install an electric heating system because you can lay the new flooring on top.

The best thing about electric radiant heating systems is that it is easy to locate a break in a cable in case of any error. The technician can scan the floor with a thermographic camera to find the break and fix the problem. Otherwise, you would have to remove the entire flooring to locate the break, wasting a lot of flooring material and funds.

Another perk of electric underfloor heating is that it is affordable. It can be your primary source of heat in your home or serve as a supplementary heat source for colder rooms such as the bathroom. It also comes in different types to suit various floor types.

conclusion

To avoid any problems in the future, it is best to have your underfloor heating system installed by an experienced technician. The best thing about choosing a professional company is that you also get access to high-quality heating products.