We're sharing questions & answers from the industry pros at the USGBC's Green Home Guide!
Q: Anybody install radiant heating for the kitchen or bathroom floor? Really hard to find information about cost savings and how radiant heating can impact your house bill. Is it worth it? Can it also cool your home? How much did it cost and where can I find the product?
Sent by Justin
Answered by: Polly Osborne, AIA, LEED AP, Polly Osborne Architects, Los Angeles, CA
Radiant floors are usually less expensive to operate than conventional forced air because heat isn't lost through the ducts. The heat is transferred directly from the floor to you. The reason it is hard to find direct information on how efficient radiant heating actually is is because it can vary, depending on which type of system you have and other environmental and materials factors, such as the ventilation in the room and what materials the floors are made of.
The most efficient systems on the market are hydronic systems. They carry heated water from a boiler through pipes in the floor. There are some very efficient boilers on the market these days and the system can also be tied into solar hot water systems.
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We put in electric heating mats under our tile when we added our master bath. I don't quite know if it counts as "radiant" heating, but it is one of the most worthwhile projects we did.
It was totally DIY-able if you're reasonably handy and understand wiring.
Warm tile floors on a cold morning is just heavenly.
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Electric mats are definitely considered radiant heating. Installation for this method is typically less expensive than hydronic radiant heating and is best for small spaces such as bathrooms and mudrooms. It can be expensive to run depending on your electric rates, and it is best to use hydronic radiant heating for larger rooms and when heating entire levels.
Hydronic radiant heating is usually more expensive to install than forced air heating, but it is a much more efficient system to run and is more comfortable to the occupants of the space.
A good technique (depending on the size of your home) would be to have your basement and first floor on hydronic radiant heat and forced air cooling (or no cooling at all) and then have your 2nd floor on forced air heat and cooling. This is a very efficient system and middle of the road price wise.
It is best to use radiant heat in conjunction with a tile or concrete flooring, but hardwood will work as well - carpet is less efficient in conducting the heat.
Radiant heating can also benefit from solar thermal panels, which can pre-heat the water via a heat exchanger - it's a very good combination!
Radiant heating, regardless of electric or hydronic, works for new homes as well as renovation and retrofits. There are many installation options depending on your specific home's situation.
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