Is Radiant Floor Heating Right for Your Cleveland Home

If you’ve been considering new heating options for your new or retrofitted Cleveland home, you might want to give radiant floor heating a second thought. Radiant heating is an energy-efficient and comfortable home heating method that’s been gaining popularity in recent years.

Radiant heat is provided through panels that are heated in different ways – through air or water channels, or with electric heating elements. Utilizing water and electricity is the most common strategy for radiant heating.

In these systems, channels are built into, or underneath, the floor, carrying heat energy, either from heated water or electric heating elements. Electric systems are less expensive to install, but are more expensive to operate than water-based, or hydronic, radiant heating systems.

Why Choose Radiant Heating?

Here are some basic benefits of radiant floor heating:

• Since these systems have no vents, registers or baseboards, where you place furniture and carpeting will not be an issue.
• Heat is distributed in a more balanced fashion, rising from the floor and heating objects, as well as the air. Less heat is lost this way.
• Hydronic radiant systems are quite energy efficient with only a small amount of electricity required to heat the water. And with no ductwork involved, radiant floor heating systems don’t experience the same energy loss that’s common in ducted systems.

As with all systems, there are a couple drawbacks of radiant heating:

• Air conditioning can be a challenge since radiant systems are mainly used for heating. You may need to consider A/C alternatives, such as a ductless mini-split or room air conditioners, unless your radiant water system is one that can be used to both cool and heat.
• Many contractors aren’t experienced in installing radiant floor heating systems. You’ll want to quiz the company closely to make sure they know what they’re doing.
• These systems can be more expensive than typical forced-air heating systems, though they will pay off eventually in lower heating bills.

To discuss a radiant floor heating system for your Cleveland home with a knowledgeable local contractor, please contact Stack Heating & Cooling.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about radiant floor heating and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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