When prospective home buyers are shopping for a new home, one of the top selling points is the type of heating system that is installed in the home. Is it natural gas, propane or electric heat in the form of wall-mounted radiators? The majority of today’s homes have a central system that utilizes natural gas or propane. Most people don’t even think about another type of heating system – one that has existed since the days of the Roman Empire – but has only recently been gaining widespread popularity. It is radiant floor heating, which produces comfortable warmth that radiates upwards from the warm floor.

It’s a shame that more people haven’t heard about radiant floor heat. A radiant heating system installed in the floor is by far the most comfortable way to heat a home.

Just about every article I have ever read on radiant heating touts the efficiency of these systems, but I wasn’t fully convinced until I installed an under-floor heating system in my home. While radiant heating systems are generally more efficient than forced air systems (more on that in a bit), the advantage I want to focus on is the enhanced comfort level that you will enjoy. I installed my radiant floor heating system in a home I built in the 90s, and I cannot overstate the supreme level of comfort that these systems provide. It seems that when your feet are warm you feel warm all over.

So, just how are floors heated? There are two primary methods used today. One is electric radiant systems where heat cable is used to provide the heat; the other is hydronic systems, which circulate heated water under the floor.

I used the hydronic radiant heating system for my home. Polybutylene tubing was attached to wire remesh and then the concrete slab was poured over the wire and tubing. A boiler heated the water, which was then circulated by a pump through the tubing installed under the floor.

While there are varying types of electric radiant heating systems, most utilize a wiring grid that is laid on the sub-floor and then the finished flooring is installed over the heating cable. (Heat cable is available in rolls as well as in pre-spaced woven mats, making installation quick and simple.)

Ceramic tile is a common material for radiant heat systems as it has a low R value. (R value describes the insulating properties of a material. It is a measure of how well the material resists the flow of heat through it, and combines the thermal conductivity and thickness into one term.) It does not isolate the heat from being transmitted through to the room. Electric floor heating systems are generally more efficient than forced air systems because the heat radiates upwards from the floor rather than rising quickly to the top of the room. Radiant heat systems also operate silently and don’t blow dust and allergens into the air.

The advantages of radiant heat are many, but the bottom line is comfort. You’re certain to feel more comfortable with a radiant system than you will with a forced air system.

Spread the word. Donate your slippers to Goodwill and enjoy the enhanced comfort level that radiant floor heating systems provide.