Radiant floor heating is one of the oldest methods of heating a home. It dates back thousands of years to ancient Korea where heat from a fireplace was funneled through flues built into the masonry of a dwelling and conducted through stone flooring.

Today, radiant heating remains one of the most efficient and cost effective home heating methods available, offering a number of advantages, including comfort and minimal maintenance. The two most commonly used types are:

Electric Radiant Heating  in which electric cables or electrically conductive plastic mats are laid in a pattern beneath the floor.

Hydronic Radiant Heating in which water heated from a boiler is pumped through tubing laid in a pattern beneath the floor.

Pump Products offers an extensive selection of pumps designed for hydronic radiant heat circulation including the Grundfos UPS Series, the Armstrong Astro Series, Taco’s 00R Radiant Pumps and Bell & Gosset’s NRF Series pumps.

Watch Pump Products’ Video Review of the Grundfos UPS15-58FC Circulator

Wondering if radiant underfloor heating is right for you? Our Product Experts have compiled this short list of pros and cons to help you decide:

Benefits of Radiant Underfloor Heating

Energy Efficiency  Radiant heat warms humans and objects rather than the air, ceiling and walls, generating the same level of comfort achieved with conventional heating systems at a lower temperature, using less energy. For hydronic heating, lower boiler temperature requirements than one would need for baseboard heating increase boiler life and provide the option to use hot water heated by solar energy.

Zone Control  Having an individual thermostatic control for every room of a house is key in saving energy. It allows you to set different temperature settings for each room without heating a space that is not in use.

Comfort  In forced-air systems, heated air rises up to the ceiling, where it cools. “A radiant heating system heats from the floor up,” says Product Expert Fred Hettinger.  “Heat starts low and rises by itself. You’re more comfortable and get more even heat.”

Silence  There is no airflow through ducts as is the case in forced-air heating systems, and there is no gurgling and little to no expansion and contraction creaking as is often the case with baseboard radiators.

Cleanliness  There is minimal air movement associated with radiant systems so there is less dust than with circulated air systems.

Low Maintenance  Radiant heat does not require room humidification. It also limits mold and mildew, which can be problematic in damp climates.

Drawbacks of Radiant Underfloor Heating

Expense  Retrofitting a water piping system can get expensive in an older home with some systems costing up to 50% more for installing a hydronic radiant floor heating system than for a conventional forced-air system. Underfloor radiant systems are often more economical for new homes.

Design Constraints  Ceramic tile is the most common and effective floor covering for radiant floor heating, but thin carpeting and wood can also be used. Most radiant heating systems should not be used with conventional nail down hardwood flooring as a nail or staple through one of the wires or pipes could damage the entire system.  In addition, future renovations can become complicated as pipe layouts may interfere with punching holes in floors or walls.

Lag Time  Radiant heat takes time to make it’s way through flooring. This can result in slow warming in homes where there are no other heating sources and overheating in homes where there are.

All things considered, a well-operated radiant heating system with a programmable thermostat can save a homeowner hundreds of dollars on home heating bills each year and many states offer financial incentives for choosing these kinds of systems. If you’re building a small home, radiant underfloor heating could be right for you.

Browse our extensive inventory of circulator pump models, pump repair parts and pump accessories at www.pumpproducts.com or speak to one of our Product Experts at 1-800-429-0800.

Pump Products’ extensive inventory enables us to offer next-day delivery anywhere in the U.S. Enter coupon code 5dollars when you check out to receive $5.00 off of any purchase over $100.00. Offer valid until November 1st 2014, with 1 time use per customer.