Heating
System Comparison
|
Efficiency
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced
Air & Gas
Heating System |
Efficiency
at 100% of capacity
|
100%
|
60-90%
|
Efficiency
at 50% of capacity
|
100%
|
30-60%
|
Efficient
- relative thermal
|
100%
|
50-75%
|
100%
of energy is delivered to
heat element
|
YES
|
NO
|
Proper
sized capacity of "Off Peak" conditions
|
YES
|
NO
|
Maintenance
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced
Air & Gas
Heating System |
Annual
Maintenance Required - filters to clean or change
|
NO
|
YES
|
Easy
to repair
|
YES
|
NO
|
Controls
- simple and reliable
|
YES
|
VARIES
|
Cost
Savings
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced
Air & Gas
Heating System |
Expandable
- easily and econimcally
|
YES
|
NO
|
Floor
covering - Compatible
with all
|
YES
|
YES
|
Floor
space required for installation (mechanical room)
|
NO
|
YES
|
Decorating
limitations for furnishings, wall coverings, etc.
(no registers, grills, radiators)
|
NO
|
YES
|
Installation
and Operation - simple
|
YES
|
NO
|
Structural
building cost increases required to accommodate
|
NO
|
NO
|
Venting
required to outside and combustion air required
|
NO
|
YES
|
Concrete
required - regular or lightweight
|
NO
|
NO
|
Remodeling
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced
Air & Gas
Heating System |
Retrofitability
- in existing concrete or ashpalt
|
YES
|
NO
|
Retrofit
into joist space effectively
|
YES
|
NO
|
Simple
modification for remodeling
|
YES
|
NO
|
Easy
and effective for large or small areas
|
YES
|
NO
|
Minimal
floor section height increase (1/8" or less)
|
YES
|
YES
|
Health & Safety
|
Low-Voltage
Radiant Heat System
|
Forced
Air & Gas
Heating System |
Health & Medical
(doesn't distribute dust, pollen, allergyns through
the air)
|
YES
|
NO
|
Environmentally-friendly
(Greenhouse, glycol, etc.)
|
YES
|
NO
|
Safety
(no high-voltage, no hot surfaces, no combustible
gases)
|
YES
|
NO
|
A room with floor Radiant In-Floor space heat will have a very uniform temperature from the ceiling to the floor. Heating a basement floor is the ideal application for our radiant heat systems. If you've lived in a house with forced air, you can crank the heat up, but the basement floor are still chilled. Installing a floor warming system will add comfort and warmth to your lifestyle.
