Benefits Of Electric Radiant Floor Heating

What Is Radiant Heating?

Radiant heating is a form of a central heating technique that tries to achieve ambient climate control for indoors, primarily through the scientific phenomena of thermal conduction and radiation, by conducting heat from under the floor. This is a deviation from the more widely used technique of convection, which is based on the natural movement of hot and cold air. The under floor heating technique requires the heat to be generated by an external source and circulated under the floor. The heating medium can be water, air, electricity, or even fire. The concept is also called radiant heating, as it is based on the principal of radiation of heat.

History Of Under Floor Heating

Under floor heating has been used since the ancient times, such as the Indus valley and Roman civilizations, when wood was burned to create a flow of hot air, and this was passed through vents under the floor. The heating effect of the hot air was conducted through the floors above these vents, thus providing heating during colder days.

Electric Floor Heating

One of the most effectively used floor heating systems is electrical. These types of electric radiant floor heating systems use electrical conductive cables, which are laid under the floor. Once electricity is passed through it, heat is generated, which is similar to the heating element in a heater, toaster, or electric kettle. Normally, the heating cable used is a continuous wire laid in a particular pattern on an insulation board so as to provide optimum heating on the entire floor. Nowadays, the electrical heating floor is laid out using predesigned and preformed heating elements, which are assembled on the spot. The floor can be divided into a number of heating zones for a systematic control of the heating process. Each zone has thermostat installed to independently control the ambient floor temperatures. The availability of electrical methods of under floor heating makes boilers and radiators redundant. The electrical source can be used as the only source for heating, and zone heating also allows careful planning of the heating system throughout the built-up areas.

Benefits Of Electric Floor Heating

The electrical radiant heating technique has been greatly in demand because of its immediate tangible benefits. The following are some of the benefits of electric radiant floor heating using electrical means:

• Energy Efficient system
• Comfortable Heating
• Healthy Heating
• Noiseless Operation

Energy Efficient System

The use of electricity as a medium in heating systems saves energy consumption. Though there has been a lot of debate on the amount of energy saving, various studies in the area of radiant floor heating put energy consumption at least 50-10 percent lesser than the other heating methods and systems.

In the case of radiant heating systems, almost half of the energy generated is emitted as low temperature heat, which radiates into the room to slowly heat the air. The increase in temperature makes one feel warmer in the room by reducing the heat loss from one's own body. This heating of the room and lowering of the ambient air temperature by slowly radiating heat from the floor make this process very efficient.

The savings on energy vary, as it depends on the type of insulation used in the floor and room walls, the pattern of usage of the system, and, of course, on the occupant's personal needs. Efficiency also depends on the cost of the electrical source. In all circumstances, a general rule of the thumb is applied to calculate savings, which are about 10-15 percent that of the normal.

Comfortable Heating

The use of under floor heating enables the spreading of the heat over a wide area on the floor, resulting in the emission of heat in the form of a low temperature heat radiation, which slowly increases the ambient air temperature. The heating of the surrounding air is slow. Radiant heat gives a feeling of soft warmth and heats evenly across the zones created in the building, reducing heat loss from bodies without overheating the surrounding air.

Healthy Heating

Radiant heat is healthy, as the heating is under the floor and the heat is spread evenly across the floor. This minimizes the flow of dust and allergen, chemicals, odors, or even fumes, thus providing minimal or no pollution.

Noiseless operation

The electric radiant heating system is generally very quiet and does not make noises like other heating systems, such as the radiator.