You may have heard about new homes built with in-floor radiant heating systems rather than going with either a standard forced-air furnace system or a boiler that sends heat into the rooms through conventional methods like radiators and baseboard heaters. In-floor radiant heating is an option for home comfort that continues to grow in popularity, and we often field questions about it from our customers. Most of these questions boil down to, “Are these things really that great?”

• Energy efficiency: Water is a more effective heat transference medium than air. It retains heat for longer and doesn’t lose it as fast to the outside. This makes in-floor heating (as well as any type of hydronic system) more energy efficient and less costly to run.
• Fast and even heat distribution: A furnace blows out heated air from it vents, which then gathers at the top of the room. It takes a long time for the heat to spread through the room, and it can leave cold spots. But when you have an in-floor system, the heat radiates from below your feet to warm you rapidly and travel evenly through the space.
• Better comfort: In-floor radiant heating simply feels nicer than using a forced air furnace. It has the sensation of being outside on a sunny summer day. There are few nicer feelings on a cold winter morning than to place your feet onto a warm floor.
• Long service life: There are only a small number of moving parts in a radiant heating system, and that means a longer lifespan for the heater.