Boiler:

This is a somewhat antiquated term in the context of radiant heat because the water temperature supplied by a “boiler” to a radiant system should never exceed 180° F. Steam is not used and therefore no water need ever be boiled. Modern boilers are in essence, on demand water heaters usually fired by gas, fuel oil, electricity or wood.

Energy Efficiency:

The use of less fuel to make your home comfortably warm. Warmboard is an excellent example of an energy efficient product because it lowers the temperature of the air near the ceiling, eliminates air drafts, and warms you more directly through radiant heat transfer. Because Warmboard uses high conductivity aluminum to transfer heat, it works efficiently with very low supply water temperatures.

Fast Response:

There is always a time delay between when a thermostat calls for heat and when any heating system responds to that need. In traditional slab based radiant systems this can take hours. Warmboard is a fast response system because it responds to small temperature changes in minutes and can bring your home up to temperature from a cold start in an hour or two.

Geo Thermal:

The earth itself can be a source of heat. Geo Thermal appliances are used in conjunction with a closed tubing loop that is installed underground. This type of alternative energy pulls heat from the earth in the form of water and compresses it to higher temperatures. This water is then used in your Warmboard hydronic radiant heat system.

High Mass:

High mass refers to systems that use various heavy (high mass) materials such as concrete to store heat. High mass is a form of passive control for a heating system that can be very effective when use with solar heating. These systems can store solar heat during the day when you may need very little heat and give off their heat at night when more heat is needed. High mass systems do not produce heat; they merely cause a delay between when heat is put into a radiant panel and when it comes out. These tend to use energy inefficiently because they routinely produce too little heat at times and too much heat at other times wasting both fuel and providing poor comfort.

Hydronic:

Any form of hot water based heating system is referred to as hydronic.

ICC:

The International Code Council is the largest and most respected organization in charge of regulating the building industry. They are responsible for the International Building Code (IBC). Their evaluation service (ICC-ES) evaluates and certifies the safety and effectiveness of building materials.

Loops:

Hydronic radiant systems heat a home by circulating hot water through tubing placed in evenly spaced layouts under the finished floor of the home. There are limits to the length of a tube that water can be efficiently pumped through. Warmboard uses1/2″ I.D. tubing. It is accepted hydronic practice to limit the length of any single circuit of 1/2″ tubing to less than 350 feet. Each of these circuits is called a loop. Most homes will have their floor area heated by a varying number these loops.

Low Mass:

Low mass refers to system where the weight of panel material is specifically reduced in order to speed up the reaction time between when heat is called for and when it is delivered. A low mass radiant floor heating system has performance qualities that include fast response time, easy to control room temperatures, and lower design water temperatures.

Manifold:

A junction at which various tubing loops meet. Made of brass, copper, or plastic with a header and several ports to interface with pex tubing. Designed to install in a closet wall, between the studs, with an access door.

PEX Tubing:

PEX is an acronym for crosslinked polyethylene. PE refers to polyethylene, and the X refers to the crosslinking across its molecular chains. This type of tubing is used for domestic plumbing and radiant floor heating. Used since 1973, with many billions of feet installed, it is proven to be the most durable and reliable tubing in the world.

Radiant Heat:

A heat system which uses objects (the largest of which is usually the floor) to heat your home. The air in the room is warmed when it comes into contact with the warmed objects. Heat loss is reduced and the radiant heat remains in the lower part of the room, warmer near feet level and slightly less so at head level creating the perfect climate for comfort.

Radiant Subfloor:

A unique term to Warmboard, Inc. Warmboard is the only radiant panel that is also a structural subfloor.

Stratification:

A term referring to the uneven heat distribution of most forced air systems. Hot air is blown around your living space creating pockets of warm, then colder air. Hot air also tends to collect near the ceiling where it is needed the least.

WARM List:

Warmboard’s list of approved and recommended members. Consult this list to help you find a qualified contractor, architect or hydronic installer in your area.

Zones:

Any room or area in a radiant heat home can be zoned by using a separate tubing loop and manifold to control the heat of the individual room or area. This is convenient for rooms that have different floor coverings or are not used as often as other rooms. Warmboard’s design department will design the layout of your system incorporating as many zones as you need.