Energy efficiency has always been one of the key reasons for building a home with radiant heat. Given the rapidly escalating cost of energy, the efficiency of radiant has never been more important.
One of the downsides to forced-air heating is “parasitic loss” – a term that refers to energy loss due to inherent inefficiencies in a system. One example of this is duct work. Hot air blows through ducts, and some of that heat is absorbed through the walls of the ducts and released into unheated areas of the house, such as crawl spaces. Some homes with older types of ducting often have small cracks and holes in the ductwork, allowing heat to escape. So, the system is operating as it should, but the inherent flaws in the design of the system limit its efficiency.
Another example of parasitic loss occurs when too much air is pumped into a room with limited air flow. Air pressure in that room builds and actually weakens weather stripping on window and door frames.
One other shortcoming with forced air systems are the blowers. Not only are they loud, but they require 9x more electricity to operate than the pumps in a radiant system.
In contrast, radiant heat is very efficient. And Warmboard is the most energy efficient product in the industry. Lower water temperatures and faster response times ensure you are always comfortable, and that the heat you need goes where you want, when you want it.