Radiant Heating System

Heat your Home in the Most Comfortable and Efficient Way

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What is a Radiant heating system?

It is a type of heating system that warms objects directly, rather than warming the air. This makes them more efficient and comfortable than traditional forced-air heating systems.

They work by heating a surface, such as the floor, ceiling or walls. The heat from the surface is then radiated into the room, warming the objects and people in the room. 

Learn more about the benefits of radiant heat.

living room night with radiant heating system

Best location for a radiant heat system?

The best location for a radiant heating system will depend on the type of system and the specific needs of your home.

  • Floors: Radiant underfloor heating is the most common type of radiant heating system. It is installed in the subfloor or concrete slab and provides a comfortable and even heat distribution throughout the room.
  • Walls: Radiant wall heating is less common than radiant floor heating, but it can be a good option for smaller spaces , rooms with limited floor space, or homes where the existing flooring needs to remain untouched. Radiant wall heating is installed in the walls and heats the room by radiating heat from the walls.
  • Ceilings: Radiant ceiling heating is the least common type of radiant heating system. It is installed in the ceiling and heats the room by radiating heat from the ceiling.

Types of Radiant Floor Heating Systems

The most common installation for these heating systems is in-floor. There are two main types of radiant floor heating systems: hydronic and electric.

  • Hydronic radiant floor heating systems use hot water to heat the floor. Hot water is circulated through tubes that are embedded in the concrete slab or subfloor. 
  • Electric radiant floor heating systems use electric cables to heat the floor. Electric cables generate heat when an electric current is passed through them. 

Hydronic vs Electric floor heating systems

Both hydronic and electric heating systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. The best type of heating for your home depends on your individual needs and budget. If you are looking for the most efficient and comfortable radiant heating system, hydronic is the way to go for whole homes or large spaces.

Learn more about it this blog article.

How does a Radiant Heating System work?

This video shows how a hydronic radiant heating system works by heating the floor when a thermostat senses the drop in temperature. The heat from the floor warms the objects and people in the room, creating a more comfortable and even heating experience. The components on the system work together to keep the whole home heated by distributing the right temperature on each room.

Components of a Radiant Heating System

The components of a radiant heating system change depending on the type of system, but most systems include the following components:

  • Heat source: The heat source is the device that heats the water or electric cables used to heat the radiant heating system. Common heat sources for radiant heating systems include boilers, water heaters, and geothermal heat pumps. 
  • Tubing or cables: The tubing or cables carry the heat from the heat source to the system. PEX tubing is usually used in hydronic systems, while cables are used in electric systems. 
  • Panels: Heat conductive panels transfer the heat from tubing or cables to the surface. If it’s for a new construction, we recommend a structural radiant panel. For a retrofit, there are remodeling radiant panels that are place on top of the slab.
  • Manifold: The manifold is a distribution device that distributes the heat evenly throughout the radiant heating system.
  • Controls: The controls monitor system performance and allow you to set the temperature of the radiant heating system.

radiant heat system components

Here is an example of the components for Warmboard Comfort System,  a simpler, more efficient, and faster way to install a hydronic radiant in-floor heating system.

WCS how components work

What is the Warmboard Comfort System (WCS)?

Traditional hydronic radiant in-floor heating systems are complex, time-consuming, and expensive to install. They require multiple individuals to handle the design, purchasing, scheduling, assembly, and installation. Every system is designed differently, using different parts and materials from a variety of vendors.

WCS is a simpler and more efficient alternative. It is a single point of contact for the entire heating system, including design, coordination, and shipment. All products were chosen and optimized to work in harmony for maximum peformance. Warmboard has designed the whole system, so they have the insights to answer any questions you may have.

Why choose Warmboard Comfort System?

  • Fast and easier install: Installation of the WCS is also much faster than traditional hydronic radiant floor heating systems. While traditional systems can take many weeks to install, WCS can be installed in just a couple days, with some aspects completed in mere hours using your regular building crew and plumber. This way, you can expect 25–50% lower labor costs compared to other systems.
  • Warmboard quality: By combining the latest hardware and software, Warmboard has created the ultimate home heating solution. Every item in WCS has been designed to work in tandem, offering an end-to-end solution that borders on plug-and-play. Design, purchase and installation has been streamlined, and advanced algorithms monitor temperatures in real-time while touch-screen thermostats maintain temperatures with 1º of accuracy. The result is a radiant heating system unlike anything else in the industry.

Looking for a Hydronic Radiant Heating System for your Home?

Provide Warmboard with the floor plans for your project. Our in-house engineers will then perform a comprehensive heat loss analysis and make a customized design for you.

Submit your floor plans

warmboard floor plans
Learn more about radiant heating systems in our blog:

Hydronic vs. Electric Heating: Which is Better?

How to Choose a Radiant Floor Heating System

See more articles

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