Yes. There are different manufacturers and different methods, but it has become more and more common this past decade.

With radiant heat, the temperatures the floor temperatures tend to be stable and low. These are favorable conditions for wide pine floors. It is best to use material that has low humidity from the beginning. Probably not, if the building will be energy efficient. While heat will tend to rise, you are asking one floor to do the work of two and you may want to over design the first floor.

In years past, some companies used high temperature boilers to send 180 degree water through radiant tubing. This excessive water temperature combined with a poorly insulated structure could cause warping or checking of hardwood floors. Because floor temperatures often exceeded 85 degrees as the floor vainly attempted to match the high heat loss of a poorly insulated structure, the result was high, wasteful energy consumption and damage to the floor.

The heat pump can produce water that is hot enough for use in these applications. In most cases, it is not warm enough to be used in old-style under-the-window radiator systems.

Yes. There are just two things to make sure you do before application. First, turn off the heating system a few hours beforehand. Then, after the last coat of finish is applied, wait another 36 hours before turning the heat back on.

Low-voltage radiant heat is safe, reliable, efficient and long-lasting solution to your floor warming, space heating and snow melting needs. High-voltage systems, on the other hand, have much shorter warranties (5-7 year average) and typically don't last as long. The high-voltage current wears out the carbon based heating element. The durable bronze ZMesh has an industry leading 25 year warranty and the low-voltage current has almost no detrimental effect on it.

If you want radiant heat and air conditioning, we recommend installing a distribution system for air conditioning within the ceiling and radiant heat tubing within the floor. Combining a forced hot air heating system and an air conditioning system utilizing floor registers is a less comfortable, dustier, and more expensive alternative than using two separate systems.

If you have a question that is not answered on this FAQs page, you may contact one of our member company's call centers that are listed on our Contact Us page with your specific question.

This is a concrete question more than a radiant heating question. All concrete applications must be structurally satisfactory. There is no important difference between concrete mixes from the heating standpoint.

Radiant heat is transmitted from a heat source via rays just like rays of sunlight. These rays pass through the air without heating it since only solid objects can absorb the heat they transmit. Dark colours absorb more radiant heat than lighter colours. This is why light coloured clothing is cooler than dark coloured clothing.

You will not need the humidifier as much because the air is more stable and not being changed as much.

An Eichler radiant heat system that has copper pipes can be repaired and maintained indefinitely with a little periodic maintenance. However, if your radiant piping is made of steel, as was done in many mid-'50s Eichlers, it may not be repairable. In any case, be sure to recruit a qualified radiant heat specialist (and perhaps even a second opinion) to diagnose your situation and lay out your options. More information. Don't mess with it.

Far-infrared radiant (FIR) heat is a form of naturally occurring energy that heats objects by direct light conversion (DLC). DLC warms only the object and does not raise the temperature of the surrounding free air. All life requires FIR heat from the sun. FIR heat is not ultraviolet radiation but a narrow band of energy within the 5.6 to 15 micron level. This type of energy travels only 2-3" deep into the body to increase circulation and nourish damaged tissue.

Yes. Many homes with radiant heating also have a central heating system such as a furnace or boiler, it can act as your main heating source, especially if you are building a new home. You can use the same heating source for your: In the floor, underfloor, Slimline baseboard and domestic hot water if the heating source meets the BTU output required.

Yes, but check with your local code enforcement department (some require boilers only) and make sure your water heater is sized correctly for the area you are heating. Set the water heater temperature control to high and make sure to install a thermostatic mixing valve and expansion tank.

Staple ASTRO-TAB in the joist cavity under your radiant flooring system to reduce hot spots, prevent downward heat loss, and decrease boiler loads. Install TUFF-STUFF under your concrete hydronic floor system to achieve a moisture barrier and thermal break that meets manufacturer requirements.