The number one reason consumers choose HeatLink hydronic radiant floor
heating is comfort. The system eliminates chilly drafts. There's no need
for fans to move air around.
In today's new home designs, hydronic radiant floor heating makes even
more sense. Rooms (bathrooms included) are larger, with higher ceilings
and lots of tile and other cold surfaces. With forced-air and radiator
heating, these spaces generally feel cold. That's not a problem with radiant
floor heating; even the hard surfaces will feel warm to the touch.
The system allows great flexibility when it comes to furniture arrangement,
too. With forced-air or radiators, occupants must strategically place
their furniture to accommodate grills or radiators. With radiant floor
heating, furniture can go anywhere because there are no grills or radiators.
At its most basic, hydronic radiant floor heating involves heating a structure
by pumping warm water though specially designed tubing laid under or within
the floor. The heat in these tubes radiates to the surface and rises evenly
throughout the room above. The surface itself stays comfortably warm to
the touch. This tremendously efficient heat transfer results in even and
consistent heating.
Warm air rises, of course, and collects near the ceiling. In a home heated
by convection, ceilings are always warmer than floors. With radiant floor
heat, the opposite is true. The floor is warm, and so is the air up to
the height sensed by the occupants. Thus, people within the space feel
much more comfortable at lower temperature settings because the heat is
coming from the floor.
HeatLink PEX tubing which delivers the heat is laid on the subfloor and
covered with a flowable lightweight concrete. It can also be installed
in the lower level concrete floor, or underneath the joist space-which
is called a 'dry' or 'staple-up' installation.
The system allows any floor surface to be placed above it, including carpeting,
ceramic tile, vinyl flooring, and wood.
The surface temperature of the floor is designed to be no higher than
88 degrees F (31 degrees C), so it's always comfortable to walk on. HeatLink
operates at the lowest possible water temperature to heat the structure.
This level provides the most efficient transfer of energy. There are no
wide temperature variations that you experience with forced air or radiator
systems. It's also quiet! There are no noisy fans or radiator expansion
noises to contend with, just quiet comfort. Energy efficiency is one of
the system's strong points because the system delivers heat where it's
needed, with little waste. A thermostat can be put in every room of the
house, and unoccupied rooms can be set back to save energy.