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One of the new stars on the heating market is radiant floor heating. Although North Americans are just starting to realize its benefits, radiant floor heating has been used successfully in Europe for over 50 years. The concept is simple: warm water circulates through tubing that is buried in the floor, keeping the heat where it is needed most. Building occupants are then comfortable at a lower thermostat setting leading to a reduction in fuel costs of up to 40%.
Comfort and efficiency are two reasons North Americans are turning to radiant heat. More conventional forms of heating address the heat loss of the structure while radiant floor systems address the heat loss of the human body. Radiant floors take advantage of concrete's thermal mass: they absorb and store heat, then conduct it directly to the feet and to objects in the room that in turn re-radiate heat. Radiant heat warms objects, not just the air. Air quality is improved since there is no hot air blowing dust and allergens throughout the building. Also, less air escapes each time windows or doors are opened.
A distinct advantage for both comfort and efficiency of radiant floor heating is the ability to zone the heat, placing it exactly where it is wanted and needed. Since the flexibility of these systems is increased due to zoning, they are especially well suited to retrofit or remodeling construction.
 Long Term Performance
The benefits of radiant floor heating are well documented and easily recognizable in the residential marketplace both in new construction and retrofit applications. As the radiant industry grows, it continues to expand into the commercial arena where its advantages in efficiency are quickly evident, particularly when heating spaces with large cubic volumes of air.
Radiant floor heat in concrete makes sense. Numerous applications over many years have shown that PEX tubing does not degrade when embedded in concrete, eliminating concerns about long-term durability. Well known for the superior comfort and efficiency it delivers, radiant floor heating increases the value of any structure in which it is placed. If you're placing a concrete floor, consider installing PEX tubing, because it can always be hooked up at a later date. Radiant heating can also be added to existing floors by embedding the tubing in a floor topping.
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