Since ancient times, centralized heating has been a staple of human society; from heating our homes to our government buildings to our public bath houses. Among the oldest centralized heating methods is hydronic radiant floor heating which utilizes warm water and plastic tubing that runs under the floor. Today this type of heating is one of the most preferred methods due to its efficiency, cost effectiveness, and superior comfort.
The history of this type of heating dates back to ancient Chinese and Roman civilizations. In fact, the Chinese are credited with inventing the earliest forms of this heating system which were then passed on to other cultures. Although they didn't use water or any other liquids back then, their ideas were essentially the same. They used warm air to heat the dirt floors of a home and thus provide central heating.
The Romans took this technology to the next level and were able to keep the majority of buildings in their cities warm this way. They did so by building floors on elevated platforms under which a piping system was installed. The heat from fires burning outside would be directed into these pipes, through the building, and out flues on the other end. The technology proved so popular that it's been credited with being largely responsible for the Empire's heated public baths.
Never wanting to settle on yesterday's technology, the Romans combined their aqueduct technology with their heating technology to invent the first hydronic systems. By replacing the hot air with warm water, they discovered they could get a much more efficient system which allowed them to distribute heat more evenly and with less effort. From their inventions, modern under-floor heating systems were born.
The modern hydronic radiant floor heating system is one that should never be seen or heard by home owners. It's designed to be a permanent key solution that needs very little maintenance and upkeep. The key components to a modern system include:
The modern system begins with the plastic tubing being run on top of the crushed stone that forms the base of a concrete floor. For already existing construction this tubing may be placed on top of a concrete slab and then a sub-floor built over the top of it. In the case of new construction, gypsum concrete is then poured over the tubing and crushed stone to form the floor. This concrete has special properties that make it ideal for radiant floor heating.
On top of the concrete goes the insulation, the floorboards, and finally, the finished flooring products. The material a contractor uses to finish the floor will be one of the most important choices he and the home owner will make. He's looking for material not based on its aesthetic value, although that's important too, but on its ability to radiate and maintain heat over the long term. The more efficient the finished surface is, the better your under flooring heating system will work and a more consistent temperature you'll enjoy.
Installing hydronic radiant floor heating in older homes often poses a challenge. Most home owners have no desire to rip up their floors and install gypsum concrete just to have radiant floor heating. But new technology, known as floorboard radiant heating, is now possible by installing the tubing directly into your existing flooring. This technology utilizes special floor boards and reflective materials to keep the heat rising up through the floor rather than escaping underneath.
This type of system is ideal for existing construction because it's a lot less expensive than pouring concrete, it's much less invasive and inconvenient for the home owner, and you don't have the drying time issues associated with concrete. Although the technology has not yet been perfected, it's come a long way from where it was when it first came out. And with new materials constantly being introduced to the market, floorboard systems are becoming almost as efficient as new concrete systems.
Hydronic floorboard heating certainly has a long list of benefits, not the least of which is its ability to provide a consistent level of heat. Unlike forced air systems, which cyclically heat up and cool down, radiant floor heating provides a consistent warm temperature at all times. This makes for a more comfortable home and fewer issues with humidity levels. It also makes it easier for different family members to settle on a comfortable room temperature without some feeling too hot and others too cold.
Efficiency and cost-effectiveness are the other two big benefits of this type of heating. With the right finishing materials, your floor can continue radiating heat for hours after the system is shut down. For all intents and purposes, you can turn down the thermostat at night before going to bed without the ambient room temperature in the home following all that much. This efficiency, combined with the fact that you're using water to heat your home, also means it's one of the least expensive ways to accomplish the task.