Radiant Floor Heating

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Hydronic Radiant Heating: This type of heating uses a broiler to heat up hot water, and a pump to circulate the hot water in plastic pipes (which are installed in a concrete slab).

Types of Radiant Heating systems: There are three types of Radiant Heating systems: closed systems, indirect systems, and open direct systems. 

Closed System: This type of system is dedicated exclusively for space heating.  It uses a boiler or hot water heater to heat hot water (or an antifreeze solution), which is circulated through the in floor tubing.  This is a familiar and conventional approach that is well accepted by building code officials. 

Indirect Heating System:  This system uses a high efficiency hot water heater for both space heating and domestic hot water needs while keeping the two systems separate. 

Open Direct Heating System:  This type of system uses a high-efficiency hot water heater to provide hot water for space heating and domestic hot water within a single system.  This type of system is the most preferred system for most residential applications. 

Boiler:  A boiler is a heating device that is engineered to make very hot water (up to 250 degrees F)  for radiators and baseboards.  Most boilers do not work well at lower temperatures. 

Domestic Hot Water Heaters:  These are hot water heaters which are engineered to make moderate temperature water, a storage tank is often provided, additional precautions are taken to prevent corrosion.  There is a potential for higher efficiency because of lower operating temperature and lower exhaust gas temperature.  But, many low end water heaters do not take advantage of this potential.  

Heat Exchanger: A heat exchanger is a device that exchanges the heat from one fluid to another without a mixing of the fluids.  A typical use of a heat exchanger would be to keep the potable domestic hot water heater separate from the boiler fluid. 

Closed System:  A closed system is a system that is closed off from the environment and its heating fluid is not exchanged except for the maintenance.

Open System: An open system is a system that is open to the atmosphere or one which the heating fluid is replaced frequently.  A domestic hot water heater is an open system because the heated fluid is constantly changed.  Open systems require different mechanicals and materials than other systems.

Potable:  Potable means "fit to drink".  Which means that if a hot water heater is potable, the water is safe to drink.

Direct System:  In a direct system, the heating fluid goes directly from the heating unit to the tubes beneath the floor.

Indirect System: In an indirect system, the heat from the heating unit passes through a heat exchanger before it goes to the in floor unit. 

Radiant heating is great way to heat your home from the ground up.  Radiant floor heating consists of small plastic tubes that are run through flooring in your home.  When a home is being built the tubes are put in the foundation, and the concrete is poured around it.  Water or an anti-freeze solution is put in the tubes which is circulated throughout to heat the tubes.  In turn, the heat is released through the concrete and it heats the floor in your home. 

MOUNTAIN AIRE HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING INC.
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