In both new and existing homes, radiant heat is a popular home renovation trend.
Radiant heating systems have become increasingly popular as individuals seek to make their homes healthier and more pleasant. These incredibly pleasant, energy-efficient heating systems, which are predicted to be a top home-improvement trend for 2022, aren’t just for new-home construction. Existing homes might also benefit from the diversity of installation methods available.
Warm water travels through flexible crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipes that may be put under any floor covering, including carpet, tile, wood, and linoleum, to provide radiant heating. The radiant system heats spaces from the ground up, resulting in increased comfort, efficiency, and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The following are some of the most important advantages of radiant heat:
Spaces are kept at a constant temperature, with no hot or cold patches.
Instead of soaring to the ceiling, warmth stays at your feet.
The ability to zone a home’s heating system so that different temperatures are maintained depending on room usage.
For better air quality, fans that circulate dust, pollen, smells, and viruses should be removed.
Quiet systems that improve sound quality for a more relaxing environment.
Radiant heating systems can be utilized throughout a home to maintain a comfortable temperature. They can provide comfort even when relaxing on the floor in gathering rooms like the living room. They warm up practical locations like the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as rooms like basements and leisure rooms, by removing the chill.
Different radiant heating alternatives feature modular components and accessories that enable systems to be readily and rapidly installed regardless of the home’s surroundings. Uponor is a prominent manufacturer of radiant heating systems with installation choices suitable for both new construction and remodeling projects.
Radiant Heat Systems in New Homes
The staple-down method is a prevalent installation practice in new homes. Installers secure the flexible PEX piping to the surface using a specific radiant piping stapler tool. The staples go around the pipe’s outside to secure it to the wall. A lightweight gypsum concrete is poured over the pipe once it has been entirely connected to create a smooth, solid surface for the flooring.
Knobbed mats are another popular option for new houses that save time. The mats are held in place by the underside adhesive while the pipe is easily pressed between the knobs in the desired pattern, either by hand or foot. Finally, gypsum concrete is poured to make a smooth surface, much like with the staple-down approach.
Using Radiant Heat During Remodeling
There are alternate solutions for installing radiant heat to an existing home that don’t involve substantial flooring repair or concrete pouring. Wood-based radiant panels, for example, with a typical thickness of only a half-inch, are a suitable alternative for residential remodel and retrofit applications.
What is the mechanism behind this? The wood panels have a slot down the middle for piping insertion and a heat-transfer aluminum layer on the bottom. These panels attach easily to the plywood flooring, resulting in a small increase in floor height and no dampness from concrete overflows.
Joist heating using aluminum panels is another alternative for existing houses or vacation rentals. These extruded aluminum panels are installed from below in the floor’s joist bays. It’s perfect for homes with an uncovered ceiling, such as a basement that hasn’t been finished. This allows you to add radiant heat to the floor above without having to take up any carpeting.