Concrete Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating

There are three major types of radiant floor heating systems.

Concrete hydronic radiant floor heating.

Like sand concrete is an ideal carrier of radiant heat because of its inherent thermal mass. As warm water circulates through the tubing or as electricity warms the heating elements the concrete flooring turns into an efficient inconspicuous radiator. Concrete slabs have plenty of thermal mass. Concrete embedding your radiant heating system into a concrete slab is one of the most cost effective ways to install it and most energy efficient being that concrete is a great thermal mass.

The size of the manifold must correspond to the number of circuits in your radiant heating system. There s two basic types of concrete floor heating hydronic and electric. Typically radiant heating systems warm floors to temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees f. Radiant heat manifolds designed for use with 3 8 1 2 and 5 8 pex and pex al pex tubing.

Due to it s density and low conductivity concrete retains heat very well. This is the best choice for new construction and areas receiving new slabs. They can retain heat over time which is ideal for radiant under floor heating. Water tubes or electric cables are easily embedded in concrete slabs.

For hydronic heating water pipes run through the top layer of concrete so heat is not wasted below the surface. The original and largely abandoned in the west method was used most notably in turkish baths and consisted of a raised floor to allow hot air underneath keeping the floor nice and warm. What is hydronic radiant floor heating. These are sold in pairs supply and return and include flow indicators flow regulating valves and other basic components.

While it was done as a new house was being built in my last house i poured a concrete floor on top of a wood framed floor system and could have put radiant heat in that as well. Watch and see how to install radiant heat especially if you re thinking of doing it in your ne. The system works via pex pipe a small pump a water heater and a thermostat.