The ancient Romans knew how to achieve maximum comfort and health in their houses and bathhouses. The Koreans have known about it for thousands of years. Now Americans are learning to maximize the comfort and health of home heating systems by employing in-floor radiant heat. This system uses a very efficient, warm water boiler. Special, strong, flexible tubing carries warm water from the boiler under the flooring, which heats the floor.

Heating systems that work with nature use three simple aspects of building physics and human physiology.

Taking these facts into consideration in the design of a home makes it more comfortable. Placing the warmth where the body most wants it—near the feet—achieves unparalleled comfort. An even, radiant heat from the floor eliminates hot or cold spots. The floors are warm, not hot, with temperatures from 75° F to a maximum of 85° F.

One homeowner graphically described his enjoyment of his new in-floor radiant heating system. He said that for the first time in his life it was a pleasure to get up in the middle of a cold night to go to the bathroom.

When it comes to comfort, cats are unsurpassed experts. They will always find the most comfortable place in the house to sleep. Cat owners with in-floor radiant heat say that their cats no longer get on the furniture. Instead, they prefer the floor.

Another benefit is that the heating is invisible. There are no noisy blowers or uncomfortable drafts, no hot ceilings and cold floors, and no vents on floor, walls, or ceiling. The result is an evenly heated, quiet room. The heating system seems to disappear.

Contrast this with most conventional hot air, convective heating systems. As the hot air rushes into the room, it rises to the ceiling, eventually circulating throughout the room after losing much of its heat. The cold air drops to the floor and stays there. The thermostat turns the blower on and off creating noise and swings in air temperatures that may be uncomfortable.

One building contractor and homeowner said that he and his wife realized that, before installing in-floor radiant heating, their winter experience had been stuffy noses, cold feet, and waiting hopefully for spring to come.

Home owners using in-floor radiant heat find that they are more comfortable with the thermostat set 5-8° lower than with their old hot air system. The added flexibility of zoning (each room or space on a separate thermostat) gives maximum comfort and efficiency for every living area. (More about zoning, efficiency, costs and economy of hydronic radiant heat in future articles.)

Health of the occupants is another major benefit of in-floor radiant heat. Heating ducts are a harbor for bacteria, dust mites, mold, and mildew. When the blower turns on, it broadcasts these offending particles into the air. An environment with calm and clean air is much kinder to people with allergies, environmental sensitivities, and many kinds of chronic illnesses. With fewer offending pollutants, the immune system has less work to do. Even for a healthy person, there is less overload on the immune system, resulting in fewer seasonal colds and flu.

This is particularly important in families with small children. Parents who live with an in-floor radiant heat system report a greater sense of ease. They know their children are not subjected to unnecessary air pollutants and are not chilled on the floor. Even toddlers who are prone to remove clothing stay toasty warm in the winter.