Debunking Radiant Floor Heating Myths

Radiant floor heating is an increasingly popular home-heating method in Utah. It involves installing electrical cables or hot water-filled pipes under the floor. Since radiant heat consistently warms objects in the room from the ground up, you can expect a more comfortable home and lower heating bills.

While the benefits greatly outweigh the drawbacks for many people, some hesitate to upgrade because they’ve heard certain myths about radiant floor heating. We’re here to debunk these myths and help you separate fact from fiction.

• Myth: Under-floor heating is too expensive. Radiant heating may provide luxurious “everywhere” heat, but the system doesn’t cost much more than a typical furnace. And if your home doesn’t already have ductwork, choosing under-floor heating could actually cost less than switching to a furnace.
• Myth: Radiant floor heating is too hard to install. While you may need to couple the installation with a floor replacement project to make it cost-effective, installing radiant floor cables or tubing is not a difficult task. Leave it to your HVAC installation team to ensure a job well done.
• Myth: Radiant heat doesn’t offer precise temperature control. In reality, under-floor heating is uniquely well suited to zoning. Using multiple thermostats, you can control the temperature in different parts of your home independently, providing excellent comfort control and energy savings.
• Myth: Tile and concrete are the only compatible flooring materials. This was once the recommendation, but radiant heating technology has come a long way. It is now compatible with all flooring materials, including hardwood, carpet, laminate, and vinyl.
• Myth: Radiant floor heating can’t heat an entire house. The fact is you have all the flexibility you want—either outfit your entire home with radiant heat or supplement your existing furnace with extra heating in the bathroom, kitchen, or basement.
• Myth: Radiant heat dries out the air. Actually, radiant heat doesn’t add or remove moisture. This differs from forced-air and electric heating, which strip away any humidity in the air. Still, you may need to run a humidifier in the winter to counteract Utah’s dry climate.
• Myth: Under-floor heating is new technology. On the contrary, the origins of radiant heating date back to Ancient Rome, when fires fed heat into air chambers under floors and behind walls. The modern concept of hydronic radiant heat was introduced to America by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 20th century.

Now that you know a little more about radiant floor heating, you may be interested in upgrading. Parley’s PPM Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is happy to help. Our HVAC specialists have over 40 years of experience improving home comfort and efficiency for homeowners in Orem, Draper, Sandy, and the surrounding areas with radiant heat and other heating and cooling solutions.

Still have questions? Hoping for an installation estimate? Give us a call at 801-226-3033 if you’re a Utah County resident or 801-229-2665 if you live in Salt Lake County. You can also contact us online for more information.