RADIANT HEAT - Types Of Radiant Heat

There are three types of radiant heat: air, electric, and hydronic heat. Learn more about the energy efficient benefits and installation processes below.

1) Air Radiant Heating: Hot air is forced through tubing – sometimes steam – not very common in residential applications.   

2) Electric Radiant Heating: Electric heating is usually in the form of mats under the floor. The rule of thumb is to use electric heating systems for comfort – not for heating. Electric radiant heat works well with timers turning on when required and/or installed with thermostat controls. Lagois Mechanical typically uses electric radiant heating for bathrooms and kitchen areas.

3) Hydronic Radiant Heating: A liquid is pumped through tubing – either water or an environmentally friendly glycol. The heat is dispersed from the tubing into the floor (wall, ceiling and baseboard) surface. The cooler water returns to the heat source and is reheated and sent out again. This is called a “closed-loop system”.

The pipes can be encased in a concrete slab, a concrete over pour, laid into thin grooved panels on top of a subfloor, or suspended below a wooden sub floor. Hydronic heating could be for an entire house or just certain rooms such as basements, lofts, garages, workshops, driveways, etc. Hydronic heating is an excellent energy-efficient heating choice for new or retrofit projects.