Also referred to as underfloor heating, in-floor heating is the use of radiant heating systems located underneath the floor to heat up a house. The heat is transferred directly from the heat source to the floor and then reaches the people inside via infrared radiation. 

If you are looking for a way to keep your home interior warm and comfortable on cold days, floor heating is a heating mode that you should consider. 

Here's why:

More Efficient Delivery of Heat

One of the biggest drawbacks associated with forced-air heating is that it leads to significant energy losses. In a perfect world, the temperature of the air coming from your heating equipment and the various air supply grilles in your home should be the same; in the real world, that is seldom the case.

If your air ducts run through a cold basement, it's likely that the hot air will lose some of its heat before it reaches the air supply grilles. HVAC ductwork is normally insulated and properly sealed to minimise duct losses.

As underfloor heating systems don't rely on air ducts to deliver the heat to you, they tend to be more efficient than their forced-air cousins. While they take longer to heat up, they offset this drawback by retaining heat for many hours after they've been turned off.

However, it is important to note that the thermal mass of each flooring material is different, hence some floors are better at retaining heat than others. 

Healthy Choice for Your Family

Heating systems that rely on existing ductwork to supply heat to homes run the risk of distributing contaminated air throughout the homes.

Over time, air pollution sources, such as dust, mould, pollen grains, pet dander and residues from chemicals used in the home, can get sucked into your HVAC ductwork. These air duct contaminants can end up circulating in your indoor living space if steps aren't taken to keep the ducts clean.

With floor heating, you don't have to worry about dealing with indoor air contamination resulting from the supply of hot air from dirty air ducts. The heat needed to heat up your space comes from below your feet and reaches you via electromagnetic waves rather than air supply.

Want to learn more about in-floor heating for homes? Talk to a flooring contractor that focuses on floor-based heating systems today. They will ask you about your needs and advise you on whether radiant floor heating is right for you and your home.