Radiant Heat Royal Oak MI

Source: TOOLS OF THE TRADE Magazine
Publication date: January 31, 2006

By Section Editor: Mark Clement

Radiant floor heating is the most comfortable way to heat a space. Period. I love it and so do my customers and the builders and remodelers who increasingly demand it. Since radiant systems heat objects (not the air, like conventional systems), they're fuel-efficient, quiet, clean, and comfortable, all while eliminating baseboards and radiators.

However, some contractors balk at radiant heating due to the lack of easy-to-install systems, especially in retrofit applications. So how can you serve your customers (and your business) when they request radiant for a new kitchen, addition, or bath but will use existing HVAC for the rest of their house? For my clients, using the right system with good manufacturer support helps them achieve their goals while helping with their bottom line.

The Right System

I've installed just about every kind of radiant system there is. For retrofit applications and some new construction, I use the Watts Radiant SubRay hydronic subfloor system. It heats with water–which delivers the best heat–rather than electric mats (which I've found are most sensible for installations of less than 200 square feet). Once the heat-loss and design calculation is done (more on that later), you or your carpenters can install the bulk of the system, which is mostly birch plywood components and plastic tubing.

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