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Radiant Floor Heating Services in Calgary
Radiant Floor Heating Installation Service
Did you think radiant floor heating was just for the bathroom?
Think again!
Some Calgary households use radiant floor heating to heat their entire house over the long winter period.
The same technology that makes feet toasty warm in the bathroom can make every room in the house snug and warm – affordably!
At Alpha Plumbing, our professionals fit and maintain radiant floor heating systems for households around Calgary.
Can you use radiant floor heating as a primary heat source?
Radiant floor heating can be cost-effective for heating the entire house as a primary heat source.
This is providing that you select the right system for the floor design in your home and install it properly, with adequate insulation.
How efficient is radiant floor heating as a primary heat source?
You will find that the right radiant heating system will be energy-efficient compared to other primary home-heating options. With no escape route for the heat (no ductwork), all the heat is retained for heating the home.
TEven electric systems use less energy than space heaters, while also heating the room more evenly.
TThe system does not need to run constantly to keep the house warm, especially if you have concrete floors that retain heat.
TYou can manage the floor-heating process smartly using programmable thermostats, which can be set to heat the home 30-60 minutes before you get up in the morning and again before you arrive home from work.
Types of Radiant Floor Heating
Hydronic radiant heating system
These radiant heating systems are the most popular in Calgary as they are generally the best performing and most cost-effective.
A central boiler heats the water and it is pumped around the home through pipes under the floor.
The only real downside is that if the pipes get damaged, water leakage can cause damage to the home and be expensive to repair. Newer systems are even able to heat different parts of the house with a “zoned” heating design.Electric radiant heating system
With electric radiant heating systems, a series of electrical cables is installed between the floor and the subfloor of the home.
It requires a thick concrete floor to act as a thermal mass that stores the heat. With electricity costs being high in Canada, this is not as cost-effective as hydronic systems and is best used for certain rooms rather than to heat an entire home. A major benefit is that it is virtually maintenance-free.Air-based radiant heating system
These systems use air-heated panels and may be combined with solar air heating systems.More commonly in Canada, the air is heated by a furnace and transferred around the home through pipes.
While these systems are quite versatile and can be used with any type of floor (tiles, carpets, concrete, wood) they are less common than hydronic systems due to lower performance. Air has a lower capacity to retain heat than liquids.
Financing will be available if required and all work is covered by our one-year guarantee for parts and labour.
Calgary Radiant Floor Heating Services
The benefits of radiant heating in Calgary
Radiant heating offers several significant benefits over ducted heating or radiator systems for Calgary homeowners:
- Maintains consistent warmth
With forced air/radiator systems, rooms may feel drafty. You heat the perimeters and it takes time for the whole room to feel warm. With radiant heating, warm air rises from the floor level to provide a more consistent and even ambient temperature, an appealing feature for Calgary homeowners doing battle with severely cold winters.
- Energy efficiency
Whether you choose an air-, water- or electric-based radiant heating system, you should find it energy-efficient. Radiant floor heating usually runs at lower temperatures than forced-air or boiler-based heating systems and there is no energy lost from ducting.
- Runs silently
With forced air systems, furnaces need to fire up and vents need to turn on and off. Even radiators make noise as they heat up. There is none of that with radiant heating, as it runs almost silently.
- No drying out of the air
Forced air systems remove moisture from the air and the more the thermostat goes up, the more moisture is removed. Dry air in the home is not considered healthy and can lead to a variety of problems, including skin problems. Radiant heating maintains moisture-filled air.
- Allergy-friendly
Another health benefit of radiant heating is that it is more allergy-friendly than ducted heating systems because dust and other allergens are not transported through vents.
- Scalable
You can start with one or two rooms (like the master bedroom and bathroom) before taking the plunge and converting the entire house.
- Flexibility with fuel types
Radiant heating systems can be fueled by electricity, gas, oil, solar or wood. This gives you great flexibility for heating in your home.
- It’s practically invisible
There are no radiators or return vents on walls, floors and ceilings as the system is entirely hidden under your chosen floor covering and practically invisible in the home.
- Easy to maintain
With the absence of ductwork or need for regular cleaning, radiant heating is relatively low-maintenance when compared with conventional systems.
Are there any downsides to using radiant floor heating?
Considerations Before Selecting Radiant Floor Heating
We’ve covered the pros of radiant heating in detail – but are there any cons?
- Flooring will need to be replaced
For existing homes, the flooring will need to be removed in order to install radiant floor heating. Often, therefore, this type of heating is installed in new or remodelled homes.
- The flooring will be slightly elevated
The height of your floors will be raised by at least half an inch with radiant floor heating installation, depending on the type of system you choose.
- Electric systems can be costly to run
Electric floor heating may not be an option for you if you need to be careful about monthly electricity bills. You might still want to consider a hydronic or air-based system, though.
- Water-based systems may be costly to install
With hydronic radiant heating, the system needs a boiler, pump and gas lines in order to function. This increases the costs of installation compared to electric systems.
Schedule an appointment.
Call us today at (403) 470-5785 to find out more about the radiant heating services we offer, or to make an appointment for our heating services with a certified plumber.
You can also fill out our online appointment form provided.