INTRODUCTION TO RADIANT HEAT

Radiant heat systems have been used to deliver heat to buildings since the time of the Roman Empire. It was used by the Romans to heat the floors of their baths with vast underground fireboxes and efficient flues under the floors. In the 1950's homes were built in the United States with radiant heat using primitive controls, copper, or steel pipe. Although this type of application showed promise of radiant heat in delivering comfort, it had a problem with control and longevity of material. With the development of advanced materials this comfortable, efficient, and effective source of heat has become extremely reliable, durable, safe, and readily available.

Radiant heating systems are integrated within the building structure and become a permanent part of that structure. A radiant panel is known as a floor, wall or ceiling surface designed to heat and/or cool a space. Radiant panels are modern forms of space heating using warm water circulated through a tubing system embedded within the floor, ceiling, or wall to distribute heat energy, the most popular application is radiant "floor" heat.

Radiant heat can be used (to name a few) in your home, business, shop, and snow or ice melt for driveways and/or sidewalks. It works with hot water boilers to help maintain heated water. Radiant heating systems are adaptable to any fuel source that provides hot water, wood, propane, natural gas, fuel oil, or electric.

Radiant heat systems can be invisible and give you the freedom of no soffits or floor registers for forced air heating which means houses look better, cleaner and have more usable floor space.

HOW DOES IT WORK:

The methods of constructing a radiant panel heat system are numerous, basically they can be separated into three main categories: radiant floors, ceilings and wall. There are also many different ways to successfully install radiant panel heating systems. The heated surface acts as a radiator and radiates energy, which is absorbed by other objects in a room. These other objects, in turn, radiate energy to other cooler objects. This temperature difference is the driving force behind radiant heat transfer. Occupants benefit not only from the heat rising from the floor, which is the optimal heat distribution for comfort, but also by having a higher Mean Radiant Temperature. Overall air temperatures are reduced while comfort is increased.

ADVANTAGES OF RADIANT PANEL HEATING:

Radiant heating increases our comfort in many ways. Since the heat typically starts on the floor you will have a more even floor to ceiling temperature as compared to other types of heating systems.

1. Water has 3000 times more heat capacity per cubic foot than air.

2. People are comfortable at lower air temperatures.

3. Radiant systems are quiet.

4. Radiant heat does not blow dust and pollen and is better for people with allergies.

5. It is economical, reducing operating cost by up to 30 percent.

If you are in the Libby, Montana or surrounding area -- whether you are constructing a new home, shop, driveway, or business or have an existing structure and are interested in a radiant heat system -- be sure to contact BearTooth Mechanical LLC.