Remodeling
Success 101

Q: What is in-floor radiant heating?

A: An in-floor radiant heating system is often a supplemental heating option within a home's overall HVAC system. Flexible water pipes are embedded throughout a subfloor or concrete slab, typically where a tile or other masonry-based floor is to be installed. Then the pipes are covered with the finished floor material. As hot water circulates through the pipes, the temperature of the floor is raised, heating the entire room.

Just as the human body has a respiratory system, so a house has specialized equipment to bring fresh air inside, filter it, distribute and 'exhale' it. The respiratory equipment in a house is often referred to as "HVAC," for "heating, ventilating and air conditioning."

As homebuilding and remodeling have become more sophisticated, so have HVAC systems. From the days of a single source of heat, such as a woodstove, this vital function has expanded to include a variety of components that deliver and improve indoor comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency. Which system is appropriate for a remodeling project depends on factors such as climate, square footage, house design and construction method, budget, fuel sources, and personal preferences. The wide range of options gives the professional remodeler an opportunity to create exactly the best HVAC system most suitable for an existing home.

To help builders and owners evaluate the choices, HVAC products and systems are rated by their energy efficiency so that energy use and cost can be reduced. For example, the better a particular furnace may be in recovering, filtering, and reusing the conditioned (heated) air that it produces, the less fuel it needs to condition new air coming into the system. Today's top-of-the-line systems achieve 90 percent or more efficiency in this regard. Those used in new homes ten years ago are far less efficient.

Using high-performance equipment, a professional remodeler can upgrade an HVAC system to heat, cool, and ventilate specific zones of a house, even within an existing structure. Homes with multiple levels and/or large, open spaces sometimes have areas that are warmer (or cooler) than others according to the time of year or time of day. A "zoned" approach to HVAC design puts conditioned air only where it is needed. With a delivery system composed of a customized network of air ducts, programmable thermostats, and perhaps even multiple (and smaller) pieces of equipment, a home will have no hot spots or cold corners regardless of season.

Of course, like any system in a home (or the human body), the HVAC system does not work alone. To be truly effective, each system requires a well designed and built structural shell together with regular maintenance to maintain the desired performance. By replacing old windows with insulated (or double-pane) units and by boosting the amount of insulation in the walls, floors, and ceilings (or attic), any HVAC system will increase its efficiency, helping to reduce energy use and costs.

A good HVAC system is essential to the comfort of any remodeled home or additional living space, contributing in large part to the satisfaction of the owner. As professional remodelers, we are conscious of our responsibility to design and install HVAC systems that deliver consistent indoor comfort while using as little energy as possible.

Warm regards,

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