Radiant Heating

Have you heard of radiant heating? It has been used for centuries to heat house without needing a furnace or air ducts, it warms people and objects directly instead of heating the air around them. Here is what Wikipedia has to say:

Radiant heating heats a building through radiant heat, rather than other conventional methods such as radiators (mostly convection heating). The technology has existed since the Roman use of hypocaust heating. Underfloor radiant heating has long been widespread in China and Korea. The heat energy is emitted from a warm element, such as a floor, wall or overhead panel, and warms people and other objects in rooms rather than directly heating the air. The internal air temperature for radiant heated buildings may be lower than for a conventionally heated building to achieve the same level of body comfort, when adjusted so the perceived temperature is actually the same.

The radiant heating systems can be divided into:

• Underfloor heating systems—electric or hydronic
• Wall heating systems
• Radiant ceiling panels

Underfloor and wall heating systems often are called low-temperature systems. Since their heating surface is much larger than with other systems, a much lower temperature is required to achieve the same level of heat transfer. The maximum temperature of the heating surface can vary from 29–35 °C (84–95 °F) depending on the room type. Radiant overhead panels are mostly used in production and warehousing facilities or sports centers; they hang a few meters above the floor and their surface temperature is much higher.

Do you have radiant heating in your house? Have you ever been in a house that has? Share your experiences!