The History of Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating has been around since Roman times, and in fact one of the earliest modern versions of radiant floor heating was a variation on the Roman method, called Hydronic Radiant Heat. Where the Romans built their floors up on tile columns and circulated hot air from an outside fireplace through the below-floor airspace, modern hydronic systems use a network of plastic pipes to circulate hot water in pipes beneath the floor. This is typically known as a “wet” or water underfloor heating system, although the professionals prefer the term hydronic underfloor heating.
The floor does not need to be elevated nearly as much as the Roman floors (theirs were typically built up two feet), and the pipes are generally safely embedded in a concrete slab. As hot water circulates through the pipes it heats the concrete, which then radiates the heat into your room. Typically, underfloor heating insulation beneath the concrete forces most of the heat up, even though heat naturally rises, lowering the loss of heat to any place other than your room.
Thermostats control the temperature in various “zones” of the house if a whole-house installation is used. You can heat just one small area or your entire house, saving money and energy by heating only the living space that needs to be heated. In many cases, whole-house heating is best served by a water underfloor heating system as it is slightly more energy-efficient than electric underfloor heating.
Also, for new home construction, the floors can obviously be initially constructed with the pipes already embedded in the plastic, and the home can be designed with the needs of this heating system in mind. This type of system is obviously a little more difficult in a home already constructed, although for additions to an existing house they can be ideal.