Radiant Heating Options

• There are two main kinds of radiant heating systems, wet and dry. Wet systems are much more complex, and use a system of pipes in the floorboards that carry a stream of hot water through. The water releases its heat out and upward, warming the floor and the air. You must install this system along with the subfloor and plumbing, which means it must go in when the floor itself is being constructed. Wet systems are also house-wide, so you must plan ahead.
  
  Dry systems use wire coils that produce heat by using electricity. These are much more flexible systems. They can be installed in only one room of the house, and can even be put on floors that have already been made. The wire systems are less expensive and easier to cut and place than wet systems, although they are not quite as efficient at heating a room and saving money on your energy bill.
  
  

Underfloor Installation

• If you want to install a dry radiant heating system, you will need to put it in the underfloor. If you already have a floor, then you probably will need to remove enough of it to expose the floor joists, which can be a lengthy project in its own right. The joists are the beams that run across the subfloor and provide the support needed to rest the top section of the floor on. The spaces between the joists are where you will install the radiant heating system.
  
  How easy these systems are to install can vary. Most retrofitting radiant heat systems are made of strips or mats with a network of heating wires installed in them. These mats can be bought in strips to fit a variety of joist space sizes, so be sure you know the measurements of your joists and floor spaces before you buy any radiant heat system. You will need to cut the mats to fit the space under the subfloor, and then use a staple gun to staple them down into place. Many systems will also require you to drill holes in the joists to link up the different mats or wires together in one long, running system. Drill these holes beforehand, and plot out a location for your manifold control unit and any other connections you may need to make.