In 1907, it was discovered that small hot water pipes could be embedded in concrete or plaster, and the process began to be put into use.

Radiant heating first came to the US during the Civil War when heated air similar to the Chinese concept was used to help warm hospital tents. This led to a refinement of the method, as well as some of the first research into how radiant heat transfer worked. This system disappeared with Rome, however, and wasn’t revived until around the 17th century in Europe, when Sir John Stone first began using heated water circulated through pipes to heat first greenhouses and then commercial spaces. the Romans began perfecting this system by creating layers of tile, concrete, and an additional layer of tile that was raised on pillars that allow the heated air to circulate more freely. Radiant floor heating systems go as far back as 5000 BC in China and Korea.Īround the third century B.C. Many people assume that radiant floor heating is a fairly new concept, but it’s actually one of the oldest ways to heat a home. Now let’s dive into the history radiant heating, how it works, and what radiant floor heating systems are used for commercial and residential applications. It’s are easy to install and cost-efficient. Water-based radiant floor heating is typically used to heat large floor areas and entire houses and usually embedded at the building phase.Įlectric radiant floor heating is a great choice for small-scale projects such as warming up your kitchen floor or a cold bathroom. Of these three, the most commonly used are electric and water-based systems. In this article we cover three main radiant floor heating systems: electric, water-based, and air floor heating.

This method of heating is much more efficient and comfortable than systems that heat the air with the heat coming from the ground up, the room’s temperature will feel much more consistent with no cold spots or drafts. Radiant floor heating systems warm the objects and people in the room directly by infrared radiation. That’s what will happen if you have radiant floor heating installed in your home. Imagine stepping from a warm bed or shower on a cold day onto a warm floor.

Radiant heat flooring