GeoForce Energy Solutions is proud to be able to offer you low temperature radiant in floor heating systems.

Underfloor heating is a unique traditional form of central heating gaining newfound popularity. It primarily utilizes radiant heat for indoor climate control, whereas other forms of indoor heating (for example, from a radiator, blower or fireplace) rely mostly on convection. Underfloor heating can be used with concrete and wooden floors, with all types of floor covering (e.g., stone, tile, wood, vinyl, and carpet) and at ground level or upstairs, although choice of floor finishing requires careful consideration because changes of floor finish may affect performance.

Thermal comfort

Radiant heating is arguably superior to convection methods because warm, buoyant air rises wastefully to the ceiling in convection-heated rooms, warming the upper body (often with some discomfort, particularly to the head) but leaving the lower body cooler. In contrast, in-floor radiant heating warms the lower part of both the room and the body because when warm air convects from the radiant floor surface, it loses approximately two degrees Celsius at two meters above the floor. This imparts a feeling of natural warmth, since the limbs should ideally be warmer than the head. (The most acceptable indoor climate is one in which the floor temperature ranges between 19 and 29 °C and the air temperature at head level ranges between 20 and 24 °C.)

Humidification may still be needed for thermal comfort with a radiant system, but, for a given relative humidity, likely less humidification is needed than for forced-air heating due to the lower supply air temperature. Asthma sufferers may benefit from underfloor heating because it reduces the airborne circulation of both dust and dust mites.

Aesthetics

Underfloor heating is invisible from above and does not use valuable wall space with unsightly heating equipment. In a sense, the entire floor is a radiator, although, because of its area, it need not reach the high temperatures of a steam radiator. It has a particular advantage in public areas where exposed hot or sharp surfaces can be dangerous and unsightly.

Energy efficiency

Air-infiltration heat loss is reduced slightly with radiant heat because with radiant systems, the air is only warmed to the temperature of the thermostat setting, so the temperature differential at the outside wall is less, thereby reducing air infiltration due to the stack effect. This is because air infiltration and exfiltration increase as the difference between inside and outside temperature [AT] becomes larger, and so when heated air from a furnace or baseboard heater flows against relatively cold exterior walls, the increased temperature differential results in a stack effect that draws cold air into the house through any cracks.

Also, glass, particularly low-e glass, reflects long-wave radiance produced by residential radiant systems, creating a "greenhouse effect" that serves to contain radiant energy within the heated building cavity, reducing heat loss.

We also carry a complete line of fireplaces, high efficient furnaces and HRV (hear recovery ventilation) systems. We only use industry proven, quality brand name products from companies like Trane, Lennox, Econar, Life Breath, Water Furnace, Unico and Rinnai to name a few. For detailed descriptions on the high quality products we can offer you for your project, please click here.