Does Radiant Floor Heat Work With Carpet

Make the right choice for carpet and pad underneath so radiant heat can still warm the.

Does radiant floor heat work with carpet.

Carpet is naturally an insulator which makes it more difficult for radiant heat. A hydronic radiant floor heating unit with a boiler will run 7 000 to 13 000. Radiant floor heating with carpet underfloor heating is well suited for use under carpet provided that care is taken when choosing the carpet. Remember a radiant floor heating system can be used to augment or replace an existing hvac system but it s far more complicated than swapping out a furnace so plan any partial coverage carefully.

For radiant floor heating you want the total r value to be as low as possible lower than 4 0. Both the heating system manufacturer and the carpet pad manufacturers will have to be consulted. Both provide heating in a room from the floor up for consistent efficient warmth. The type of flooring you use will have a major effect on the efficiency of your new radiant floor heating system.

Standard furnaces last between 10 and 25 years while the rfh system will get you up to 40 years use. You need to use carpet sparingly with radiant heat because of this. To safely and effectively install wool over electric radiant floor heating it is best to have the wool carpet at 3 8 which will give it an r value of 1 575. There are two types of radiant floor heating electric and water based systems.

Carpet padding thickness it s best to use a thinner carpet padding rather than a thick padding. Carpet and in floor radiant heat work well together but it takes more coordination than usual. If you are not remodeling your floors but have some open wall space you should mount a radiant panel for the most effective results install the panel so that it points toward the area where you will spend most of the time. The rfh system is more efficient though as much as 40 percent and lasts longer.

If the carpet is thick then the r value is 2 1 a significant increase that will build a higher thermal resistance. You don t have to rule carpeting out though. It is the nature of the beast in floor radiant heat. The overall thickness of any materials above the heater needs to be taken into account too as this will ensure efficient heat transfer.

Courtesy of warmlyyours electric radiant heating cable mesh is placed on a kitchen floor. You will sacrifice cushion for heat transfer. You always have the option of putting a rug over a hard floor. Floor heating will typically add the most heat to supplement an existing heating source and it will not take any extra space since it is embedded in the floor.