Low Mass Radiant Floor Heating

Essentially once set to the desired temperature they will heat up cool down instantaneously to reach that temperature.

Low mass radiant floor heating.

High mass systems in comparison are very slow to reach the desired temperature typically taking a few hours. Low mass construction is characterized by the inability to store heat. A low profile line voltage system it features gradual warmth from low wattage resistance heating of ultra thin flexible radiant heat film. For example a staple up radiant floor or a radiant ceiling system does not have the ability to store heat.

High mass versus low mass in a radiant system in the past radiant heat had a good reputation for comfort once the floor reached the correct temperature. Warmboard s panels are a 1 plywood underlayment which is considered to be low mass compared to concrete or gypsum concrete which have a much higher mass even at 1 thick. Choice of material. One of the criticisms of radiant floor heating especially those systems where tubing is embedded in slabs is that it cannot respond fast enough to temperature swings.

House is 1830 sq ft. Slabs can take a long time to either heat or cool which can be problematic especially in spring or fall when there are. Providing quick heat up avoidance of over heating and greater zone control. All 7267 square feet of the home are supplied with a combination of in slab and above floor radiant utilizing uponor oxygen barrier tubing ep radiant manifolds and sunboard radiant panels.

But the high mass systems which were common in the 1950s took many hours or days to reach the correct temperature. Installed easily over a subfloor or over an acoustic insulating underlayment as part of the overall floor assembly it uses just 12 watt per square foot to gently raise the temperature of the floor. With low mass radiant with the tubing above the subfloor you get better than an order of magnitude shorter time constant making it far more suitable for reaping real savings from a setback strategy. Low mass heat emitters like the panel radiator shown can react much faster and thus reduce temperature variations.

Low mass radiant systems respond quickly to desired changes in the thermal environment. A licensed radiant floor heating mechanical or plumbing. Radiant floor heat is cheaper warmer less fluctuation and easier to control with 4 zones. The reputation of high mass is that temperatures are hard to control said drake.

Thermalboard is many times more responsive than a cementatious thermal mass. A low mass radiant floor heating system.