Unfortunately many people are never exposed to radiant heat so they can see how great it feels compared to the forced air systems in most houses. If you know what the gentle warming of the sun feels like, you know what radiant heat can feel like in your home. It is more expensive to install in houses than forced air though, and that is why builders now usually install it instead.
Radiant heat is best installed when a house is being built because it involves putting pipes or wires under the floors. It is best to put it in right from the start as the house is constructed. If you want to have radiant heat in an older house, most people opt to install it in just a few rooms such as the master bathroom and kitchen.
There are two kinds of radiant heat and they are very different systems. The first is hydronic and it is achieved by installing pipes beneath the floors that carry hot water back and forth that heats the floors. As you can imagine, this is a big undertaking because you are dealing with pipes and water and making sure nothing leaks. Hydronic heat is much easier to install in a house that is being built as opposed to one that has already been built.
If you wish to install radiant heat in your already built house, the electric version is not only simpler to put in but also less costly. With electric heat you can install pads beneath the desired floors where you want the heat and these pads carry electric wires. Electricity will go through the wires much like it does in a toaster and the wires will get hot and heat the floors. These electric pads can be installed in as many or as few rooms as you desire with not too many problems.
Winter is a tough time for a persons skin as the air is dry which damages skin. Most homes have forced heating systems that pump dry hot air throughout the house and this just makes things worse. Once you feel and try radiant heat, you will understand its many benefits and how nice it is to have in place of the forced air. Unfortunately, most people will never get to experience it.
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