How do Radiant Heating Systems & Forced Air Heating Systems compare?
Important considerations are: Type of building and materials used in the building, the occupants living requirements (number of zones/ thermostats, level of heat, heat loss etc.), location of property and availability of both energy sources and heating products. Mainly due to the much greater amount of labor required to install a radiant system the cost is about twice that of a forced air system. This cost is often recouped in the increased value of the home. Radiant systems modernize older homes and have become a much demanded heating system for high end new construction and custom homes. Part of the appeal of radiant is the longer life of a boiler, usually 30-50 years, as compared to 10-25 yrs for a forced air system. For many discerning home owners the most important feature is the clean air, quiet operation and low maintenance of the radiant system.
