Is Radiant cost effective to maintain?
Radiant systems that have been properly designed and installed with high efficiency boilers can save 25 to 50% of the cost of forced air systems. Once again factors such as insulation (heat loss) and large glass panel windows and walls should be calculated into the equation when the system is designed. The boilers we use should be periodically cleaned and checked. We would like see a boiler every couple of years.We have seen boilers, properly installed, that have gone for years without service and not suffered greatly from the neglect. In general , boilers and water heaters used for hydronic systems that are connected to the house water supply require a backflow preventer called a reduced pressure principal device. This actually applies retroactively to old boilers. Their purpose is to protect the house water from contamination from the heating system. These require testing once a year.
