Is Radiant Heat more efficient than Forced Air?
This is an ongoing topic of debate, and there have not been any clear cut studies that have resolved this issue. Many tubing manufacturers claim that radiant can save up to 40% in energy costs. The Department of Energy advocates that Radiant is 20% more efficient than Forced Air. Whether or not these values are true, Radiant has several efficiency savers in its favor: 1) With radiant heat installed in the floor the heat is concentrated at the floor and this should cut down on the heat loss through the ceiling. 2) In a radiant system with multiple zones, an area or room that isn’t used much can be setback to a lower temperature to save money.
