What is radiant heat?
Examples of Radiant Heat There are examples of radiant heat all around us: the sun heating a roof, a bonfire, or a radiator heating up a room, (hence the term radiant heat.) When the sun shines down on the roof it warms the roof without coming into actual physical contact with the roof. When the radiator is turned on, it warms the entire room. But for the homebuilder or home owner, the term radiant heat is shorthand for a radiant heating system. A series of pipes connected to a water heater and a pump which delivers hot water, and therefore heat to all parts of a structure. Although relatively new to American builders and consumers, nearly 70% of all heating systems installed today in Europe are radiant heating type systems. Radiant Heat’s history Radiant heat technology has existed since Roman times. Romans invented the Hypocaust system, which is a form of central heating. Hypocaust means “heat from below”, and it comes from the Greek words hypo and kaiein. Hypo means below or underne
In general, radiant heat is heat energy that is transferred through electromagnetic radiation in the form of light. We usually refer to it as thermal radiation. Much of the heat that is radiated this way is propagated in the form of infrared radiation, which is light just below the optical spectrum.
Radiant heat is transmitted from a heat source via rays just like rays of sunlight. These rays pass through the air without heating it since only solid objects can absorb the heat they transmit. Dark colours absorb more radiant heat than lighter colours. This is why light coloured clothing is cooler than dark coloured clothing.
Radiant heat is what you feel when heat transfers from a warm surface to a cooler surface. What is convection heat? Convection heat is what you feel from air heated by warm air furnaces, heat pumps, and baseboards. The warm air is distributed mechanically or through natural convection. Why is radiant heat better than convection heat? 1) Long wave radiant energy is the most efficient form of heat transfer. 2) Radiant heat is healthy, comfortable heat. 3) Airborne dust, pollen, and germs are reduced by the elimination of blowing air. 4) Building air pressurization losses are minimized and relative humidity is unaffected. 5) Operating costs are lower. Why is heat from the ceiling best, doesn’t heat rise? Ceiling placement eliminates obstructions to radiant heat transfer. Actually heat doesn’t rise, it’s hot air that rises, creating natural convection like that from baseboard heaters and other warmer surfaces. So, the ceiling is best. Will the floor be warm if heat is on the ceiling? Yes,
