Heatlink Radiant Heating System
 

The number one reason consumers choose HeatLink hydronic radiant floor heating is comfort. The system eliminates chilly drafts. There's no need for fans to move air around.

In today's new home designs, hydronic radiant floor heating makes even more sense. Rooms (bathrooms included) are larger, with higher ceilings and lots of tile and other cold surfaces. With forced-air and radiator heating, these spaces generally feel cold. That's not a problem with radiant floor heating; even the hard surfaces will feel warm to the touch.

The system allows great flexibility when it comes to furniture arrangement, too. With forced-air or radiators, occupants must strategically place their furniture to accommodate grills or radiators. With radiant floor heating, furniture can go anywhere because there are no grills or radiators.

The Basics

At its most basic, hydronic radiant floor heating involves heating a structure by pumping warm water though specially designed tubing laid under or within the floor. The heat in these tubes radiates to the surface and rises evenly throughout the room above. The surface itself stays comfortably warm to the touch. This tremendously efficient heat transfer results in even and consistent heating.

Warm air rises, of course, and collects near the ceiling. In a home heated by convection, ceilings are always warmer than floors. With radiant floor heat, the opposite is true. The floor is warm, and so is the air up to the height sensed by the occupants. Thus, people within the space feel much more comfortable at lower temperature settings because the heat is coming from the floor.

HeatLink PEX tubing which delivers the heat is laid on the subfloor and covered with a flowable lightweight concrete. It can also be installed in the lower level concrete floor, or underneath the joist space-which is called a 'dry' or 'staple-up' installation.
The system allows any floor surface to be placed above it, including carpeting, ceramic tile, vinyl flooring, and wood.

Comfortable and Efficient

The surface temperature of the floor is designed to be no higher than 88 degrees F (31 degrees C), so it's always comfortable to walk on. HeatLink operates at the lowest possible water temperature to heat the structure. This level provides the most efficient transfer of energy. There are no wide temperature variations that you experience with forced air or radiator systems. It's also quiet! There are no noisy fans or radiator expansion noises to contend with, just quiet comfort. Energy efficiency is one of the system's strong points because the system delivers heat where it's needed, with little waste. A thermostat can be put in every room of the house, and unoccupied rooms can be set back to save energy.

Types of Systems

There are two types of systems, "wet" or "poured" systems, where the PEX tubing is encased in a gypsum or concrete based topping, and "dry" or "staple-up" systems, where the PEX tubing is held against the underside of the subfloor.

"Wet" or "Poured" Systems

Installation on Top of the Subfloor



Installation for Ground Floor

Example

This home made use of "wet" or "poured" radiant floor heating systems throughout the entire house. The installation on top of subfloor was used on the main and second floors (2964 square feet). The basement and detached garage used the ground floor installation (approx. 1500 square foot basement and 720 square foot garage). The picture to the right shows the PEX pipe rough in and TwistSeal distribution manifold. The inset picture shows the area after the concrete had been poured.

"Dry" or "Staple-up" Systems

Example

This home completely heated by radiant floor heating, consisting of 2254 square feet. Not shown in the picture is the mandatory foilbacked insulation that is placed underneath the pipe and plate assembly to prevent heat from radiating down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will it last?
PEX pipe will last as long as the structure. PEX pipe has been in use for over twenty years in Europe and life cycle testing has demonstrated that PEX can last in excess of seventy years. PEX is an inert material, virtually indestructible by common elements. HeatLink warranties its tubing for 25 years and includes consequential damage protection of 10 ten years.

Q: What happens if a pipe breaks?
In the event that a problem occurs. HeatLink has a repair coupling that is used to repair the damage. Damage is very rare, but when it happens it usually happens during installation. The tubing is still exposed and repairs are made quickly and easily.

Q: Can I air condition?
Yes! There are several choices; conventional separate system, ductless mini splits, and high velocity. Essentially you would will end up with two systems, an air conditioning system and a heating system. There are cost and performance benefits to all three choices. We favor high velocity because, it uses very small air supplies and a central return. No large grilles, registers and noisy fans!

Q: Do I have to do the complete house?
No! Today many people choose to do the tough to heat rooms or areas. Good examples are basements, garages, high ceiling areas, bathrooms and other tile areas. Additionally, this strategy keeps the costs down and still gives you the comfort of radiant heating.

Q: What runs through the pipes?
Water! Most systems are designed to use water, but in some cases glycol is used. Glycol would be chosen if used for freeze protection.

Q: Does it heat up fast?
Radiant floor heating systems heat up and cool down slow resulting in very even heating. Once up to temperature the system will stay within one degree of the thermostats set point.

Q: What kind of boiler do I need?
Radiant systems can use boilers or water heaters depending on local code authorities.