Heating and air conditioning don’t get most folks’ blood pumping, but warm Italian tile on a frigid winter’s morning just might. Forced air furnaces are masters of idiocracy. Hot air is distributed through a labrynth of poorly insulated and balanced ducting, often spilling into registers located too high to transmit heat efficiently.

With radiant heating, warmth emanates from the floor which is efficient and comfortable. Floors and beds stay nicely warm, and there is no dehumidifying effect to dry your skin and mucous membranes. Upper stories can be supplied with radiant floor tubing, which is covered with Gyp-Crete lightweight concrete.

Radiant heating is naturally effective. Water carries more than 3,000 times as much energy compared to air, and no blower fans are required. A small, properly sized boiler heats the water which is naturally distributed through the floor tubing. Thermostats control zones which can be closed via a solenoid if no heating is required.

Newer on the scene is radiant ceiling cooling. Radiant cooling has a natural condensation effect which has prevented the technology from going mainstream, but recent tweaks have eliminated the nasties.  By chilling the water less, radiant cooling is now an option for virtually any residence. With fluid chilled to a temperature of 64 degrees, inside humidity would have to exceed 64% for condensation to form.

Tubing for radiant cooling is best applied over ceilings and covered with Gyp-Crete to minimize the risk of damage and punctures, and heat pumps can effectively cool the fluid. If properly designed and sized, radiant cooling is now a real option for a vast majority of the country.

As an architechtural solution, combining radiant heating with radiant cooling allows for the elimination of ducts and registers. Besides the obvious aesthetic appeal, there are no ducts to clean of mildew, mold, pet hair, dander and pollens. Your nose will thank you!