Which Is The Better Choice For Your Home: Radiant Heat Vs Forced Air

Which Is The Better Choice For Your Home: Radiant Heat vs Forced Air

Radiant Heat vs Forced Air

Forced air heating is the most common method of heating homes. Natural gas, heating oil, and electrical furnaces send heat through air ducts and distribute out throughout the home. Today’s high efficiency models can reach annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings up to 98.5%.  That means just 1.5% of the energy is lost. Learn more about the different types of furnaces.

In the evaluation of radiant heat vs forced air, energy-efficiency plays a big role. Radiant heat is even more efficient but also more expensive.

Pros And Cons Of Radiant Heat

With radiant heat, the heating panels are in the flooring. There’s little heat loss because the panels are in direct contact with the floor beneath your feet. Instead of blowing the air out of vents, it heats the floor which provides a continuous leave of warmth.

Since almost half of the heat is generated by infrared, the warmest part of the room will be the areas close to the floor. You get the warm feeling when you’re standing or sitting instead of wasting much of the heat energy warming near the ceiling.

Pros:

• Quiet operation
• Does not blow allergens or dust into rooms
• Provides even and more energy-efficient heating
• Nice, warm floors even in the coldest winters

Cons:

• Can only be used for heating (not cooling)
• Can be expensive to use radiant heat for an entire home
• More difficult to access in case of repairs, such as leaks

Another advantage of radiant heat is that you don’t have to heat the entire house as you do with forced air systems. Just turn the heat on in the room you’re using. If you’re heating multiple rooms, you can control the heat level in each room for even more comfort.

Radiant heat doesn’t refer to how the heat is produced. Its name refers to how the heat is distributed in your home. It won’t warm the air in your home in the way a forced-air heating system will. It warms surfaces, such as your floor. Typically, a boiler is used to heat water and then circulate it through coils.

Pros And Cons Of Forced Air

Most forced-air systems use natural gas to produce a flame to heat the air, which is then distributed throughout your home via ductwork. There are also electric models, including electric heat pumps, that can also warm the air and blow it into your home.

In the evaluation of forced air vs radiant heat, one significant thing to keep in mind is that radiant heat cannot be used for cooling. You would need a separate system for air conditioning. With a forced-air system, you can heat rooms quickly – and cool them quickly as well.



Pros:

• Forced air systems can be used for both heating and cooling
• Can improve air quality by using high-efficiency air filters
• Forced air helps circulate air in the home
• Less expensive to install

Cons:

• You can hear when the heater is in operation
• Blowing air can stir up dust or allergens
• Can be heat loss while in transit in ducts, or if there are leaks

Forced Air vs Radiant Heat

Radiant heat is more efficient. You’ll save some money on your energy bills each month. You may even qualify for rebates from your utility company or tax breaks for installing radiant heat. However, it’s expensive to install.

Forced air is cheaper to install and repair. It can also be combined into an HVAC unit that can heat your home in the winter and keep your house cool in the summer.

Which is the better choice for your home? The choice depends on your budget, your home, and your personal preferences.