Will the Infloor® Radiant Floor Heating System provide all of my heat?

In most cases modern insulating techniques make it possible for Infloor Heating Systems to provide all of a building’s heating requirements, even in the most extreme environment. There are times however, when supplementary heating may be required.

Buildings or rooms with large heat losses can present a problem. For example, a large living room with a vaulted ceiling and a full wall of two-story glass would present a problem for any heating system. The high heat loss of the glass coupled with chilled air cascading down the window will need special attention. A very effective solution is to combine an Infloor Heating System with a baseboard heater under the windows to counter the extra heat loss and cascading air in that area.

Another factor that can interfere with the ability of the Infloor Heating System to provide complete heating is heavy floor covering. Plush carpet in a well designed and insulated building is not a problem, but plush carpet in an area with a lot of glass or higher than average heat loss can reduce the output of the heated floor to the point where it cannot deliver all of the heat required. In this situation a lighter floor covering can be used, the heat loss of the room reduced, or supplemental heat added.

The option for supplemental heat is designed into the Infloor residential floor heating system for use when needed and becomes part of the complete system rather than a separate independent system. This gives the Infloor floor heating system flexibility to handle a variety of situations.

What about air conditioning?

Most often a seperate air-conditioning system is installed. This could be a simplified central system or a split system with strategically placed units. The advantage is zoned cooling. Using zoned cooling and placing air registers in the ceiling (where they should be), will result in summer energy savings.

What is the possibility of my Infloor system freezing? Should I put anti-freeze in the system?

Anti-freeze isn’t needed in most systems unless the system will be shut off for extended periods of time under freezing conditions, in a cabin or second home, for example. Usually the system is left running at a lower thermostat setting when the building will be unoccupied for short periods of time.

Will the load-bearing capacity of the floor need to be increased when Infloor Heating is used?

The recommended thermal mass are underlayments manufactured by Maxxon® Corporation. You can use either Therma-Floor® or Rapid Radiant™. Both products weigh around 15 lbs. per square foot when poured at 1 ½" which is similar to a typical tile bed. The structural floor should be adequate to withstand design loads with a deflection limitation of L360. So in most cases, the load bearing structure will not need to be altered to accommodate Infloor Heating.

We plan to have carpet in several rooms of our new home heated with Infloor.
Are there any special carpet installation requirements we should be aware of?

Carpet and Infloor work beautifully together, so carpet to your heart’s content! Our only tip is to be sure to use a low R-value carpet cushion to allow proper heat transfer from the floor. The ideal carpet cushion is called the Infloor Carpet Cushion available through Infloor Radiant Heating, Inc. To order, talk to your local Infloor contractor or call 1-800-588-4470.

Our interior designer has selected a variety of rustic stone floor coverings, none of which are as smoothly finished as traditional ceramic tile or marble. We love the look, but are they compatible with Infloor?

Feel free to be as creative as you and your designer want to be. All stone-type floor coverings, from the traditional ceramic and marble to rough-cut slate and granite, provide the ultimate in heat conductivity. They’re also where Infloor’s benefits are most obvious.

We’re building our new home with Infloor heating and wood flooring in most of the main
floor rooms, but we’re not sure whether we’ll use solid hardwood or laminate flooring yet. Do you have information on installation options?

You bet! Generally speaking, wood floors can be installed using a floating floor, glue-down installation method or a wood sleeper system. For more detailed information on installing wood floors please call 1-800-588-4470.

Can Infloor Heating be used in industrial applications like truck garages or warehouses? How about snow melting?

Infloor Heating has available 1/2", 3/4", or 1" tubes, making it possible for circuits of up to 1,000 feet. Infloor's ability to deliver high flow rates makes the system ideal for even the toughest heating challenges like snowmelt projects.

Infloor Heating provides the ultimate in comfortable, dry, safe, warm floors making it perfect for:

· Schools, churches, daycare centers, offices
· Commercial buildings, shopping centers, manufacturing plants
· Airplane hangars, repair garages, car washes
· Greenhouses
· Animal confinement buildings
· Ice and snow-free runways, parking areas, loading ramps, driveways and sidewalks