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Geothermal + Radiant Heat = Match Made in Heaven

Posted by Taylor Hendricksen on Jan 16, 2012 in Design | 0 comments

Radiant Heat & Geothermal

Geothermal & Radiant Heat. Radiant Heat & Geothermal. No matter how you order it, this is a fantastic combination of heat source and distribution system.

Geothermal heat pumps are considered low-temp heat sources, and a radiant heating system is both compatible with and great at delivering low-temp heat. This doesn’t mean the room will be colder or less comfortable, it just means the lower temp heat will be delivered in a more even and consistent way to satisfy the heating loads.

When combining these systems, the geothermal heat pump will have to be a “water-to-water” unit meaning that it puts the heat energy into a water coil like a boiler. This heated water can be used just like a boiler.

The other method is water to air, which is when geothermal heat pumps are used with duct work and air distribution which makes this type of heat pump compatible with replacing a furnace.

More Efficient

Radiant floor systems more efficient (20-30%) at delivering the heat to the room, because they heat the objects in the room rather than the air. Conventional forced air furnaces blow hot air around, and hot air rises to the ceiling, and the cold air will be near the ground. This is the exact opposite of where it is needed. Radiant heating systems also heat up the floor they are embedded in (subfloors, concrete slabs, gypcrete, etc), so they do not have to be running and circulating fluid for the thermal mass to be giving off the heat it has already stored to the room.

Greater Comfort Level

Because the heat is delivered closer to where you want it by radiating heat rather than blowing it, it feels much more comfortable. There are no drafts or cold spots throughout the room, just even heat rising up from the floor to surround you with heat and comfort. Ask anyone who has a radiant flooring system, and they will tell you they feel more comfortable, even with a lower ambient air temperature.

No noisy fans or blowers

Radiant heat systems do not have large furnaces or other air handlers that have to push hot air around the building, so there aren’t any noisy fans or blowers to constantly turn on and off, disrupting activities with unnecessary background noise.

No Visible Components

With a radiant system, there is also no large ducts and vents around the room, allowing you to decorate and arrange furniture how ever you would like. That also means no more dusting vents.

Allergy Relief

Conventional heating systems constantly blow around hot air in order to deliver heat to the building, so naturally, allergens and dust are blown in that air. This makes allergy sufferers miserable come allergy season. Radiant heat doesn’t constantly blow around those dust and allergens.

If the efficiencies of a geothermal heat pump got your attention consider matching it with a radiant floor distribution system. They are truly a match made in heaven.