People who reside in the warmer states frequently use air conditioning to keep their homes cool in the spring and summer months. This technology can be convenient, but it has a few drawbacks.
Those who wish to avoid traditional HVAC can invest in a unique type of cooling called radiant floor cooling. This form of cooling has been gaining traction across the US for years.
However, you might be concerned about the costs of installing and operating such a system.
This guide will explain how radiant floor cooling works, its advantages and drawbacks over standard HVAC cooling, and how much it costs to install and operate these systems.
But first, a quick answer to the burning question on your mind.
How Much Does Radiant Floor Cooling Cost?
Expect to pay $10-$20 per square foot to install radiant floor cooling, including labor. All-in-all, you will likely spend more than $10,000 for installation. However, regarding operation, one study found that medium-size homes with radiant floors use 50% less energy than standard HVAC cooling.
So if you reside in one of the country’s warmer states and generate an AC bill of around $400 per month, you can reduce your bill by around half by investing in a radiant floor cooling system.
How Much Does Radiant Floor Cooling Cost to Install?
The cost generally varies from company to company. However, as mentioned, you can expect to pay between $10-$20 per square foot.
You should also note that the chiller or heat pump the system will use can cost upwards of $5,000. So when put together, you will likely spend more than $10,000 to install a radiant floor cooling system in your home.
On the other hand, an HVAC cooling system will set you back anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000. This figure means traditional HVAC cooling is undoubtedly cheaper to install. However, you might rethink your view on these installation costs once you learn about the operation costs for each system.
How Much Do Radiant Floor Cooling Systems Cost to Operate?
The costs to operate a radiant floor cooling system can vary depending on the size of your home. However, you should note that radiant floor cooling systems are generally much more efficient than HVAC.
These cost savings can add up over time, and you should be able to make up for the high installation costs of your new cooling system within a few years.
What is Radiant Floor Cooling?
You may have heard of radiant floor heating at some point. This term refers to a particular heating system in which water pipes are embedded underneath floors and channel heat upwards and into a room.
The basic principle is that the system conducts heat through the floor. The floor then radiates it into the room and heats the air within.
Radiant floor cooling works in a similar manner but in the opposite direction. This system draws heat from the air in a room and into the floor.
The water then absorbs this heat inside pipes embedded in the floors. The system then carries this water away from the room and replaces it with cooler water. The net result is a cooling effect caused by the removal of heat.
This cooling is vastly different from standard HVAC cooling, which cools a room by pumping cold air into it.
Radiant floor cooling offers both advantages and drawbacks when compared with HVAC cooling, so it’s essential to understand these differences before investing in a radiant floor cooling system for your home.
Advantages of Radiant Floor Cooling
Radiant floor cooling offers the following advantages over traditional HVAC cooling, including:
Quiet Operation
Radiant floor cooling tends to be quieter than HVAC cooling because none of the system’s components are in the room. The radiant floor system’s cooling pipes are underneath the flooring, and it is unlikely that sound will permeate through this sealed surface.
In addition, water in these pipes is always present while operating. This characteristic means you are unlikely to hear the sound of water flowing into an empty line unless the system is being installed or repaired.
Radiant floor cooling is an excellent choice if you’re seeking a quiet cooling method, especially compared to traditional HVAC cooling. HVAC cooling uses forced air that relies on a fan, which can be noisy, and the general sound of air rushing through a vent system is usually audible.
It is Dust-Free
Radiant floor cooling is also a dust-free method as it doesn’t rely on forced air. This quality makes it an excellent choice for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma or allergies triggered by dust particles.
Such people often have trouble residing in places with HVAC systems as they sometimes present dust and pollen along with the air they push into the room. This makes radiant cooling a superb choice for people who want to limit dust and pollen in their homes.
Efficiency
Radiant floor cooling is noticeably more efficient than standard HVAC cooling due to the principle it functions on—the cool water from the subsurface pipes does a great job absorbing heat from the above air.
It then retains this heat and transfers it away from the room, leaving it noticeably cooler. The room then maintains this cooler temperature for a relatively long time.
On the other hand, HVAC systems have to work constantly to keep rooms cool. This increased operation is due to many factors, such as duct heat gain and the distance the cool air has to travel.
Standard HVAC also causes uneven cooling. The rooms closest to the cooling system receive the coldest air, while those farther away receive warmer air that has heated up in the vents.
Disadvantages of Radiant Floor Cooling
Radiant floor cooling systems have a few disadvantages compared to traditional HVAC cooling.
These drawbacks include:
An Invasive Installation Process
Installing a radiant floor cooling system can be complicated and invasive because it requires you to remove the floors of the room you wish to install the system.
To set up radiant floor cooling, you will need to remove the furniture and other items from the room before the installation process can begin. You also won’t be able to reside in or use your room during installation.
By contrast, setting up an HVAC cooling system is far less invasive. For example, a professional can place vents without you having to remove all the items from the room.
Potential Water Damage
Radiant floor cooling systems rely on water to operate, which can cause issues if one of the system’s pipes begins leaking. A minor leak can create significant problems such as floorboard warping.
Mold can develop under the floorboard if such issues aren’t addressed immediately.
Such issues aren’t likely to occur with HVAC cooling systems as they do not rely on water and do not operate under the floorboards.
Condensation Problems
Radiant floor cooling also creates a unique problem where moisture from the cooled air condenses and accumulates on the floor. As a result, the floor could become wet when the cooling system is in use.
Modern radiant floor systems work around such issues with the help of an integrated controller that monitors the dew point. This controller ensures the floor never reaches a temperature that would cause the air in the room to condensate.
Do Radiant Floor Cooling Systems Require Maintenance?
Radiant floor cooling systems do need to be maintained periodically. However, you can complete these maintenance tasks without having to remove the floorboards.
For example, these systems must be balanced using a balancing valve controlling each zone’s water pressure. A technician can check the valve pressure and make adjustments periodically. This maintenance can be done relatively quickly and isn’t expensive.
Final Word: Is Radiant Floor Cooling Suitable for Your Home?
Radiant floor cooling systems could be the right choice if you’re looking for an efficient cooling solution for your home or commercial space.
However, you should note that these systems work best on solid surfaces such as slate or concrete. So if your space has carpets, you will need to remove them to get the best performance from your cooling system.
It would help if you also were prepared to foot a relatively high installation cost. However, once this process is done, you will start saving on your energy bill and should be able to recover the installation costs within just a few years.
