Which is a better heating system for a new home - Forced Air, Hot Water Baseboard, or In-floor Radiant?

Question

Seem to me that Forced-Air is the worst for allergies. Hot water Baseboard is good but more expensive to install. And Radiant is the most expensive to install, and if there's a problem with it, you have to break open the foundation to fix it. Also we want to put real solid hardwood floors, and those are not compatible with In-Floor Radiant Heating.

I am leaning toward either Forced-air or Hot Water Baseboard.

Which is better?

Answer 1

Properly installed, you should not have any kind of a problem with the Radiant Heating, and if you do , it should be under warranty.

Answer 2

I am building a house and I am installing the radiant heating (you know, hot water tubes in the floor kind) on an elevated wooden floor, but it can be just as easily be installed on a concrete subfloor. The radiant heating tubing is laid out on the floor between furring strips (esentially spacers) that bring the level of the floor up and allow for the radiant heating plumbing between the furring strips. You just have to be careful when installing the hardwood flooring, making sure you don't nail into any of the plumbing.

The show "This Old House" has had several episodes where
they installed both radiant heat plumbing and a hardwood floor over a concrete subfloor.

The furring strips are secured to a concrete subfloor with concrete anchors. These anchors look like nails, but hardened and driven into the concrete with a driver that uses .22 caliber blanks. Sears carries this driver and the .22 blanks. You would have to go to Home Depot or Lowe's to get the concrete anchors.

Another consideration is to buy an air cleaner to cut down on airborne allergens in the room.

Answer 3

Always consider long term costs when comparing prices, if choosing forced-air don't forget to add in the cost of replacing the filters, and the cost of cleaning your duct-work, both of which can add up to quite a lot over the years. Baseboard is quieter and gives off a more even heat (higher initial cost)where forced air is louder and the temperature is not as consistent. Whichever you choose, remember you'll live with this decision for a long time, and regrets are not cheap. If you prefer baseboard for its advantages, then cut initial costs on items you will replace in a few years(like flooring/fixtures/furniture)-chances are you will have the same type heating system forever.

Answer 4

Forced air gives you the option in the future for central air conditioning. We built outr home 2 years ago and put hot water baseboard. It is a quick way to heat a space and less noicy than forced air.

Another consideration is how do you planon heating your domestic hot water? We have something called a "Super-Stor" that constantly maintains 50 gals or so of hot water. the water is heated by our furnace. We hardly ever use our baseboard heat though because we have and use a woodstove. Would you consider heating with a woodstove??? Or a pellet stove??? These are perhaps the most intense beautiful forms of home heating.

good luck.

Answer 5

Radiant is the best if you can afford.
Radiant heats objects such as wall, concrete.....forced hot air is only heating the air.

Something to consider..........
Look at cost of radiant system plus A/C system (if needed) with ductwork compared to forced air heat and just needing condenser and a-coil.

The cost of hot air with A/c installed upfront will be substantially cheaper than radiant with a/c and ductwork. You can have the builder install an electronic air cleaner and if you want to go to the extreme, HEPA filtration system that will seriously reduce dust, pollen, etc.

**Deal with a very reputable company if you decide to go the HEPA route. Motor selection and duct sizing is extremely critical!

Good Luck!
Newt



Good luck with your choice!

Newt

Answer 6

If you can afford radiant then get it($14 per sqft).
I have horrible allergies and what works very well for me is baseboard heat and central air conditioning.
The central air keeps the house dry in the summer, the baseboard heats without mold, dust etc...

Answer 7

From an economic standpoint a forced-air system is hard to beat. And incorporating air-conditioning is easiest with a forced-air system. Hydronic systems are subject to leaks and freezing. Indoor air quality can be aided with the installation of UV light, HEPA filter system, and humidification. Allergies are hard to deal with with any system. Every time you open an exterior door, you invite irritants to come calling. A positive pressure would do it, but is costly and impractical. Sometimes the best things in life are the simple things. So - forced-air wins!

Answer 8

If you have allergies and pets, stay away from the forced air heating system. Go with the hydronic baseboard. The new oil burners have a very high efficiency and you can vent through a wall with a power venting system. I just installed one for a good customer and the power venter is spectacular.
Good luck with your decision.

Answer 9

go with forced air heating. with forced air you filter about all the air in the house in about a half hour of operation. if you add a hepa cartridge filter or an electrostatic filter to this you have a real nice mold/pollen/dust removal system.

another thing to consider.....unless you dont want a/c you still need ductwork and an air handler.

as far as whats the cheapest to operate :
1) geothermal heat pump
2) air to air heat pump with gas backup (duel fuel)
3)air to air heat pump with electric backup
4) air conditioner with gas heat

of course if you reverse the list you have a list of up front (installation) costs

get with a NATE certified hvac dealer and get plenty of bids on going every way

hope this helps,
Possum

Answer 10

What do you want all the inherent problems for? A gas fired iron boiler w. rads lasts 50 years and can be converted to all types of gas if natural runs out.