2006-12-17 09:33:44 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It's hideously expensive, the pipework is intricate and easily breaks and it is neither a powerful nor environmentally friendly form of heating. If it does breakdown it means the floor has to be ripped up, a bad idea all round I'd say.
2006-12-17 09:43:41 · answer #1 · answered by bumbleboi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i've installed MANY radiant floor heating systems. it's only draw back is the upfront cost. it's more effeciant and a better, more comfortable way to heat. Warm feel and cool breathing air. If you run Wirsbo's HeatPex pipe there is a 25 year warranty on the pipe. And they cover a huge amount of the reair, if you ever have to. IT DOESN'T get brittle.
Also, say it's a typical spring, fall, or winter day. you can open up the windows for a little bit to get some fresh air in you house and NOT lose your heat. the slab will stay hot. If you do that with forsed air, you'll lose ALL your heat.
Another draw back is air conditioning. you sill have to run a forsed air system for that!
any questions e-mail me
dave
journeyman plumber
2006-12-17 19:04:04 · answer #2 · answered by discotheclown 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like all the previous answers are referring to hot water under floor heating. You can also install electrical underfloor heating which is much easier and less expensive to install (we did it ourselves) and very economical to run. In addition to being available for under ceramic tile applications, you can also put it under floating floors such as wood, laminate or carpet. (Carpet does decrease the effectiveness, but it still works. We installed electrical under floor heating under a Pergo floor with an area rug in the center of the room. The carpet may decrease the effectiveness, but the dog still sleeps on it, so I know it's warmer than other rooms in the house.)
2006-12-17 18:52:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thank you for the Question.
Thank you for the Answers.
I've often wondered myself.
As a rather fleeting interest of mine, I do know they now sell (Lowes/HomeDepot) DIY friendly electrical webbed-mats which are laid under the finished floor. This might negate -at least a little-- some of the upfront cost disadvantage -- especially if it's a DIY job.
2006-12-20 14:46:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cost is huge, which has already been mentioned.
Carpets reduce efficiency and there is little control on what areas of the house you can heat. At least that I know of.
2006-12-17 17:43:16 · answer #5 · answered by Caticus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The running costs. Very expensive.
2006-12-17 17:44:39 · answer #6 · answered by JillPinky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It costs a lot and if anything goes wrong you have to rip the floor up!.
2006-12-17 17:44:06 · answer #7 · answered by Old Man of Coniston!. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
primarily the cost but the valve and pump system can be quite bulky and needs to be hidden away
2006-12-17 17:36:23 · answer #8 · answered by cereal killer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cost is massive.
2006-12-17 17:36:56 · answer #9 · answered by Butt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty hard to install if retrofitting, but worth it...
2006-12-17 17:38:34 · answer #10 · answered by capnemo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋