Comfortable, efficient heating for residential and commercial spaces. Don't fear the cold floors anymore.

Radiant heating

What do people love about radiant heating?

Radiant, sometimes called under-floor, heating is a way to heat a building by circulating warm water through a network of RAUPEX^® piping, typically embedded in concrete.

The warm surfaces radiate to the objects and people in the space, creating a comfortable environment.

You don't need to step out of the shower on to a freezing tile or sit in a different part of the office to avoid a forced-air draft anymore!

The Milwaukee Art Museum showcases fine art and an unseen masterpiece in radiant heating design.

If a thermostat reads 70°F (21°C), will everyone in the room be comfortable? Probably not. The temperature of the surfaces around you, air speed coming out of your vents, humidity and air temperature are factors that your heating or cooling systems can address. Your clothing and metabolic rate also contribute to your comfort. Together, these are the six primary factors that influence human comfort. With radiant, you can control more human comfort variables. Specifically, you can adjust the actual surface temperatures of the objects in a space by emitting heat through a network of PEX pipes hidden in the floors, ceilings or walls. By changing the temperature of the surfaces around you, less of your comfort depends on the temperature and velocity of the air in a room.

Key benefits

Save ~30% on your heating bills with well-designed radiant systems.

Room-by-room control
Do you like your bedroom a different temperature than your bathroom? With radiant, you can create many zones in your building. That means you could maintain a warm floor in a bathroom, while keeping the adjacent bedroom cooler.

Flexibility in architectural design
Architects love radiant, because you can reduce the HVAC clutter in a space. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright even used radiant in his iconic Fallingwater House. Radiant heating is often used for floors, but can also be installed in walls and ceilings.

Energy efficiency
Low supply water operating temperatures and large surface areas are key for reducing fuel consumption. In best cases, the water for a radiant system is warmed by energy-efficient, condensing boilers or renewable energy sources.

How it works

Heat emission from the human body occurs mainly via four mechanisms: radiation, evaporation, conduction and convection. Humans feel most comfortable when they can regulate at least 50% of their heat emission via radiation.

As an example, you feel warm when you stand in direct sunlight, even on a cold day. While the air temperature may be cold, the warm radiation from the sun feels nice. With radiant heating, the entire floor of your home can be a warm heat source, radiating heat to warm your skin. As an added bonus, all of the objects on the floor warm up, so no more ice cold chairs.

Human comfort is a complex topic. Experts at ASHRAE have developed a building standard focused on human occupancy. Robert Bean, host of healthyheating.com also has great explanations for how all of the complexities of comfort work together.

More about radiant installations Radiant FAQs

Radiant distribution piping & connections

Whether you are a residential contractor needing to distribute hot water to radiant manifolds or baseboards, or a commercial contractor needing to distribute hot water to a snow melt system or cooled water to a chilled beam system, anywhere you're using hydronics, PEX pipe can be the distribution method.

REHAU account manager Donna VanMeter explains why PEX is a highly workable, robust and quick-to-install piping system in an article for PHCP Pros.

Read PHCP Pros Article

Commercial references

While forced-air is essential for ventilation and humidity control, it makes sense to cover more of the building’s sensible heating load with radiant. Water carries 3,500x more heat energy than air. HVAC designs that use a hybrid radiant and downsized/optimized forced-air system are an excellent way to address high-performance buildings, without sacrificing occupant comfort. Radiant excels in large commercial spaces, with high ceilings. Warehouses, hangars, schools, offices and zero energy targeting buildings are great fits for radiant.

FedEx Air Hangar | Anchorage, AK

Radiant heating makes a big difference for a busy FedEx facility.

Belmont Farm Supply | Belmont, ON

Radiant heating keeps floor temperature right for fertilizer storage while efficiently conditioning expansive warehouse

UBC Student Centre | Vancouver, BC

The LEED® Gold certified building, designed in part by the engineering students themselves

High Altitude Aviation Training Site | Gypsum, CO

One-of-a-kind military aviation training facility has a heating/cooling system to match.

Sweetwater Spectrum Campus | Sonoma, CA

Quiet and efficient were goals for this radiant design, in a home for adults with autism.

SDcourthouse_PhotoByBruceDamonte_08 - 98678

San Diego Central Courthouse | San Diego, CA

RAUMAT is a great fit for this high-traffic, modern courthouse.

National Museum of the United States Army | Fort Belvoir, VA

Army museum enlists REHAU radiant system for climate control

University of Chicago Campus North Residential Commons | Chicago, IL

Creative radiant heating and cooling achieves ambitious energy goals.

University of Washington Life Sciences Building | Seattle, WA

REHAU Radiant Heating and Cooling Helps University of Washington Handle Solar Loads.

Sheridan College Davis Campus | Brampton, ON

Trade school living laboratory uses radiant heating and cooling.

Mercedes-Benz Dealership | Burlington, ON

Dealership provides modern features and customer comfort with radiant heating and SIM systems.

YWCA Toronto Elm Centre | Toronto, ON

Radiant heating and cooling system featuring an innovative thermally activated slab / geothermal HVAC design

Solaris Town Center | Vail, CO

Radiant systems help keep town center safe and warm.

Spring Creek Mountain Village

Radiant and geothermal combine in eco-minded mountain village

JSF High School | Brampton, ON

Toronto-area high school achieves comfort, energy efficiency goals with radiant heating and cooling.

Steamboat Springs Promenade & Plaza | Steamboat Springs, CO

Snow and ice melting system clears the way for ski resort fun.

Waterloo Emergency Medical Services | Waterloo, ON

REHAU Radiant Heating System Helps Waterloo EMS Facility Achieve Ontario’s LEED Gold Rating

Milwaukee Art Museum | Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Art Museum showcases fine art and an unseen masterpiece in radiant heating design.

Carved Stone Creations

REHAU radiant heating system helps create magical, calming atmosphere

Earth Rangers Centre | Woodbridge, ON

A radiant heating and cooling system helps a wildlife refuge, hospital and education centre achieve high energy efficiency goals.

Residential references

REHAU radiant heating is compatible with a variety of floor coverings, including hardwood, carpet, vinyl, ceramic, tile and natural stone. You have flexibility with the finishes in your home, with the added comfort benefits of warm floors.

Mulmur Township Residence | Toronto, ON

REHAU mechanical systems bring comfort and convenience to modern farmhouse

Sleepy Hollow Residence | Sleepy Hollow, NY

REHAU radiant heating offers comfort befitting this higher-end dream home.

Chesapeake Bay Private Residence | Easton, MD

REHAU geothermal and radiant technologies cut monthly energy bills to $100.

294 Ryding Avenue Residence | Toronto, ON

RAUPANEL gives flexibility to homeowners

BlackBirch Residence | Haliburton, ON

Dramatic lake views with year-round comfort

BioHaus Environmental Living Center I Bemidji, MN

North America’s first German Passivhaus

LUMENHAUS at Farnsworth House | Plano, IL

RAUGEO on display at Farnsworth House

Learn more about radiant

How does radiant make it in to so many zero energy buildings? Watch this 8-minute online seminar for more radiant background, energy efficiency and comfort topics.

View net-zero online seminar

Request a sample design

Radiant heating articles in publication:

What Hydronics Contractors Can Learn From Plumbing Contractors PHCP Pros 05.2021
Growing Demand for Warehouses is Fertile Ground for Radiant Heating Radiant Comfort Report 05.21
Collaborative planning enables tight radiant heating/cooling installation timeline at university Plumber 01.20
Radiant: More than just a luxury home building option Plumbing and Mechanical, 11.19
VAV vs Radiant: Side-by-Side Comparison ASHRAE Journal 05.14
Radiant Design for Performance IE3 05.14
The Path to Near Net-zero is Underfoot HPAC 02.14
REHAU Radiant Heating and Cooling Systems Deliver on Energy Efficient Goals PM Engineer 01.14

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