Radiant heating/cooling in ceiling vs floor

seattleradiant

What is the recommendation on whether radiant heating and cooling is better done as panels in the ceiling vs in floor concrete slab? Should I be concerned about the floor being too cold to the touch when cooling? Thanks.

Harvey Ramer

Radiant heating is best done in the floor and Radiant cooling is best done in the ceiling. If you want to do both heating and cooling, but only want to put tubing in one of, the floor or ceiling, it then depends on your local climate and average seasonal length of heating and cooling. For instance, In an area that has a 7-8 month heating season and a 3 month cooling season, I would likely put the tubing in the floor. And vice versa.

There is a significant difference in floor cooling capacity versus ceiling cooling capacity. Ceiling being the higher capacity. Ceilings also typically offer a higher heating capacity than floors do. This is do to a higher surface temperature threshold and no obstructions to heat emittance, that are typical on a floor.

The systems are simple on the surface but quite complex from a design and control aspect. We do have off-the-shelf controls available now that makes these systems function properly.

Unless you live in a dry climate, which doesn't sound like Seattle, you will want you radiant cooling system tied in with an air cooling system that is designed for high latent cooling capacity.

Gordy

Ceiling. A ceiling panel will offer a higher cooling capacity with less barefoot discomfort as in the same way of heating capacity.

Alot also has to do with the floor assembly as well as the ceiling assembly type. Examples being embedded tube in concrete slab, verses a plated over the top floor, or ceiling assembly. Mass.

Then it's owner dislikes. Some don't mind, a cold, or overly warm floor for a period of barefoot contact. Others prefer neutral. Neutral being 74 ish. With ceilings it's a none issue. So long as the dew point is controlled in either method.

The control of it all is complex. As mentioned you still need to maintain humidity levels below dew point, or nasty things besides discomfort happen.

jumper

Ceiling is the best if you can find somebody who knows how to do it. Dehumidifiers are now efficient so they're the best method to control humidity even when you have central air.

Rich_49

Ceiling would be better