Radiant Heat figure

Arc

I know water as a medium for heat would be more efficient that air would be. How can I or does anyone figure out either an operational cost or the efficiency of radiant heat versus hot air heat?

Ken_8

Right church.

Wrong pew.

The efficiency of each is dependent on the unit that fires, the system that distributes that heat and the emitter at the end. There is no statistical difference in either. There is however a stated AFUE (annual fuel efficiency utilization) that is what the government siuggests is about as close and apples to apples comparison that they can certify.

Both boilers and furnaces are capable of from 70 to 95% efficiencies. The envelope (window and insulation schedule) of the home has far more impact than the boiler or furnace. Having said all that, let's talk about the real deal. Comfort.

There is no standardized test or condition for this somewhat subjective value!

But what do I know?

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Dan Peel

Capturing numbers

We use fuzzy numbers if any. Our customers come back and bring their friends but seldom is it about pitching out some relative efficiency number. Combustion efficiency, heat recovery of condensatation, outdoor reset, backlosses and control mechanics all greatly effect overall system efficiency. If you get all the stars lined up you will provide a greater level of comfort using a lower volume of fuel. Even in less successful designs you will deliver improved comfort. Others may have the science but you need to qualify the design and discount too many variables for me to buy into a carte blanche figure. Enjoy....Dan

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hr

I like the way you put that

Dan Especially with the stars in alignment! That's critical. Permission to use that line?

Much better than some radiant DIY webpages that CLAIM 35-65% efficiency gain radiant over FA.

hot rod

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Dan Peel

At will

Thanks. You may use any line you'd like HR.
Enjoy.....Dan

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Weezbo

have you only effiecientcy #'s in mind?

there are a few things to calculate that while not directly related have costs associated with them.
..I call this factor Finacial comfort...while i consider my ability to balance and mix FA systems to a whisper...there is the maintinance side of the deal that Needs to be kept up with.here is where the financial comfort comes in sorta strong...neglect of either system has health costs that i cannot directly attribute a dollar sign or efficentcy rating To. forced air filters are cheap at half the price..however thats not the half of it...There are a great many variables in both means of delivering and distributing heat...Fire alarm systems and fire dampers are part of forced air systems...Uv ,pressurized control panels,are sometimes blown by as part of the electrical systems............. there are possibly 3 out of 10 fire safety systems that have a glitch and either dont work or perhaps never have...Maintinace of forced air systems is often spread out all over the building then sealing becomes an issue as it returns air from the wrong places and often dosent deliver a certain zone with the flow that was originally balanced so then like anything mechanical you need to actually find a guy with some very specific tools to come back behind the maint guys and re think and repair and redo things that are only mere minor technicalities to someone doing what they think to be rudimentary maintinace....let me say that i have been asked to fix things That I Positively Know were the finest systems around when they were first installed and while the installer maintained His building...it ids depressing to me to see the dust in the ducts the covers off boxes leaks on the coils wires indescriminately chopped off that controlled rooms,mixed air boxes all fricked up roof top variable speed fans locked there actuators that have been closed by force and broken off thier moorings so that there is no outside mixing occuring whatsoever...i am sad for forced air...it needs a new name balanced indoor air quality temerature moderator or something ...Space conditioning is where i think fluid moderation has to go and be now and in the future.bombarding areas with BTUS and Blasting areas with energy hungry refridgeration is a thing of the past.IAQ can be preformed without throwing money out the window sort to speak..

Unknown

as others have said

there is no simple figure and radiant systems vary in efficiency greatly from each other as well as other forms of heating.

However, if you're looking at a cathedral space, that non-number is larger, I can tell you that
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Northeast Radiant Technology, LLC

Robert Brown, Co-Owner, RPA certified Radiant Designer

207.899.2328
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