Why include radiant heat? For many, many years radiant heating systems were considered a pure luxury. And the perception was that it only had a place in very high-end homes. Not true! While the addition of in-floor radiant heat does represent additional up-front cost, it’s an addition that provides numerous health, comfort, and energy savings benefits … which is why we included its installation in the early planning stages.

The ranch-style design, and slab-on-grade foundation of this home offered the ideal opportunity to include radiant in-floor heating, and the direct exchange geothermal system was designed to produce the radiant hot water supply required – more savings! 

HTH consulted with radiant expert Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr (seen here) for guidance in the design phase, and contracted with Hot Rod’s company - Show Me Radiant - for the installation.

In addition to the insulated panels, we insulated the “lip” between the floor surface and the exposed edge of the footer around the entire perimeter to protect against air leaks. By doing so we accomplished a consistent insulated surface throughout. 

Hot Rod and his crew installed the tubing in such a way as to zone each room individually - a great option created early in the process, and allows the homeowner to assign controlled heating zones at a later date. The total tubing circuit was divided in two sections with each section having its own manifold which further facilitated the ability to create zoned areas after the pour.  Hot Rod’s expertise provided us several options implemented early in the process that we might have missed had we attempted to install this system on our own.  And because this entire tubing circuit is then covered by a concrete pour, there are no second chances. Just another example of the confidence we gain when hiring the professionals for these types of applications.

The installation of controls, manifolds, and circulation devices are featured in the Water Quality section of this site.