Water Temperature For Radiant Floor Heating

A pump kicks on and water runs from the water heater and into the floors.

Water temperature for radiant floor heating.

Radiant floor heating and hardwood floors humans appreciate floors temperatures that are controlled to above 66 f 19 c in cooling and below 84 f 29 c in heating. All surfaces within the room are heated to the same temperature as the floor. You will need to be aware of the incoming groundwater temperature as cold water will drop the overall water temperature. Typically radiant heating systems warm floors to temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees f.

As warm water circulates through the tubing or as electricity warms the heating elements the concrete flooring turns into an efficient inconspicuous radiator. You really only need a maximum of 120 f for your floor. When floors are conditioned within this range most people wearing normal footwear will enjoy having their feet on the floor. According to ashrae the american society of heating refrigerating and air conditioning engineers a floor temperature that creates optimal human comfort for most people lies just about at 75 f as shown in this graph.

This includes the walls furniture and of course you the occupant of the building. That temperature is safe and comfortable as well as being efficient. If you can see the numbers on the gauges in the photo the water going out is about 100 degrees and the water coming back is about 80 degrees. In order to heat the floor the radiant floor heating system uses warm water running through plastic tubing that is installed in the floor.