Radiant Systems

Radiant walls and ceilings are an excellent solution for situations where walls and or ceilings are being built, moved, or changed, and access to the framework is available. Because radiant heat travels in any direction, radiant wall and ceiling heating is very useful and practical. Radiant walls and ceilings are much like radiant floor heating in that they create a radiator out of the partial or complete panel, providing rich, even, comfortable temperatures throughout the room.

The same principles utilized in floor systems apply to walls and ceilings in that hot water is circulated through tubing behind the finished surface and the entire area then becomes a radiator. This method is particularly appropriate when access to the floor is restricted or not available, such as with slab-on-grade construction and certain retrofit and remodeling situations. Radiant wall and/or ceiling systems are an excellent solution when a room has carpet and pad or some other thermally resistive finished floor. Some rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms, have much of the floor occupied by base cabinets, islands, fixtures, appliances, and other objects that reduce the useable portion of the floor compared to the room as a whole. These rooms usually have largely unobstructed ceilings that provide ample heat to the room. The heat is absorbed by objects below, such as the floor, countertops, bath, shower surfaces, and occupants.

Radiators are used in both new construction and remodeling projects. They can be the exclusive heat emitter or be used in conjunction with any of the other system types we offer. Radiators are ideally suited to virtually any set of conditions. They can be individually controlled allowing for total flexibility with respect to zoning and comfort. Our team designs classical cast iron or modern flat panel steel radiator systems.

Flat panel radiators distribute both convected and radiant heat. As with radiant floors, walls, and ceilings, heat is radiated away from the panel and warms anything it can “see.” Walls, furniture, people, and anything else in the area absorb the radiant energy given off by the radiator. At the same time, air passes through the panel, absorbs heat, and is lifted into the room. Cooler air is drawn in at the bottom, being heated as it moves upward, and a convective circle of imperceptibly moving air is created. The result is an incredibly comfortable heat.

Radiant panels have other benefits as well. They can be controlled individually, allowing for zoning and even-temperature distribution. This is particularly meaningful in south-facing rooms with large expanses of glass, which may be warmer during the day and cooler at night than other rooms in the building. Panel radiators are quick, responsive, and quiet. They are an excellent solution for situations where in-floor radiant or wall/ceiling radiant is not practical, such as certain types of construction and certain retrofit and remodeling applications.

Panel radiators can add to the overall appearance of a space and are also available in architectural configurations, acting as space dividers, benches, and accents. Radiant panels offer flexibility with respect to furniture placement and other décor, and are available in a variety of colors and sizes. Radiant panels are the standard in many parts of Europe and Britain. Advanced Hydronics, Inc. uses only state-of-the-art European-made panels. Like radiant floor heating systems, radiant panel systems are silent, clean, and hypo-allergenic. Dust, germs, and odors are not circulated throughout the building. These systems too, are thermally luxurious and work in a wide variety of applications.

Hot water baseboards can also be used in a variety of circumstances including new construction and remodeling projects. Like radiators, baseboard units can be individually controlled, and they offer an economical solution to your heating needs. Hot water baseboard utilizes conduction and convection principles to deliver heat to a room. Hot water is piped to the baseboard unit, which is a copper pipe with a series of square aluminum fins around it, and a decorative sheet metal cover that has vents at the top and the bottom. The heat in the water conducts through the copper pipe, into the aluminum, which is an excellent conductor, and is then absorbed by the air around it. Since heated air rises, it flows out of the vent at the top and cooler air is drawn in through the bottom. This effect creates an imperceptible cycle of moving air, rising up and away from the unit, outwards, then downwards, and then back into the unit. It is quiet, dust and draft-free, and hypo-allergenic. The result is a very comfortable, evenly heated room.

Hot water baseboard heating systems provide an excellent solution for situations where access to the underside of the floor is restricted and/or rooms with a thermally restrictive floor covering such as carpet and pad. This system is well-suited for new construction, remodeling, and retrofit applications.

What could be more luxurious than stepping out of the shower or bath and wrapping yourself in a heated towel? Some flat panel radiators double as towel warmers, and towel warmers are also available as separate fixtures. A wide variety of styles and colors is available to fit your specific needs. Towel warmers circulate the same hot water that is going to all of the other radiant heat elements of the system. Installation is therefore not complicated, and the result provides a wonderful, luxurious experience.