There is a long history of buildings being heated with hot water, this practice extends back to the ancient Romans.

 

Modern houses now utilise far more advanced techniques with hot water, providing cost effective heating that is both safe and requires minimal maintenance.

 

The advantages of heating the floor of the house with hot water are numerous.

Firstly, there are no drafts. This prevents the spread of germs and illnesses.

Secondly, the system is virtually silent. It also feels natural, as if the weather outside is pleasant, rather than artificial heating.

Furthermore, heating the floor directly wastes very little heat. Rather than have hot air rise and be lost through the ceiling the warm of the floor rises to heat the room.

 

Hydronic systems must be either installed as a house is built or it will require the removal of the existing floor. An alternative to this is electrical heated floors, which may be an option if the building is already complete. The water for hydronics may be heated with gas, furnaces or electricity. The environmentally conscious may want to use solar power instead, which will definitely reduce long term heating costs.