Are radiant floor heating systems more (A) energy efficient and (B) cost efficient than a force air system?

Question

We live in Southern Ontario which can have some moderately (yes, it's all relative) cold winters, but not as cold the prairies.

Answer 1

Radiant heat floors are lovely.  There's nothing more efficient, because the heat is coming from the very floor itself and rising up.

I 've worked at several retirment homes that had radiant heat floors.  The elderly adore them.  

They are quiet costly to put in put front.  If you are condiering putting one in, I personally would not put one into a home that I was thinking about living in for less than 15 years.

Putting them into an exsiting home can be even pricier than new construction.

If you are thinking about radiant floor heating, what are your options for heating the water up in the tubes?  Propane, natural gas, wood....?  Make sure you really price the cost out, and think about how long you plan to live in that house.

Remember, while the cost up front is high, the overall heating costs thereafter are quiet low.  As you near retirement it will be a blessing to have very low heating costs.

When we build, we bill be installing a radiant floor heating system.  We will use a Central Boiler (brand name) to heat the water.  A Central Boiler can run on propane, natural gas, wood, wood pallets (!!), or coal.  Here's a link to them, if you are interested:

http://www.centralboiler.com/

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 2

Any radiant heat is less efficient than forced air heat. But floor radiant is more efficient that ceiling radiant. I am talking about both cost and energy efficient, because energy costs money.