Radiant Heat Hardwood Floor Temperature

Radiant heating as a technology is the method of intentionally using the principles of radiant heat to transfer radiant energy from an emitting heat source to an object. Radiant heat designers must know the hardwood flooring dimensions and species, subfloor style and the desired temperature of each room to develop an efficient heating system.

QuietWarmth 10 ft. x 36 in. 120Volt Radiant Floor Heating

Hardwood floor over radiant heat.

Radiant heat hardwood floor temperature. Floor coverings other than stone or tile require a maximum temperature below 85 f. Does radiant heat ruin hardwood floors? Any wood flooring that can be used over radiant heat systems must be brought into the area in which it will be installed and allowed to acclimate for at least two weeks prior to the flooring being installed.

Radiant heating also eliminates the need to extend a heating system to an addition. Thanks to the advances made in the heated floor industry, it is now possible to confidently install hardwood floors over radiant heat. Humans appreciate floors temperatures that are controlled to above 66˚f (19˚c) in cooling and below 84˚f (29˚c) in heating.

Here are some factors to take into consideration. Radiant heating may be either hydronic. This is one of the limits on radiant floor heating.

The type of radiant heat system used will determine what subfloor is used, how hot the water in the tubes must be (the lower the temperature necessary, the better it is for the wood flooring), and how the wood floor is fastened. The boiler temperature is rarely the actual circulating temperature, and if you boiler is only running at 115f it is not going to have a long life unless it is a high end unit with a stainless steel heat exchanger. The effects of in floor radiant heat on hardwood floors and potential strategies to mitigate the effects.

As a hardwood floor installer it is your responsibility to install the hardwood floor perfectly to the radiant heat system. For hardwood floors, the first step is choosing the right product. Temperature is only a factor when gluing wood directly to a subfloor.

There are many ways that radiant heat can be installed. Several wood flooring manufacturers will warranty their floors for radiant heating but that often excludes some of the species that are more reactive to changes in moisture and temperature. Radiant floors should not exceed 85 degrees f at the surface.

If the floor is required to be much over 80n f the design will not work well. Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it takes on and loses moisture according to the humidity levels in the home. Proper acclimation can help minimize this.

Radiant underfloor heat systems can dry out a wood floor which can result in gaping between boards, as well as surface. Most radiant floor heating systems we've examined run at around 115f water temperature entering the tubing of the radiant section, and you'll see by the temperature gauge at the top of this article that 115 °f was the factory default set temperature on the control of an electric radiant heat boiler we installed. This means homeowners can now enjoy the natural beauty of hickory, oak, cherry, walnut, maple, ash, and any other fine hardwood, plus the efficiency and luxurious comfort provided by radiant heating.

The heat will not shock the wood flooring causing the flooring to distort. 85 degrees is our skin temperature, so anything warmer starts too feel too warm. Radiant (underfloor) heating is a type of heating system that is placed below the floor of a building.

According to mickey moore, technical director of the national oak flooring manufacturers association, the temperatures used in floor heating will not damage the wood in any way. A radiant heater transfers heat directly through the floor, causing an even spread of heat that can reach 85 degrees. Using a radiant heat system on hardwood floors under excessive temperatures or for extended lengths of time in conjunction with poor relative humidity control can cause cracking, splitting, bowing, or cupping of the hardwood.

This easy method of heating more efficiently heats up the house without moving air, which can help people with allergies. Radiant floor heating and hardwood floors. Wood floors and radiant heat.

This can age the wood unevenly and lead to damaged flooring over time. This is very important with the method of heating you are using, which will produce more uneven floor temperatures. Tamalpais hardwood floors carries a number of floors suitable for use over radiant floor heating systems.

The maximum recommended surface temperature for radiant heat under an installed hardwood floor is 80º f. Johnson hardwood approves some of our products for installation over hydronic radiant heat systems. When floors are conditioned within this range most people wearing normal footwear will enjoy having their feet on the floor.

Hardwood Installed Over Warmboard Radiant Heat Warmboard