Water Temperature For Radiant Floor Heating

Water from the floors runs back into the water heater.

Water temperature for radiant floor heating.

All surfaces within the room are heated to the same temperature as the floor. A pump kicks on and water runs from the water heater and into the floors. As warm water circulates through the tubing or as electricity warms the heating elements the concrete flooring turns into an efficient inconspicuous radiator. This includes the walls furniture and of course you the occupant of the building.

Water heaters are good for radiant floor heating because they maintain a low temperature. Typical radiant heat floor system operating temperatures typical radiant floor systems operate at 85 125 f water temperature entering the tubing and put the floor surface temperature about 5 degrees above the room thermostat set temperature. 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. When floors are conditioned within this range most people wearing normal footwear will enjoy having their feet on the floor.

You will need to be aware of the incoming groundwater temperature as cold water will drop the overall water temperature. That temperature is safe and comfortable as well as being efficient. In order to heat the floor the radiant floor heating system uses warm water running through plastic tubing that is installed in the floor. Typically radiant heating systems warm floors to temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees f.