Radiant Floor Heating in Longmont, CO

A boiler or other heat source warms water, and a circulator pump moves it through flexible tubing installed beneath the floor, either in a concrete slab, in a thin overpour, or in panels under the subfloor. The warm floor radiates heat upward to the objects and people in the room, the same way the sun warms you on a cool day. Each zone has its own thermostat, and the system runs quietly with no moving air.

Yes. Retrofits are common, especially in bathrooms, basements and additions. In a bathroom remodel, tubing goes in before the new tile. In a basement, it can be installed over the existing slab under a new floor. Under hardwood on an upper floor, we can install panels from below in some cases or use a low-profile system above the subfloor. We will look at your construction and tell you which approach fits.

Generally, yes. Radiant heats the floor and the objects in the room rather than the air, so warmth is felt at a lower thermostat setting, and there is no heat lost through leaky ductwork. Water also carries heat far more efficiently than air. Actual savings depend on the heat source, the floor construction and how the home is insulated, and we will give you a realistic picture rather than a sales number.

Tile and stone are the best conductors and feel the warmest. Engineered hardwood, laminate and luxury vinyl plank work well when rated for radiant use. Carpet works with a thin pad, though it insulates the floor somewhat. Solid hardwood needs careful water-temperature control to avoid movement. We design the system around your floor choice, so tell us what you are planning before the tubing goes in.

The tubing itself is sealed and essentially maintenance-free. The mechanical side, meaning the boiler or water heater, circulator pumps, expansion tank, mixing valves and controls, should be inspected annually like any heating system. Hard water on the Front Range makes checking the heat source especially worthwhile. We can set up a yearly service visit so the system keeps performing the way it did on day one.

Most whole-home and multi-zone radiant systems use a boiler, and condensing boilers are a particularly good match because radiant runs at low water temperatures. Smaller systems, such as a single bathroom, can sometimes be served by a dedicated water heater. We size the heat source to the system and, if you already have a boiler, will evaluate whether it can take on the new zone.