Just a quick survey on opinion of radiant heating for heat in central Kentucky. We have predominantly heating degree days here, but sometimes temps will swing up to 70 and back to 30 in the course of a day. Would radiant heat be uncomfortable in this type of situation? We have a 2.5 story home, approx 1900 square feet. Radiant heat would go on top of the existing second floor and under the first floor's floor. Still debating the pros and cons and thinking through all our options. Thanks! Marli

A critical factor will be how much thermal mass there is. Ie, embedded in concrete (slow) or fins in wood (not as slow).

good point jonr!

The floor is wood and the structure is brick and we are planning on using lots of insulation to slow the impact on the internal temperature of outdoor temperature swings.

The radiant would go above or below wood floors.

Weather sensitive controls following design temperatures for the heat load and specified (versus convenient) radiant panel. First thing is to have a room-by-room heat load analysis performed on dedicated software by and experienced professional.

All else might as well be hot air.

Badger, do the rooms need to already be insulated to do the heat load analysis? Or would specs for insulation be enough for the calculations?