Comfortable Radiant Floor Heating distributes even, quiet warmth.

Whether your floors are wood, tile or concrete -- with or without carpeting -- they are truly comfortable. An efficient radiant heat system by Portage Plumbing & Heating can provide room-by-room temperature control. Energy usage can be reduced by up to 40%. Clean and invisible Radiant Floor Heating produces a healthier home environment by eliminating forced air systems that spread dust, pollen and germs throughout your home. It's invisible too, giving you complete freedom when decorating or arranging furniture.

Here's how it works: Hydronic Radiant Heating Systems are installed beneath the floor. Warm water circulates through specifically engineered tubing, turning the floor into an efficient, low temperature radiator that can be operated with any heat source. For the ultimate in comfort, efficiency and cleanliness, use Portage Plumbing Hydronic Radiant Heating Systems.

Radiant Floor Heating Systems can be installed in virtually any type of floor construction. Some of the three basic methods are:

* in a concrete slab

* on a suspended wood floor utilizing a gypsum / light weight cement poured floor underlayment

* underside suspended wood floor application.

Concrete - Perhaps the most common heat transfer medium is conventional concrete. Tubing may be embedded in a single pour. While concrete is an excellent thermal conductor it also presents the greatest thermal mass. In some designs such as high ceiling, garages, and large warehouses where large overhead doors are opened and closed this application is highly desirable.

At Portage Plumbing & Heating we understand tubing used in hydronic radiant floor applications must be capable of withstanding the extreme stresses that result from installation within a concrete floor slab or a structural wood floor. We use a quality aluminum imbedded tubing coated with polyethylene piping. This is the best combination of high stress plastics and metal piping to create the finest product available.

Gypsum Underlayment on Wood Subfloor - Tubing can be attached to the subfloor, wood or concrete,and a thin gypsum cement poured over it as an underlayment to the finish floor. Gypsum cement is lighter than concrete and is extremely resistant to shrinking or cracking. It can be poured thinner than concrete and is pumped through a hose making it easy to apply in hard to reach areas. Gypsum cement provides a thin(2”)thermal mass which does an excellent job of distributing the heat evenly between tubes. Although it can take up to two weeks for the moisture to completely leave the floor before floor coverings can be applied, gypsum cement can be walked on within an hour of the pour. Think about it ! What a mass radiator.

Underside - A method of installing tubing in a suspended wood floor application is that of attaching the tube directly to the underside of the subfloor between the floor joist. After the tubing is installed, insulation is placed between the joists with the shiny side up to reflect heat back up to the subfloor.

Yes! Radiant heat does work successfully with wood floors. However, among all the various floor coverings wood floors presents some unique design challenges. At Portage Plumbing & Heating, we know the importance of being familiar with the boundaries of wood floor coverings, and the methods that can be used to maximize their effectiveness. The surface temperature of a wood floor should not exceed 80 degrees. Surface temperature above 80 may, over a period of time, cause the wood to become excessively dry. When wood absorbs moisture it swells. Bottom line is this method has proven successful every time - as long as the wood is dry when installed, (< 6% moisture) shrinkage will be minimal.