Floor heat with natural gas

[Ryan_V]

How efficient is this? I'm looking at at house that has it. At first I thought it was going to be an off peak electric water heater for the floor heat, but it turns out it's natural gas... The lower level, garage and main floor bathrooms all have floor heat. Also, it has 2 gas fireplaces, do these suck tons of gas to operate? This type of heating is all new to me so I appreciate any information.

[Carpenter]

Infloor heat is nice. You run the temp of your house based on the floor temp and how you feel, not on the air temp, so it might take a little messing with to get the right temp. That's if there are slab sensors.

As for efficiency, look at the boiler. If it has PVC venting, then 90+ efficient. If metal vent 80ish efficient. Other than that, there isn't much difference between infloor cost and forced air because it's heat loss of the house that determines how much gas you'll use.

Hope that helps.

[CAMAN]

It takes alot of energy to get the floor up to temp, but once it's there it is pretty efficient and VERY comfortable. One thing that will help a little is insulate all the exposed lines to prevent heat loss in those areas.

If the gas fire places are your main source of heat then yes they will be expensive to operate. Most aren't very efficient and throw alot of the energy up the chimney. If they have blowers on them it helps but still nowhere as efficient as other forms of heating. They are made more for looks and ambiance than heating.

[Carpenter]

I agree with CAMAN. Most gas fireplaces are 80%, so inefficient.

[CJH]

Agreed. Went from a wood fireplace to a gas one in our new house. Wife ran it a ton over the holidays. Let's just say she had sticker shock with that bill!!!!

We have the electric in floor heat in our master bathroom and that is pretty sweet.