What is under-floor radiant heat?

Under-floor radiant heat is a type of central heating that employs pipes filled with fluid or electrical wiring underneath the floor to heat a home via radiation, convection and conduction. Evidence of this form of heating has been found dating back to around 5000 B.C.

Because the heat radiates from the floor, under-floor systems distribute warmth more evenly throughout a room than air heating systems. Hot water under-floor systems are also more energy efficient because channeling the water uses very little electricity. One drawback is that these systems are difficult to install once a structure is built because doing so entails removing the entire floor.