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Residential Residential applications for HRH include new construction, add-ons and retrofit of existing structures. HRH provides even, comfortable heat without the noise and air movement associated with forced air systems. HRH systems are essentially noise free. To ensure proper heat output, systems are designed on a room-by-room basis with consideration given to numerous factors about each room. Number and size of outside walls, wall and ceiling insulation, window area, floor covering, etc. are assessed for each room when designing a radiant floor heating system. HRH is compatible with most floor coverings including carpet and heavy linoleum. The type and thickness of pad and carpet, or linoleum should be carefully considered to complement floor heat. Marble, stone and wood offer the best heat transfer requiring the lowest water temperatures. Typically, floor temperatures for residential heating are in the 80° F to 90° F range. This allows an HRH system to provide up to 30 BTU's per square foot of floor area which is more than sufficient for the vast majority of applications. However, as previously stated, existing heating load conditions such as high levels of air infiltration can overwhelm the system and possibly reduce the expected comfort level. HRH is most favorable in homes that maintain relatively constant interior temperatures throughout the heating season. Since there is a lag from the time the system is initially started until it is up to heat, radiant floor systems are not particularly suited to homes where the interior temperature must vary from day-to-day or week-to-week. The hot water source must be sufficiently sized to provide the necessary BTU input to the floor. Generally, a standard residential water heater is not capable of generating enough hot water to operate an HRH system except possibly for a small home or addition. There are a number of high output water heating devices that are used specifically for radiant systems. Many of these heaters fall into the classification of boilers and may also be capable of heating or pre-heating potable hot water as well. In many cases, HRH systems can provide favorable design solutions to troublesome issues with traditional HVAC systems such as placement of bulky ductwork, floor registers and return-air plenums. A properly designed HRH system takes into account the variables noted above, and others, to provide a system which performs satisfactorily even at the lowest expected outside temperatures.