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 Frequently Asked Questions - Heating

What is radiant floor heating?

Answer
Uponor Radiant floor heating is a comfortable and efficient form of heating where warm water circulates through flexible, specially designed PEX tubing installed under the floor. The heat radiates evenly up through the floor warming people and objects in the room and providing more comfort for less money.

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What makes radiant floor heating so comfortable?

Answer
Unlike traditional heating systems that just warm the air, radiant heating warms the floor and the objects in contact with the floor. The entire floor distributes a consistent, even and quiet heating. There are no drafts and radiant floor heating takes the chill out of cold tile, marble and wood floors.

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How long has Uponor Radiant Floor Heating been around?

Answer
Uponor Radiant Floor Heating has existed for more than three decades. We've been making the PEX tubing used in our radiant floor heating systems since 1970, longer than any other PEX tubing manufacturer.

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What is PEX tubing?

Answer
PEX (crosslinked polyethylene) tubing is a specially designed plastic tubing with distinctive properties that make it ideal for radiant floor heating and plumbing systems. Uponor produces PEX-a tubing, which is considered the superior type of PEX.

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What's the difference between PEX-a, PEX-b and PEX-c tubing.

Answer
Currently, three methods for producing crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing exist:

  • Engel or peroxide method (PEX-a)
  • Silane method (PEX-b)
  • E-beam (electron beam) or radiation method (PEX-c)

All three processes generate tubing that is crosslinked to varying degrees, and are acceptable for potable water distribution applications according to ASTM F876 and F877 standards.

Uponor manufactures Engel-method PEX-a tubing. The PEX tubing industry considers this tubing superior because the crosslinking is done during the manufacturing process when polyethylene is in it amorphic state (above the crystalline melting point). Because of this, the degree of crosslinking reaches around 85% (higher than the other methods), resulting in a more uniform product with no weak links in the molecular chain. Learn more about why PEX-a Tubing is better.

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What if the tubing leaks?

Answer
Leaks are not a concern with Uponor PEX when the system is properly installed. With a life expectancy of more than 100 years, Uponor PEX tubing has withstood the most extensive tests in the industry for over 30 years. What's more, all our PEX tubing is thoroughly inspected before it leaves our manufacturing plant. We also offer a 30-year limited warranty when installed by a Home Comfort Team (HCT) member.

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Can the floor get too hot?

Answer
No. A properly designed radiant floor heating system will deliver comfortable warmth that's a pleasure to walk on - especially in bare feet! If additional heat is needed to satisfy the heat load, additional warmth can easily be added by installing radiant walls and/or ceilings. Uponor offers technical design support as well as design software.

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We already have a concrete floor in the basement. Is it too late to install the Uponor system?

Answer
Not at all. Our Quik Trak™ system is perfect for remodeling or retrofit projects. Quik Trak is installed over a plywood subfloor. It's great for putting radiant comfort in a basement or anywhere in your home.

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Is it possible to just heat the ceramic tile floor in our master bath?

Answer
Absolutely. Uponor radiant floor heating systems are flexible, meaning you can heat the entire home or only those rooms you want to heat. The bathroom is a popular area of the home to heat.

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We're not ready to make this investment right now. Can we rough the system in for the future?

Answer
We offer Radiant Ready™, in which the PEX tubing is installed in the slab during construction and you can complete the system later. This adds relatively little to the cost of a poured floor, but can add a great deal to the value of your home later.

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If I have radiant floor heating, can I still have air conditioning?

Answer
Sure you can. In fact, separate heating and cooling systems really make the most sense. Radiant floor heating keeps the heat near the floor where it does the most good; and air conditioning ductwork is placed only where it is needed to cool your home. The result is optimal comfort and efficiency all year.

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Do you offer a warranty?

Answer
Yes. We are so confident of the quality of an Uponor radiant floor heating system that we offer a 30-year warranty on the tubing when installed by a member of our Home Comfort Team (HCT).

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Our family has allergies. Can an Uponor radiant floor heating system help?

Answer
Yes, our radiant heat system has no drafts, fans or blowers to circulate dust, dirt and other allergens throughout your home. Warm radiant floors can eliminate the need for carpeting which is a breeding ground for dust mites, a very common cause of allergic respiratory disease. The result is a clean, healthy environment —a must for people with allergies.

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Does Uponor install the radiant floor heating systems?

Answer
Uponor does not install radiant floor heating systems. However, we have a national network of professional installers, Home Comfort Team (HCT) members, who are trained by Uponor to install radiant floor heating.

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What if my contractor doesn't know how to install a radiant floor heating system?

Answer
We can put you in touch with someone who has been trained and knows how to install a radiant floor heating system or we can also offer to train your contractor. Find an installer.

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What is the Home Comfort Team (HCT)?

Answer
The Home Comfort Team (HCT) is a national network of thousands of independent contractors who are Uponor-trained in the proper design and installation of our radiant floor heating systems. They use sophisticated Uponor software that makes it easy to calculate, design and install a system that meets your specific needs.

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How can I find a Home Comfort Heat (HCT) member?

Answer
It's easy. Just click on Find an Installer or call (800) 321-4739 and we'll provide names of HCT members in your area.

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Do you have references?

Answer
Yes. Ask your Home Comfort Team (HCT) member for the names of satisfied customers in your area or check out our case studies to see what satisfied radiant floor heating customers have to say.

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