Radiant Heating System Experts in Chatham & Throughout Northern NJ

Radiant heating systems provide an efficient option for home heating

Radiant heating systems are so named because they transfer warmth by radiation, from one object to another.

Unlike forced-air heating systems that warm a room quickly by filling it with heated air, radiant heating systems typically raise room temperature more gradually.

There are several different types of radiant heating for houses, but they all work on the same principle and offer the same advantages. Pipe Works Services is your local expert for radiant heating repair.

Why choose radiant heating

Whole-house radiant heating systems are often divided into different heating zones, giving homeowners control over what rooms get the most heat. This allows you to only heat the areas that are in use, saving you money on heating costs.

Radiant heating systems are also often preferred when family members are prone to allergies and respiratory ailments. Unlike forced-air heating systems that can circulate dust and other airborne irritants, radiant heat doesn’t require air to be blown around.

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Common Problems with Radiant Heating Systems

While radiant heating systems are highly reliable, certain issues tend to arise — especially in older or complex hydronic systems found in homes across Northern & Central New Jersey. Our technicians often encounter:

• Leaks in tubing or manifolds – These can show up as cold spots on your floor or slight water stains near the system.
• Air-locks or stubborn cold zones – Air trapped in loops disrupts circulation and causes uneven heat or warm-floor sections that stay cool.
• Faulty mixing or zone valves – If valves fail, your system may overheat a zone or stop supplying heat entirely.
• System inefficiencies due to worn boiler or controls – Older boilers or mismatched controls reduce benefit of radiant systems in our climate.

What to Expect When We Arrive

When you schedule a radiant heating repair with Pipe Works Services, here’s our process:

1. Diagnostic inspection: We use tools like thermal imaging & pressure testing to locate leaks or flow issues with minimal disruption.
2. Repair plan presented: After identifying the problem we’ll provide a clear quote, timeline and whether any adjacent work (like boiler servicing) is recommended.
3. Repair execution: We carry common parts in-truck and plan for any necessary floor access, manifold work or zone valve replacement with minimal mess.
4. System optimization & documentation: Once the repair is complete we balance zones, bleed the system, test performance and provide you with documentation for your records.

• Hot Water Baseboard Heating: Also known as hydronic baseboard heating, this is the most common type of radiant heating used in houses. Hot water supplied by a boiler is pumped into pipes in baseboard radiators, forcing cooled baseboard water back to the boiler for reheating. Closely spaced fins on the pipes promote heat radiation and also heat transfer by convection.
• Old-Fashioned Radiators: These bulky, upright radiators can still be found in some older houses. They were typically supplied with steam rather than with hot water. Because it takes more energy for a boiler to produce steam, these systems are not efficient. That’s why they’re usually replaced with modern hydronic baseboard radiators or compact, wall-mounted radiators.
• Radiant Floor Heating: All radiant heating systems depend on thermal mass as a means of storing and radiating heat. In a hydronic radiant heating system, water provides the mass. With radiant floor heating, the flooring material provides the thermal mass. With hydronic radiant floor heating, warm water circulates beneath the finished floor in long runs of plastic pipe. With electric radiant floor heating, electric heating cable is installed beneath the finished flooring. Electric radiant floor heating isn’t practical as a whole-house heating system. Instead, it’s most commonly used in bathrooms, beneath a tile floor.