If I had my choice of heating systems, I would pick radiant floor heating. I wish it was cost-effective to tear out my furnace and ductwork and replace it with a hydronic heating system. My current forced air system is noisy, introduces contaminants into breathing air, and the heat is typically trapped up near the ceiling. The ductwork requires constant maintenance because of holes, leaks at the seams and accumulation of debris within the pipes. Radiant flooring relies on hot water provided by a boiler system. Boilers are known for quiet, efficient and reliable operation. The boiler links to a looping series of pipes that are concealed beneath the floor. The equipment takes up no room in the house, never detracting from space or aesthetics. There’s no need to arrange furniture to accommodate vents. Not only is the radiant system tucked out of sight, but it runs silently and requires no maintenance. The heat is spread evenly across the floor, from wall to wall and corner to corner. Because it rises very slowly, heating all the objects in the room, there’s very little stratification between floor to ceiling. The warmer temperatures remain closer to the floor, which allows for lower thermostat settings. The easy set up of zone control provides further opportunity for cost savings. There’s no need to heat empty rooms, and independent temperatures cater to personal preference. Plus, it is a closed system, which avoids bringing in any outside air pollutants. I think that standing barefoot on a heated floor, in the middle of the winter, would be the ultimate in luxury.