Like radiant floors, valances allow unrestricted furniture placement. Unlike tubes embedded in the floor, they can be added to existing buildings without much trouble. Greg Baer, P.E., owner of SunQest, Inc., has been installing the Edwards valances in conjunction with radiant floor heating systems. The growing popularity of radiant floors offers another opportunity for radiant cooling. With the addition of a control device and one or two valves, the same hydronic tubing can cool a home as well as heat it.
Condensation is the main issue.
If the relative humidity of the air is between 60 and 70 percent, condensation can be prevented by keeping the floor temperature between 63 degreees F and 68 degrees F. Comfort is another issue. As a general rule, Olesen recommends that the temperature of a radiant floor not drop below 68 degrees F in order to prevent condensation and maintain comfort. The temperature limitation affects cooling capacity. This may not be sufficient for cooling-dominated southern climates. However, in energy-efficient homes, this limited cooling capacity may be adequate.