In-Floor Heating

Hydronic Radiant Heat for Wisconsin Homes

There is no better feeling on a January morning in Wisconsin than walking on a warm floor. In-floor radiant heat delivers even, comfortable warmth from the ground up, eliminates cold spots, and runs whisper quiet without blowing dust around. Once you have lived with it, regular forced-air heat feels primitive.

Doro Plumbing installs and services hydronic in-floor radiant heat systems for homes across Washington, Dodge, Ozaukee, Waukesha, and Jefferson counties. We work with hot water (boiler-driven) systems only. We do not install or service electric radiant systems. Hydronic radiant is what makes sense for whole-home and whole-room applications, and it is what we know.

Where In-Floor Heat Works Well

In-floor radiant is a fantastic match for:

• New construction of any size, where the system can be designed in from the start
• Basement finishes, where concrete slab integration is simple and the result is a basement that feels just as comfortable as the main floor
• Additions and additions over garages, where heat loss is high and you want to make the space genuinely livable
• Bathroom remodels, especially master baths and walk-in showers
• Whole-home retrofits in older homes where the existing heating system needs replacement anyway
• Commercial and ag buildings: shops, garages, and outbuildings where reliable warmth at floor level matters

It is not always the right answer. Adding radiant to a finished home with existing heat is more invasive than it sounds. We will tell you straight when it makes sense and when it does not.

How It Works

Hydronic radiant heat works by circulating warm water through tubing embedded in or under the floor. The floor itself becomes a giant low-temperature radiator. Because the entire floor is doing the heating, the water temperature is much lower than what is needed for baseboard or radiators, which makes the system efficient and comfortable.

The major components:

• Boiler: heats the water, typically a high-efficiency condensing unit ideal for radiant low-temp operation
• Manifold: distributes water to individual zones
• Tubing: PEX or PEX-AL-PEX tubing run in loops through the floor area
• Circulator pumps: move water through the loops
• Mixing valves: temper the water down to the right temp for the floor type
• Zone controls: thermostats and zone valves that let each room or area heat independently
• Outdoor reset controls: adjust water temp based on outside temperature for maximum efficiency

Installation Methods

We handle radiant tubing installation in three primary ways:

Slab-on-grade: tubing is fastened to insulation and rebar before concrete is poured. The cleanest, most efficient installation. Standard for new basements, garage floors, and slab construction.

Staple-up: tubing is stapled to the underside of the subfloor between joists, with insulation below to direct heat upward. Works for retrofits in homes with accessible basements or crawl spaces.

Plate or panel systems: aluminum plates clipped to joists with tubing channeled through, providing better heat transfer than bare staple-up. Slightly more expensive but more efficient.

The right choice depends on whether the project is new construction or retrofit, the floor finish you want, and your budget.

Floor Coverings

Radiant heat works best with floor coverings that conduct heat well:

• Tile and stone are ideal
• Engineered hardwood works well with proper installation
• Solid hardwood requires careful species selection and humidity control
• Concrete with stains or polishes works beautifully and is the natural choice for slab radiant
• Carpet is not a great match because it insulates against the heat you are trying to deliver

If you have a specific floor finish in mind, talk to us early in the planning process so we can size the system correctly for that material.

Service and Repair

Existing radiant systems need occasional service. We handle:

• Circulator pump replacement
• Manifold and zone valve repair
• Boiler service for the water heater driving the radiant loop (see our boiler service page)
• Glycol fill and concentration testing
• Air bleed of zones that have lost flow
• Mixing valve service and replacement
• Leak detection on accessible portions of the system
• Controls upgrades, including outdoor reset

For leaks within the slab itself, repair is more involved and requires careful planning. We work through the diagnosis and repair plan with you so you understand the scope and the options before any concrete work happens.

Planning a New System

If you are planning a new build, an addition, or a basement finish and considering radiant, the time to call us is before construction. The system needs to be designed into the project, with insulation, slab thickness, manifold location, boiler sizing, and zone layout all considered together.

A two-page sketch and a 30-minute conversation early on saves headaches later.

Doro Plumbing · (262) 229-5632 · Hartford, WI