I have a Hardy 180K btu heater that I use to heat an 1888 farmhouse in central Georgia. I have plenty of room on the Hardy to add add'l pumps. I recently built an 800 sf shop with a 500 sf bonus room above that I'll be using as a music studio. I would like to keep the studio at about 60 to 65 degrees at all times and crank it up if I know I'm going to be in it for a while. I'd rather not have the noise of a furnace blower, although I can position and insulate the blower so that the sound won't be a real problem.
I'm also considering installing PEX tubing (and heat exchange plates) below the floor and relying only on the radiant to heat the studio. The ceiling on the shop is still open so I won't have trouble installing the PEX. I will also be heating the shop with a suspended space heater which will also be powered by the Hardy; possibly on the same lines as the studio. I'm a home builder and well versed in HVAC/Mechanical so I'll do all the work myself.
That's my situation, here are my questions:
Is radiant floor heat better than forced air in this application?
Does radiant consume more energy than forced air?
Any help appreciated.
DJ