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How does radiant heating warm a room without directly heating the air first?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
In a thermoelectric generating system a heat source—usually fueled by coal, oil, or gas—is used within a boiler to convert water to high-pressure steam. The steam expands and turns the blades of a turbine, which turns the armature of a generator, producing electric power. A condenser converts any remaining steam to water, and a pump returns the water to the boiler.
heating In a thermoelectric generating system a heat source—usually fueled by coal, oil, or gas—is used within a boiler to convert water to high-pressure steam. The steam expands and turns the blades of a turbine, which turns the armature of a generator, producing electric power. A condenser converts any remaining steam to water, and a pump returns the water to the boiler.

Radiant heating warms a room by transmitting heat via thermal radiation from a heated surface, such as a floor, ceiling, or wall, rather than by heating the air directly.12

In these systems, electrical conductors, hot-water pipes, or warm-air ducts are embedded within the building's surfaces. These surfaces emit infrared radiation, a form of electromagnetic energy that travels through the air and is absorbed by objects and people in the room. Because this radiation is absorbed by surfaces and bodies rather than the air itself, it provides a direct sensation of warmth. This process differs from conventional systems like radiators or convectors, which primarily rely on convection to circulate warmed air throughout a space.123