Radiant Heating in San Francisco

No Ductwork Required

Victorian flats, Edwardian homes, and Sunset bungalows were never designed for forced-air ductwork. Routing ducts through 100-year-old framing requires major structural work. Radiant heating runs through tubing in the floor with no structural compromise.

• Ideal for ADUs and garage conversions where there’s no room for ductwork
• Works with any floor covering — tile, stone, engineered hardwood
• No visible registers or grilles — completely invisible in the finished space
• Quieter than any forced-air system — no blower motor noise

No structural compromises to vintage framing

Efficient in SF’s Marine Climate

SF’s foggy, consistently cool climate is ideal for radiant heating. The moderate, steady heating load means a well-designed system runs at its maximum efficiency point. With a condensing boiler or heat pump, you get 90-97% efficiency delivering exceptional comfort.

• Low-temperature operation maximizes condensing boiler and heat pump efficiency
• No heat loss through ductwork — 100% of energy reaches the conditioned space
• Floor-level heat stays with the occupants, not the ceiling
• Air-to-water heat pumps achieve COP of 3-5 in SF’s mild climate

Exceptional comfort for cold, foggy days

Expert Hydronics

Radiant heating is all we do. No HVAC generalists who dabble in radiant. Our exclusive focus on hydronic systems means you benefit from deeper expertise in design, installation, and troubleshooting — from an Outer Sunset ADU to a Russian Hill penthouse.

• System design included — we size the tubing, heat source, and controls correctly
• All brands serviced — from original Victorian radiator systems to modern combi setups
• DBI permit filing and inspection management standard on every project
• 20+ years exclusively in hydronic systems across all SF neighborhoods

Exclusive focus on radiant heating systems

New Construction & ADUs

Full radiant system design and installation for new builds, ADU conversions, and garage habitations throughout San Francisco.

• → New construction & ADU radiant
• → In-slab and subfloor systems
• → DBI permit filing included
• → Title 24 compliance

Get a New Construction Bid

Remodels & Retrofits

Adding radiant to existing Victorian flats and Edwardian homes using retrofit methods that minimize disruption to finished spaces.

• → Remodels & additions
• → Joist-bay staple-up
• → Low-profile panel systems
• → Zone control upgrades

Get a Remodel Assessment

Service & Repair

Troubleshooting and repair of existing radiant systems — from cold zones to boiler issues to pressure problems.

• → Cold zone troubleshooting
• → Zone valve replacement
• → Boiler integration service
• → All brands serviced

Contact Us

Can radiant heating be added to a Victorian flat in SF?

Yes. We use joist-bay staple-up systems installed from below for rooms with crawl space access, and low-profile panel systems for slab areas. Both methods work in Victorian buildings with minimal structural impact.

What’s the best heat source for radiant in San Francisco?

A combi-boiler is the most common in SF — compact wall-mounted units handle both heat and hot water in one unit. Air-to-water heat pumps are increasingly popular for full electrification and pair well with solar.

How does radiant work in an ADU conversion?

Radiant is standard for ADU and garage conversions in SF. We install tubing in the concrete subfloor or use thin panel systems, then run separate zone controls so the ADU has fully independent heating from the main house.