Why Radiant Floor Heating Can Be A Terrific Choice For Your Dwelling
December 20th, 2010You may have heard about radiant floor heating as a cost effective method of heating your home. It is a viable alternative to forced air or electric heat and can offer you many advantages that you need to know about. If you like the idea of an cost-effective and effective heat method for your abode, you need to read more.
If you have never heard about this heating method, it really is quite unique. Instead of heated air providing warmth, a heat source in your flooring using pex tubing or electric wires transfers heat up and into the room. This ends up with a very different feel to the temperature and air quality in your house and is one reason why this heating method is so popular.
If you detest the fact that your room may suffer from miserable airflow and have cold spots throughout it, you may be very interested in radiant heating. The heat is run through the floor and since the heat source can be circulated through the entire room you may discover that cold spots are a matter of the past. Because your rooms feel warmer than with other forms of heating, you can actually often set your thermostat lower and end up saving money on your heating costs.
The main difference between types of radiant heat is the source of the heat. The first systems utilized a pex pipe which was filled with heated water. These are still very popular and are used in many homes. As the heated water passes below the flooring, the heat radiates up through the floor and into the room. Another source of heat is a wire or cable which also passes below the floor. The power to heat the wire can even come from solar panels or other green sources of energy.
One of the nicest improvements in radiant heat engineering has been the ability to use different flooring materials over the heat source. Tiling and cement flooring were, at one point, the most popular types of floors for radiant heat. Now you can still have cement flooring but you can also have wood flooring as well.
If you detest the dry air that comes with forced air schemes or electric baseboards, you may wish to think carefully about radiant flooring. The air is not as dry and the heat does not shoot up to the top of the room. You can avoid having to install duct play out and vents with radiant flooring and it can be set up when you replace your existing flooring. Allergy sufferers may also enjoy the fact that dust and mold do not pass around as easily as with forced air central heating systems.
Radiant heat can be set up by professionals who specialize in this kind of house improvement. You can also set it up yourself although you may wish to consider carefully and ask a good deal of questions before you begin. Taking the time to make sure you have selected the best system for your dwelling and lifestyle can mean you end up with a comfortable home when the temps outside begin to drop.
