Secondly, radiant heat warms us through conduction. This is the direct heat transfer from the warmer floor to your feet, the same way you would feel warmer by wrapping your hands around a hot cup of tea. The heat flows from warm surfaces to cold so rather than the cold floor of your home making you more uncomfortable, the radiant floor heat increases your comfort. The third way radiant heat warms us is the more conventional method of convection. Air is warmed as it passes over the warmer radiant surfaces and as it is warmed it rises. The warmed air tempers the space you're in but unlike forced air systems, the temperatures moderate closer to the 3-6' range off the floor rather than at the ceiling. The reason for this is much less air movement to begin with.  Secondly, the air cools as it rises and the low temperatures used in radiant heat systems when properly designed will "peak" in your comfort zone rather than heating the unused space near your ceilings.

Radiant Heat History:
First used in the year 60 AD by Roman builders to warm what would have been large cold rocks in the bath houses, radiant heat has come a long way in providing comfort, energy savings, and overall aesthetic advantages that can be added to your home. Currently the most often used method of providing radiant heat is by sending a warmed liquid (water or water-antifreeze mixture) through small tubes under or embedded in your floor. Radiant heat can be added to your walls, ceilings and even your driveway to melt snow and ice. Radiant heat can also be small low voltage electric wires that heat gently under your feet. Electric radiant heat is very safe, low voltage wiring that can provide an excellent choice for a small area that may be inaccessible or impractical to heat with a fluid system. Electric radiant heat is also a great answer to any home using its own electric generating capability or with special off peak rates. Usually the most economic way to heat an entire house will be with an efficient properly sized boiler and liquid radiant tubes. 

Energy Savings:
Energy savings can be substantial with radiant heat. As much as 50% energy savings is not unrealistic. Savings come in many forms with radiant heat. Lower water temperatures require less energy to heat with. Instead of heating air or water to nearly 200 degrees, a radiant system will work well with temperatures from 75° - 130° degrees. For every 3 degrees you lower the supply temperature of a heating system you save approximately 1% in fuel. (190°- 100° = 90° ÷ 3° = 30% fuel savings) There are less wasted BTUs with the distribution system. Without the drafts, without the uneven temperatures, and wasted heat near the ceilings, radiant heat can save 10-15% just because of its superior distribution of the heat. Radiant heat is easy to zone. This means that instead of heating the rooms you're not using you can set the thermostat back to a lower temperature. By zoning the heat, your savings in energy can be from 5-25% on large homes. Overall the small extra amount that it will cost to install a radiant system over a forced air system will be paid back in energy savings in 5-7 years in most cases.

Health:
Radiant heat is cleaner because it does not require the air movement that forced air, or to a lesser extent baseboard systems, need. If you think baseboard systems don't need air movement to be effective, try blocking the lower air intake next to the floor in a room and watch the temperature difference on a cold day. The air movement is what spreads dust, bacteria, germs, pet dander, radon, smoke, and contaminants around your home. One of the leading causes in the US for respiratory illnesses according to the American Lung Association is traced to heating systems that force air movement through the home. Air heat systems (convection heat) can be adapted to try to correct the problems but drive the systems operation prices higher without adding the comfort of radiant heat. Elaborate and expensive to maintain Hepa filters, UV light purification systems, and electronic air filters are all popular options that try to correct the problems associated with these convection heat systems.

Resale Value:
The resale value of homes equipped with radiant heat are more desirable and increase the home's value. New homeowners get added comfort and added savings.

Basements are ideal for radiant heat. Whether you add warm floor heating to an existing floor or incorporate the tubing into your new home. This usually damp, clammy area becomes a favorite cozy room, with added resale value to your home and added living space for you.

Vaulted Ceilings and rooms with lots of glass are a particularly hard challenge for convection heating and lend themselves very well to radiant heat. Radiant heat concentrates on heating the objects in the room and the first 6 feet of air space. There is no need for ceiling fans or high low returns.

Versatility:
Versatility is another key to the radiant advantage.  Some of the "tricks" of the trade for added comfort and convenience include these creature comforts:

   1. Wrapping the backside of the bath mirrors to eliminate "fogging"
   2. Adding a heated towel bar for warmed towels as you leave the shower
   3. Running a separate zone outside the home in garden beds for an early start to the season an extended season or to just protect special plants.
   4. By putting extra loops in a well-insulated closet, jackets and boots become heated or dry off quickly after a rain
   5. A special pet area can be created in the garage or even outside close to the house without wasting a lot of energy in the process. You can keep your pets safely protected from the cold without the mess of letting them in and out.
   6. Shower stalls and bathtub floors can have tubing directly underneath to warm the floors.
   7. Snowmelt systems are actually less expensive to run and more effective than using a paid plow service.

Contact us for heat installation services.