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Radiant Floor Heat: It Warms Your Soles But it Doesn't Empty
Your Pockets
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By Harvey Juric
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There is no doubt that radiant floor heating is a superiormethod of heating your home. Its popularity is steadilyincreasing as people discover that not only is it the mostcomfortable form of heating, but also the most cost efficient.
Though comfort and cost are the two biggest benefits of thisheating system there are many others:
-Silent operation - no hum or whistle of a forced air system.
-Inconspicuousness of the system - you don't see vents or airblowing.
-A healthier home - forced air systems can spread dust, pollen,and germs.
-Even, quiet warmth: even with wood, tile, or uncovered concretefloors.
-Also, radiant heat is less likely to dry out your breathingpassages and skin.
The warmth of the floor on a cold winter morning would probablybe enough to convince a lot of people that radiant floor heatingis the best thing since sliced bread. However, after discoveringthe cost savings, there is usually no going back.
Radiant floor heating concentrates the heat in the lower half ofa room where the human body needs it most. Since heat is evenlydistributed in the floor, the thermostat can be set 2 - 4กใ lessthan a forced air heating system. This can reduce energy cost by10-30%. Homes and building with high ceiling will save even morein heating costs as heat generated by forced air systems quicklyrises to the top of these structures, where it is of little use.
Whereas a forced air system delivers heat which quickly rises tothe ceiling - a radiant floor heating system radiates heat fromthe floor and delivers the heat evenly throughout the rooms.
In a radiant floor heating system warm water circulates throughtubing beneath the floor. This turns the flooring into anefficient, low temperature radiator.
Though Radiant Floor heating is not a complicated system, thereare components which are required, and that the homeowner shouldbe aware of - The Heating Source, The Boiler, The Pump and theTubing.
The heating source can be electricity, solar, natural gas,propane, oil, wood, or any other heating source.
The boiler, with a certified efficiency rating houses the waterto be heated. This same boiler can also be used to heat thepool, snow melting, heating a hot tub, or and domestic hot waterneeds.
A Pump is required to circulate the water though the tubinglocated under the floor.
The tubing for a radiant floor heating system is located eitherin the concrete, under wood subfloors, or on a subfloor of wood,precast concrete or concrete slab-on-grade, then covered withgypsum.
Once a homeowner makes the decision to install radiant floorheating system, contacting the right installer is imperative.
Some companies who design radiant floor heating systems may alsoinstall the system.
A qualified System Designer and a qualified System Installerwill work together and know which components work well together,capacities of various systems, special considerations forinstallations in your area, and manufacturers' warranties andreliability.
The designer should do a room-by-room heat loss analysis ofyour home or building done as well as a step-by-step systemsizing process.
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