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A home heating system utilizing radiant heat will feature elements installed in the floor, walls, or ceiling that heat the surrounding surface rather than the air, which is how most home heating systems function. Hydronic systems are the most popular type of radiant heating and operate with tubes of water heated by electricity, gas, or other fuels. For indoor use in new construction homes, the tubing is often installed in the floor, but for existing homes, baseboard heaters or radiators offer an alternative option that require less tear up. Radiant heating can also be added in wall or ceiling panels. In addition to hydronic systems, electric radiant heat is also an option. Although it is less expensive to install, the operating costs are often higher. Hydronic heating is the most economical solution, especially for whole-house heating. How Radiant Heat Works Radiant heating takes advantage of heat that travels through empty space. People who come into contact with warmed air directly feel its effects, much as a person does from sitting in the sun or in front of a campfire. The heat is conducted through objects to warm them. Since heat rises, cool air moves in to be heated. As the whole floor heats up, so does the room - and at a lower cost than with other heating systems. In contrast, the forced air heating systems that are in most homes depend on the convection principle of circulating heated air out of vents with blowers. Air is not a good conductor of heat, so these systems may not do a good job of warming a large space unless the whole area is heated at great expense. Typically, hydronic radiant heating systems used specially designed boilers with external tubes or pipes that were heated by the internal mechanism and then radiated heat out into the room. Some current radiant systems use a boiler that is more like a residential hot water heater that heats domestic hot water as well as spaces. Once the hydronic heating is installed on top of a subfloor in a home, it is ideally covered with a material such as ceramic tile, which conducts heat and provides additional thermal storage. Other types of floor coverings may decrease the efficiency of the system. The same principle of warming objects closest to it also makes hydronic radiant heating useful outside in melting ice and snow on roofs, gutters, or driveways. Hydronic radiant heat is also used to heat swimming pools. Advantages Of Radiant Heat Advocates of traditional radiant heat sing its praises for many reasons. • The design of radiant boilers minimizes heat loss, so more heat tends to stay in the interior space and is less likely to escape through doors and windows. • With radiant heat, it is easy to "zone" your home to regulate the temperature in each area. You do not have to heat unused rooms. • With no ducts to clean and no air contaminated by passing through dirty ducts, radiant heating is clean, quiet, comfortable, and virtually maintenance-free. • Energy bills are lower, as the system is more efficient due to reduced air loss through ducts. • The system can utilize virtually any energy source to heat the water. Despite the many advantages of radiant heating, it is the type of system that is best installed during new construction, remodels, or housing additions. Adding wall heaters is more feasible on existing construction. Seeking Professional Installation Properly installing a hydronic radiant heating system so that it adequately warms habitants in the appropriate zones in the house requires a competent professional plumber. There are some DIY systems on the market, but working with a heating contractor or plumber with experience in installing radiant heat systems will ensure that you have selected the right type of boiler to achieve the zone heating you want. Proper system design is essential to maintain the benefits of radiant heating. Professional installation also ensures that the installation complies with local building codes. The last thing you want is to make a big investment in a system that does not work right because of your lack of knowledge. When you want to sell your home, a system that is not up to code may have to be removed or corrected in order for the sale to go through. If you choose hydronic radiant heat, you won't be disappointed with the performance and monthly energy savings.
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home heating system, home boiler, boiler repair, boiler installation, radiant heat, radiant heat benefits, energy efficient heating,
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