Radiant Floor Heating Systems
In the beginning, it wasn’t all about forced air heating systems. Instead, there was radiant floor heating, a system that is in many ways superior. In this article, we’ll discuss how radiant heating systems differ from regular heating systems, and that the advantages are to choosing one system over the other.
First, a word on regular forced air heating systems. This is what most people have in their house these days. These systems utilize a central heating system to heat up air and pipe it through your house using a system of ducts. This system works well much of the time, and is popular for a reason. You can get heating and cooling through the same set of ducts, and enjoy comfortable temperatures year round.
However, forced air systems have some downsides. Because the heat isn’t constant (the furnace turns on and off), you don’t always get continuous heat. Also, since the ducts in a room are only at certain spots, the heat doesn’t spread through the room extremely well, leading to uneven heating in the room. This leads to the ever dreaded “cold spots” in the room.
To help solve this problem, radiant floor heating takes a completely different approach. Rather than pumping heated air into a room, radiant heating “radiates” heat upwards from the floor, leading to comforting, even heat. This is accomplished by means of pipes full of hot water or some sort of electrical system installed underneath the flooring. For cooling, a traditional forced air duct system is used.
Radiant floor heating is considered rather luxurious for several reasons. Since the floor itself is being heated, it is a joy walking around in socks, or barefoot. The heat rises up from the floor, blanketing the room in warmth. Since the heat is coming from under every part of the room, there are few cold spots. A great system, to be sure.
The biggest downside of these systems is cost. If you’re building a new house, it isn’t too hard to get one of these systems installed, but if you’re remodeling, the effort can be very serious. This is one area where hiring a professional installer will really, really save you a lot of headache. Still, if you’re looking for the ultimate in heating systems, look no further than a radiant floor system.
If any of this interests you, be sure to read around the site to found out more. Choosing to install a radiant heating system isn’t a small decision, so be sure to consult with some qualified professionals beforehand. You will be glad you did.