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October 25, 2008 00:10 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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If you’ve
been researching home
heating systems, chances are your head is
spinning right about now. It’s no wonder!
The number of types of radiant heaters available for
residences or businesses could make anyone dizzy in no time
at all. There’s really a lot of selection for
homeowners to choose from. Today we’ll discuss
the electric cable heating system kind of radiant
heaters. Electric cable heating systems are gaining
popularity in as radiant heaters and are ideal for
heating smaller areas (10-300 square feet) like
bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are
comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. On some
systems, the cable is be shipped as a large spool of
cable. These systems are oftentimes less expensive,
and give you the ability to space the cable how you want
and customize a layout that will heat every square inch of
your floor. Other systems have the cable attached to a
plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to maintain its
proper spacing.
Every available cable system is equally
effective, so when determining which radiant heater
system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of
the product, along with the ease of installation. Some
cables must be embedded in a separate layer of
concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can simply
be installed in the thinset.
Radiant Heaters Tip: When heating smaller
areas with a radiant heater, it is next to impossible
to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable
heating system.
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October 10, 2008 00:10 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Have you ever
gone on a ski vacation for the weekend and stayed at a
little ski lodge? A lot of the times, they’ll have a
huge fireplace in the main room with smaller bedrooms
up in the loft area or second-story. But the problem
is that when you’re in the main room with the roaring
fire, you’re often overwhelmed by the heat and
retreat to the bedroom, where it’s far
chillier. You see, many vacation or weekend homes
weren’t built with air conditioning ducts with
which to deliver the heat to the different rooms of
the house. However, there is a solution to adding
heating to homes that have not been built for traditional
forced air systems: radiant heaters.
As opposed to warm air systems (such as a forced
air unit heaters), radiant heaters deliver the source
of heat to the floor level, not the ceiling. Radiant
heaters or radiant energy is the oldest form of heating
used to provide comfort and is the basis for all
heating systems.
Additionally, radiant heaters also offer more
comfort than forced air heating by heating the
atmosphere from the ground up. Since heat rises, the
heat will be more evenly distributed, providing a much more
comfortable atmosphere.
Radiant Heaters Tip: Radiant energy is
totally pure radiation and is absorbed by an object
without physical contact with the heat source or by
heating the surrounding air, as is the case with
convective, forced air systems.
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December 15, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Who isn’t a fan of saving energy,
especially if it’s easy? More than ever
before, homebuilders, househunters, and home renovators
alike are looking for energy-efficient heating
options for houses.We say they need look no
further than radiant
heaters for their ideal home heating solution.
Learn what many others are
learning every day: radiant
heaters are the most efficient form of heat
available in today’s market.
Significantly less operating time is required to attain
and maintain the desired warmth compared to
furnaces and other, traditional methods of
heating, which keeps operational costs to a minimum.
High efficiency boilers or
electric radiant floor systems makes radiant
heat one of your most efficient ways to heat your
home. Combined with a well-insulated home these
systems can quickly warm your home and then shut
down or wait idle for long periods of time before being
called upon by the thermostat to operate.
Radiant Heaters Tip:
It might take a little effort, but being
more environmentally friendly doesn’t have to
involve major renovations. Many people waste a lot of
energy by not sealing cracks, doors and windows.
Checking to make sure a home’s insulation
is in good shape and replacing it if it’s not is
another good surefire way to stop, prevent, and
reverse energy waste.
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February 01, 2010 00:02 AM  BY WARMZONE
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Of Water and Wires: Hydronic Heated Driveways vs.
Electric Heated Driveways
'Ride the Current' or 'Go With the Flow'?
If
you’ve finally put down the shovel and decided to
purchase a heated
driveway system, will you be going
hydronic or electric? If you’re a newcomer to the
concept of driveway heating, hydronic and electric
are both popular, and extremely viable forms of
driveway heat, and Warmzone has the expertise, and
experience, to help determine which is best for
you. What these systems share in
common—four key components you should be familiar
with before purchasing a heated driveway system:
Of the components mentioned above, the
heating element and the control source distinguish
hydronic heated driveway systems from electric
heated driveway systems.
Hydronic Heated Driveway Systems: Going with the Flow
The heating
element for a hydronic snowmelt system, as you may have
guessed, involves water. Specifically, hydronic heated
driveways use what is known as closed-loop tubing
to heat the surface of the driveway. The tubing is
generally made of a flexible (and quite durable) polymer
or synthetic rubber to circulate a mixture of hot
water and propylene glycol (antifreeze). The fluid
is warmed to temperatures between 140 to 180
degrees F to deliver enough heat for snow melting.
A water
heater or a boiler is the chief source of heat for a
hydronic driveway heating system, which can be
powered by any energy source that satisfies the
btu requirements, including natural gas, electricity,
oil, wood, or even solar collectors. A circulating
pump and supply and return manifolds, installed in
an easily accessible location, transfer the water
between the heat source and tubing.
Electric Heated Driveway Systems: Riding the Current
Unlike
hydronic systems, electric
heated driveway systems use hot wires to
heat paved surfaces. These wires are surrounded by
layers of insulation, copper grounding braid and a
protective outer layer of PVC or polyolefin to
form a flexible cable about ⅛ to ¼ inch in
diameter. What’s great about the heat
cables is the flexibility of the application.
Cable is available on spools as well as pre-spaced and
woven into mats, and can be customized (cut) to
suit virtually any type of layout, including
odd-shaped driveways, common walkways and sidewalks,
etc.
After being
triggered by the snow
sensor, the control
unit then powers the heat cable to warm the
driveway. To reduce the power demands (and operating
costs), you can install cables in just the tire
tracks of a driveway rather than the entire area.
Warmzone provides complete system
design services to ensure that you receive
the best system layout and products
for your project.
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Do You Have Warm Air, but Cold Toes?
Heating
from the Ground Up, Just Makes Sense
If
you’re like most folks, the first thing
you reach for as you get out of bed in the
winter are your slippers. Then you check the
thermostat to see if the room is really as
cold as it feels. The problem isn’t in
your furnace, and it isn’t your circulation;
it’s your floors. The simple fact is
heat rises.
Heated
floors, however, allow heat to start where
it’s most needed and then radiate up through
the room. With radiant heated floors, the
first thing to get warm are those cold toes,
followed by the rest of the room. If you have
small children or pets, they spend a lot more
time close to the floor than you do. They’ll
feel the difference of a heated floor right away.
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Radiant floor heating cable, pre-spaced
and woven into an
easy-to-install mat.
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The other
thing you’ll notice or won’t notice
with radiant
heated floor systems, is the constant
white noise of the furnace. A heated floor
silently goes about it’s job of heating the
room without a lot of noisy commotion from
burners lighting up and fans blasting autumn dust
throughout the house.
Do
yourself and your toes a favor and look into how
easy and affordable it can be to install
heated floors this year. You’ll love the way
you feel, and you’ll love not having to
hunt around for your slippers.
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Radiant Heat for Custom Applications
Finding a
Radiant Heating Solution as Unique as You Are
As
temperatures plummet and heat bills skyrocket, consumers
everywhere are turning to radiant heating systems.
As the most affordable and customizable option out
there, radiant heating is quickly making a name
for itself as a titan in the heating market.
So
radiant heating
is the latest and greatest, but what exactly
is so great about it and what can it do for you? One
word: customization.
When it comes
to radiant heating, the possibilities are endless.
Warmzone can design
a radiant heating system completely
customized for your home and lifestyle, and it's as
easy as one, two, three!
Choose
The first
step of your radiant heating revolution is choosing the
type of radiant heat you want.
Indoor Radiant Heating
Radiant heating can be installed under just
about any surface, including tile, carpet,
wood, etc. Put it in your bathroom, your kitchen,
your living room—anywhere you need heat. Each
room, or zone, can be controlled with its own thermostat.
giving you great flexibility along with
outstanding efficiency. Radiant
floor heating is an affordable way to keep
your house perfectly warm without racking up the
electricity bill.
Outdoor Radiant Heating
You can also
enjoy the benefits of radiant heating outdoors. Exterior
snow melting systems keep your property safe by
preventing pesky snow and ice buildup. There
are several outdoor radiant
heating products and options, including
heated driveways, sidewalks, roof heating, pipe tracing,
and portable
heating mats; all of which will make your
life a little easier in the harsh winter months.
Design
We realize
that your radiant heating system isn't the same as the
next customer's, so we'll work with you to come up
with a radiant heating system tailor-made to your
needs.
Once we assess your project's requirements,
our team will design a custom CAD drawing of your radiant heating
system telling you exactly what you get, where
you'll get it, and how much it will cost you.
Enjoy
With radiant
heating, your only job is to sit back, relax, and enjoy
your custom radiant heating solution. Let your heated
floors warm your home evenly and efficiently.
Sit back and watch from the warmth of your living room
as your radiant heated driveway does the shoveling
for you. And sleep in peace knowing that your
gutters and pipes are safe from nasty and
potentially devastating snow and ice buildup.
Why settle
for an out of the box heating solution? Let us help you
customize a radiant heating system that meets your
needs, fits your budget, and keeps you and your
family warm and safe.
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December 14, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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If you’re
in the market for a new home heating solution, you may be
wondering what kinds of home heating choices are there? A
majority of homeowners are probably most familiar with
forced air unit heaters and might not realize that
there are other options for heating a home – other
options that are more efficient and even more comfortable.
One such option are radiant
heaters, which, as opposed to warm air systems, delivers
the source of heat to the floor level, not the ceiling.
Radiant
heaters or radiant energy is the oldest form of heating
used to provide comfort and is the basis for all
heating systems. Radiant energy is totally pure
radiation and is absorbed by an object without physical
contact with the heat source or by heating the surrounding
air, as is the case with convective, forced air
systems. Believe it or not, under-the-floor heaters
were first used by the Romans. While under floor
heating was initially reserved for the rich, it eventually
became increasingly commonplace in public buildings
and villas. This form of radiant heating was used
particularly in the colder regions of the Roman
Empire. The Roman system was based on hypocausts, comprising
ducts that underlay the floor (itself built on raised
brick piles) and flues that were built into walls. Hot
air or steam from fires circulated up through this
system, warming the floor and walls, with heat passing into
the rooms. Radiant Heaters Tip: Health
experts agree that radiant heaters can help in
eliminating dust mites that live in our homes, and since
dust mites love a warm moist environment, towel
heaters aid in maintaining a consistent room
temperature and keep it moisture free.
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December 03, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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When replacing a
home heating system, there are a lot of questions that
people have in regards to new home heating
systems. Here is a questions that was recently
asked.
Q: My 1,200
square foot home used to be heated by a furnace from 1949
that ran at 25,000 BTU. Recently I changed the system to a
newer, 7,000 BTU system. I thought this newer heater
would be more efficient, but I find that it takes much
longer to heat the house than the older system did. Is
there something wrong with my furnace or do I need one that
has a higher BTU?
A: It’s a good idea to replace old heating
systems with newer, more efficient models. These new
models can work just as well or better than old
systems, but they do work differently. Where old
furnaces could be turned on and heat the house within a
matter of minutes, new heating systems can take
longer. If you want your home to be warm at a certain
time, set the heat to go on about 45 minutes prior to that.
Another important factor is whether your home is
“weather-tight.” Make sure all doors and
windows are properly sealed. If not, you may be losing
heat at the same rate your heating system is producing it.
Check with a heating contractor who can tell you
whether the new unit is sized correctly for your
home’s square footage.
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December 26, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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If you’ve
been researching home
heating systems, chances are your head is
spinning right about now. It’s no wonder!
The number of types of radiant heaters available for
residences or businesses could make anyone dizzy in no time
at all. There’s really a lot of selection for
homeowners to choose from. Today we’ll discuss
the electric cable heating system kind of radiant
heaters. Electric cable heating systems are gaining
popularity in as radiant heaters and are ideal for
heating smaller areas (10-300 square feet) like
bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are
comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. On some
systems, the cable is be shipped as a large spool of
cable. These systems are oftentimes less expensive,
and give you the ability to space the cable how you want
and customize a layout that will heat every square inch of
your floor. Other systems have the cable attached to a
plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to maintain its
proper spacing.
Every available cable system is equally
effective, so when determining which radiant heater
system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of
the product, along with the ease of installation. Some
cables must be embedded in a separate layer of
concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can simply
be installed in the thinset.
Radiant Heaters Tip: When heating smaller
areas with a radiant heater, it is next to impossible
to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable
heating system.
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December 20, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Not traditionally
used in heating homes, flat panel radiant
heaters are used to heat objects via radiant heat
transfer. These radiant heaters have traditionally
been used in a variety of industries and applications,
such as space heating, drying, curing, and water
evaporation. More recently, these heating systems are also
gaining popularity in home heating applications as well.
Radiant
heaters use different types of emitter surfaces. Choices
include: quartz, high-temperature glass, stainless
steel, and ceramic tiles. These are all materials that
are easily and efficiently used in home applications
such as flooring, countertops, and towel racks. Because
these items are easily turned into emitter surfaces for
radiant heat, they can easily and beautifully be
incorporated into home heating applications such as
heated floors, walls, and towel racks.
To find out about radiant heaters for your home,
check with the folks at warmzone.com. They have a
complete product catalog of radiant heating solutions
that can accommodate almost any application or budget.
Radiant Heaters Tip: radiant heaters a great way
to efficiently heat a home, while maximizing your
home’s beauty, but they are very cost effective
and easy to install.
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December 19, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Sometimes can be
hard to narrow down what kind of radiant
heaters to install. There are dozens of products
available to purchase, and there are even more
companies telling you that their product is the best.
For many homeowners, electric cable heating systems,
often called line- or high-voltage systems, are
gaining popularity and are ideal for heating smaller
areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems
are comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable.
These radiant
heater systems are oftentimes less expensive,
and give the ability to customize a layout that will
heat every square inch of your floor.
Every available radiant heater cable system is
equally effective, so when determining which system to
purchase, you should look at the warranty of the
product, along with the ease of installation. Some cables
must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or
mortar, whereas other systems can simply be installed
in the thinset. Most radiant heater cable systems can
only be installed under tile. However, on others, if the
cable is embedded in mortar or concrete, any flooring
can be installed on top of the concrete.
Radiant Heaters Tip: When heating smaller
areas, it is nearly impossible to beat the simplicity
and price of an electric cable radiant heating
system.
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December 18, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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The home improvement world has seen many recent
developments in heating, making hydronic systems
more convenient and possible radiant
heater solutions for major home remodeling projects.
Today we’re going to discuss one form of
radiant
heaters: hydronic floor heating.
Hydronic floor heating is the
oldest and most popular type of radiant
floor heating. These systems are comprised of a
boiler or hot water heater, pumps, manifolds,
PEX tubing, thermostat, and either gypcrete (a
concrete-like material) or wood panels. Hydronic heating
is the most complex of all radiant heat systems.
These systems require trained professionals to
design and perform the installation. Your best
economies of scale are achieved for hydronic systems in
large areas or entire homes because of their
expensive components and operational costs.
Hydronic systems can be installed under any type of
flooring.
Most hydronic systems require
hot water tubing to be installed in a
2-4″ bed of light concrete and are best installed
during the initial construction because of its
weight load demands and adjustments to floor
height.
If you’re wanting to
heat smaller areas such as a bathroom or kitchen,
a hydronic floor radiant
heating system may not be the best value for your
project. The complexity and cost of installing
the system, along with the long-term maintenance
and up-keep required, might not be worth the small
amount you will save in operational costs.
Radiant Heaters Tip:
Radiant
heaters for your home or business come in a variety
of forms – all efficient and providing
reliable, cozy warmth
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