Adding a Heating Source to Your Home is Easier than You Think

December 11, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

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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Treat Yourself to Heat

December 27, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

Time to treat yourself! Whether you’re building a new home, or updating your current home, you owe it to yourself to check out the comfort that radiant heat has to offer. Now is the perfect time to look into your heating options. Radiant heaters can be used in a number of applications, including some that might surprise you!Among those spots that can use radiant heaters are tiled areas, hardwood flooring, carpeted areas, and even cement floors.

Not only is radiant heating is one of the most comfortable ways to heat your home, but radiant heaters also offer a diversity of applications. We’d be willing to bet that after that first winter with the radiant heaters in place, you may find yourself wondering how you ever got along without them in the past.

What’s interesting here is that, rather than warming the air, radiant heaters are a type of heater that warms objects. Radiant heat uses objects, such as the floor, to heat a home. The air in the room is warmed when it comes into contact with the warmed objects. Heat loss is reduced and the radiant heat remains in the lower part of the room, warmer near feet level and slightly less so at head level, creating the perfect climate for comfort.

Radiant Heaters Tip: Are you looking for efficient, comfortable heat for your home? We think that radiant heating could be just the solution you’ve been looking for.

 


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Too Many Choices for Home Heating Systems

December 26, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

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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Warranties Are Not Created Equal

December 29, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  ROBERT COHEN

The Mystery Warranty

How much do you really know about the warranties offered by manufacturers? Sure it may say “25 Year Warranty” on the package, but what exactly does that mean? Most manufacturers of radiant heating systems offer a warranty, but a 25 year warranty isn’t always better than a 10 year warranty and this is why:

I chose the Danfoss GX electric radiant heat cables to build an asphalt heated driveway at my residence. The heat of the asphalt combined with heavy weight, caused me to wonder how the GX cables were going to hold up, and what would happen if a problem occurred. I was pleased to discover that Danfoss products have a 10 year warranty, that covers up to 5 times the cost of original installation. Why is this exciting? Because the failure of a radiant heating system isn’t like a vacuum cleaner breaking down, you can’t throw it in your car and bring it back to the store for a refund. Fixing a severed cable requires tearing up the surface of the driveway – or in the case of indoor radiant heating, tearing up your brand new tiles or wood flooring. The process of tearing up a floor or driveway is time consuming and costly, not to mention annoying. Many manufacturers will replace the bad product, but you still have to pay out of your own pocket to tear up the floor and hire someone to fix the problem.

Danfoss is so sure that you won’t have any problems, their warranty is the best offered by radiant heat manufacturers. Not only do you get brand new Danfoss product, but they will cover the cost of floor removal, and reinstallation (up to 5 times the cost of the original installation). So when you install your radiant floor or driveway, you can rest easy knowing that unexpected problems are already covered.


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Consider This Before Buying a New Home Heating System

December 14, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

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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What Kind of Radiant Heaters are Best for Your Home?

December 28, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

Are you having a hard time deciding which radiant heat system is right for you?  We know, it 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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Efficient, Environmentally-Friendly Heating for Your Home

December 15, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

Yes, 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.

Quite simply put, 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. Don’t waste expensive heating fuel another day.

Radiant Heaters Tip: 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.


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Radiant Heaters Add Value and Efficiency to Homes

December 23, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

Even though it’s now Springtime (and forecasted high energy bills), homebuilders, househunters, and home renovators alike are looking for energy-efficient heating options for houses.  In fact, as builders and homeowners look for new ways to add value to homes in a weak housing market, they often look for upgrades that will add value and efficiency to their homes, which will help them sell.  We say they need look no further than radiant heaters for their ideal home heating solution.

In a nutshell, 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 radiant heater 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:  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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Radiant Heating Delivers Comfortable and Efficient Heat

December 25, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

As demands for lower energy costs increase, 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.
In a nutshell, radiant heating is among the most efficient forms 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 radiant heater 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:  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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Treat Yourself to a Warm Home

December 27, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

When the first day of winter arrived over the weekend, it brought along cold weather and the potential for incredibly high heating bills. Installing radiant heaters in a home under construction or in an existing home is proven to cut heating costs. It works by putting water lines in the home’s concrete floors or under existing floors and running hot water through them.

Radiant heaters help to keep the whole house at a more constant temperature. In this way, our regular heaters don’t have to do as much to keep things warm and toasty during the winter. 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 way to stop energy waste.

Switching to radiant heaters will not only help save energy, and lower heating costs, but you’ll soon find that it really adds to your family’s comfort as well. That is because it put the heat at our feet, which are generally cold, and offers cooler air near head level, where we are generally a little warmer.

Radiant Heaters Tip: If you are looking for a great way to save energy and maximize comfort in your home at the same time, then radiant heaters may be the perfect solution for you.


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