The morning alarm rings, and when you are about to step out of your cozy bed, a wind of cold air strikes. You have breakfast to prepare and a shower to take.
The floor is cold, and that is what is keeping you from stepping out of bed. Think of your neighbour who does not struggle because they have radiant heat flooring in their house.
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If you’re learning about radiant heat flooring for the first time, Plumb-Tech can also help you understand what radiant heat flooring is and the advantages attached to it.
In this article, you’ll learn how radiant heat flooring works and the benefits of installing it in your home. Keep reading to learn more.
How Radiant Heat Flooring Works
You probably have read or know how air conditioners work. Radiant floor heating uses a different technique to keep your home warm.
Electric heating coils are installed under the room’s floor and covered with tiles. The heat from the base keeps the floor warm, and it radiates to the rest of the room. This kind of heating is more economical than furnaces.
Homeowners can choose the rooms to install the electrical heating coils, like kitchens, bathrooms, or bedrooms. If you want it installed in the whole house, it is advisable to do so during construction.
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Types of Radiant Floor Heating
To understand the advantages better, you should know the types of radiant flooring heating available. The radiant heating at warmboard.com is a popular choice among homeowners due to its efficiency and effectiveness. Here are other types of radiant floor heating:
Electric Radiant Floors
Electric radiant floors are common. They are installed by building electric cables into the floor. Afterward, mats of electrically conductive plastic are set up on the subfloor. A covering of tiles is then placed above the mats.
For cost-effectiveness, it is advisable to cover the mat-like substance with a thick concrete floor. That helps the floor store enough heat to keep the house warm even when the system is off, hence low energy bills.
Air Heated Radiant Floors
Since air does not hold a lot of heat, these radiant floors are not common. Besides, they are not cost-effective.
There is an option of combining air-heated radiant floors with a solar air heating system, but they have a significant disadvantage of producing heat only during the day.
Some people turn to using rocks as a heat storage medium for their air heating system, but this approach is not advisable.
Hydronic Radiant Floors
They are very cost-effective as they use liquids. Pipes are laid under the floor, and water from a boiler passes through the pipes.
To regulate room temperatures, homeowners use zoning valves or pumps and thermostats to control the water flow through the tubing.
Installing radiant hydronic floors is not expensive. The cost depends on the type of installation, the size of the space installed, and the floor covering.
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Benefits of Radiant Heat Flooring
Now that we know the different radiant floor heating types, let’s jump straight to the advantages of this type of heating.
1. Energy-Efficiency
The electric and water-based systems of radiant floor heating heat the room for efficient warmth. While the water systems use hot water running through pipes in the subfloor, the electric system uses the heating wiring beneath the floor.
These two need a temperature of about 29 degrees Celsius to heat a room. That is low compared to the 75 degrees Celsius that the traditional radiators need to heat a room. So, they consume less energy, leading to lower energy costs.
These two systems also provide warmth from the floor, and the warm air spreads to the rest of the room, minimizing the cases of cold spots. They also do not overheat, unlike the traditional radiators that make the room too hot and, at other times, too cold.
For that reason, radiant heating saves on heating bills, making it energy-efficient.
2. More Space
Radiant floor heating systems are installed under the floors, unlike radiators placed on the walls and ceiling. You will not need to move some seats or tables to the bedroom to create space, messing up with your home design.
It gives you an opportunity to decorate your walls and the entire space without interference.
3. Easy To Install and Run
After installation, the radiant heat flooring systems do not need maintenance, and they can serve you for up to 30 years without having to be replaced. You can use a Smart WiFi thermostat or a programmed thermostat for efficient automatic heating.
The programmed thermostat is set to start heating the house at a particular time, and you can decide to switch it off at night to save energy.
Alternatively, you can use a simple manual thermostat that is easy to read, understand, and operate. You only need to switch it on when it is cold and switch it off during the day when it is warm.
4. Provides Safety and Comfort
Radiators have sharp edges and surfaces, causing accidents, especially if you have children in the house.
With radiant heating floors, the systems are tucked into the floor. So, you don’t have to worry about your young one reaching them or touching the sharp edges. They also do not overheat to the point of causing accidents when touched.
Radiators might cause temperature changes, reducing the air’s oxygen levels, making the room uncomfortable to live in. It may affect people who suffer from respiratory problems like asthma. With floor heating systems, the air is kept fresh.
5. Wide Variety of Floor Covering
Underfloor heating does not limit you to any floor covering. You can use tile and stone, wood, carpet, or even vinyl coverings for your floor. It gives you the freedom to decorate and customize your home because the wires underneath are not affected by the cover.
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Final Words
If you are tired of cold floors and rooms, this is the best remedy. It is an effective way to save energy while keeping your rooms warm, cozy, and comfortable. It might be costly to install, but worth it. Wait until your bathroom or kitchen feels warm; you will forget about the costs. Make sure you hire a professional to install the heating system.
