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When it comes to heating your house, there are a number of ways to do it. You can opt for radiators, forced hot air, and a heat pump. However, one of the best ways is to go with an in-floor heating system.
This system uses radiant heat so it fills your home perfectly with warm air. It works with a number of different systems but the idea is that you have a heating element installed underneath the floor. The entire floor heats up and disperses the heat upward so it maintains a comfortable temperature.
In this article, we will go over several of the benefits so you can think about heating your house this way in the winter.
It feels good
Probably the best reason to use radiant floor heating is because of how comfortable the house will be with this method. When you use regular radiators, there are inevitably hot and cool spots throughout the room.
In a large room, it takes a while for the heat to spread out from a radiator to fill the rest of the room. When your entire floor is the heater, the heat is dispersed evenly for maximum comfort. Don’t retire your mens sheepskin slippers just yet, though. You’ll need them in the rooms where you don’t use radiant floor heating such as on upper floors.
It can be used with solar
One of the ways to heat the subfloor is by heating elements in the form of tubes. Instead of water, it is a series of thick wires that connects to the electrical panel. If you have solar panels and batteries for your home, then you essentially can have free heating with this system.
Since it takes very little energy to heat, it is ideal for those short days in the winter when your solar is not always very strong.
It’s very efficient
Whether you use a solar panel or hydronic system with water, it requires far less energy to heat your home with a radiant floor heating system. This is because it heats so evenly and because heat rises. There are no hot spots and cold spots so you can go with a lower ambient temperature and still feel warm.
When you add in the right type of heater, you can save even more energy. For example. A heat pump is a very efficient way to heat a home whether you use forced hot air or a hydronic system. However, the savings ramp up when you combine a heat pump with a radiant floor heating system.
It saves space
When you have your heating system underneath your floor, this means that you don’t need any radiators. This opens up the space that you can use in a room considerably. The radiator itself extends out about six inches in some cases and then you have to factor in that you can’t put anything up against it. This is not an issue when you have radiant floor heating since there is no spot where you can’t put furniture.
It can be used with a variety of flooring types
One of the best things about radiant floor heating is that it can be used with a variety of flooring types. You don’t have to have a specific type of flooring in order for the radiant floor heating to work. You can have tile, wood, or even carpet.
The one thing you do need to make sure of is that the flooring is not too thick. If it is, then you might have to get a thicker heating element.
It’s easy to install
Radiant floor heating is easy to install. You don’t have to have any special skills in order to install it. You can do it yourself or have a professional do it for you.
The installation process is not difficult and it can be done in a day or two. You do need to have a subfloor in order for it to be installed, but this is a common feature in most homes.
It’s low maintenance
Another benefit to radiant floor heating is that it is low maintenance. You don’t have to do anything special in order to keep it running. You don’t have to change the filters or anything like that.
All you really need to do is to keep the flooring clean. If there is dirt or dust on the flooring, it will block the heat from coming through.
It’s long lasting
Radiant floor heating is also a long-lasting system. It will last for many years without needing any repairs. When you combine this with low maintenance, it’s a great system to have in your home.
To Conclude
There are a number of reasons why you should go with radiant floor heating. It’s comfortable, efficient, low maintenance, and long-lasting. It can also be used with a number of different flooring types so it’s perfect for any home.
So, if you find yourself wondering if this is the right heating method for you, use this article as the final push to get it!