Radiant heat is of interest to many homeowners because it is a better kind of heat than the forced air that is in so many houses. Unfortunately, if you have a house that is already built, it will be expensive to install a radiant heat system. Many people get around this by installing radiant heat in just a couple of rooms, usually the master bathroom and sometimes the kitchen.
Builders dont like to install radiant heat in new homes because it is more expensive than other kinds of heat. Both electric and hydronic radiant heat involve putting the heating mechanisms under the floors and this is more costly than the forced air systems that are in so many homes today.
If you choose to have radiant heat installed in just one room or a couple of rooms, your best choice is probably electric radiant heat. This is because electric pads can be brought in and installed under the floors with a fair amount of ease and at a reasonable cost. The other common type of radiant heat is the hydronic variety that involves putting pipes of heated running water under the floors. This is a much bigger undertaking that the electric pads and can be much more expensive.
In your travels you might find a home or two with radiant ceiling heat. This is not really recommended because heat rises and if it is already coming out of the ceiling it will not heat the rooms with the same efficiency as heat coming from the floors. If you hire a professional to put radiant heat into your home, make sure you ask a lot of questions if he recommends ceiling heat. There are instances where it is necessary but in most cases, radiant floor heat is the preferred type.
Most people prefer radiant heat over the more common forced air because it is silent, doesnt blow all over the rooms, and is better for your skin. Anyone who lives in a cold dry climate knows how dry their skin gets and the forced air heat just makes things worse. Radiant heat is sort of like the silent heat that comes from the sun and it is so much nicer to have in your home than dry heat blowing everywhere.
Builders dont like to install radiant heat in new homes because it is more expensive than other kinds of heat. Both electric and hydronic radiant heat involve putting the heating mechanisms under the floors and this is more costly than the forced air systems that are in so many homes today.
If you choose to have radiant heat installed in just one room or a couple of rooms, your best choice is probably electric radiant heat. This is because electric pads can be brought in and installed under the floors with a fair amount of ease and at a reasonable cost. The other common type of radiant heat is the hydronic variety that involves putting pipes of heated running water under the floors. This is a much bigger undertaking that the electric pads and can be much more expensive.
In your travels you might find a home or two with radiant ceiling heat. This is not really recommended because heat rises and if it is already coming out of the ceiling it will not heat the rooms with the same efficiency as heat coming from the floors. If you hire a professional to put radiant heat into your home, make sure you ask a lot of questions if he recommends ceiling heat. There are instances where it is necessary but in most cases, radiant floor heat is the preferred type.
Most people prefer radiant heat over the more common forced air because it is silent, doesnt blow all over the rooms, and is better for your skin. Anyone who lives in a cold dry climate knows how dry their skin gets and the forced air heat just makes things worse. Radiant heat is sort of like the silent heat that comes from the sun and it is so much nicer to have in your home than dry heat blowing everywhere.
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