Each year, radiant heating systems increase in popularity across the country. For both new construction and retrofit systems in older homes, this manner of keeping your home warm continues to prove its favor among homeowners and builders.
What is Radiant Heating?
Whereas a traditional central air heating system heats and blows forced air through your home, radiant heating works by utilizing a network of tubing in the home that disperses radiant heat throughout. In the way that a space heater with a fan is different from an electric or gas fireplace, so is the difference between forced air heating systems and radiant heating systems.
Benefits of Radiant Heating
Why would you want to consider the installation of radiant heating other than a traditional and more standard HVAC system? There are a handful of reasons.
1) Energy Efficiency
As the world becomes more and more conscious of our actions on the environment, an energy-efficient heating system is an energy-conscious choice. Compared to forced-air systems that rely on ventilation systems, radiant heating is much more efficient at harnessing heat and maintaining that heat throughout the delivery process. Furnaces have to work a lot harder to keep a home warm due to heat loss as the air travels through the vents.
2) Positive Effects on Allergies
Especially in older homes, years and years of dust and debris accumulates in the HVAC system and can contribute to allergies in the home. If not regularly cleaned out and maintained, this buildup can make allergy-prone people somewhat miserable. With a radiant heating system, not only are there no ducts or vents to trap allergens, but consumers do not have to bear the cost of duct cleaning service.
3) Quiet System
Cozy and quaint evenings spent indoors in the fall and winter are perfectly enjoyable, until the whir of the furnace and ventilation system kicks on. In modern homes with an array of helpful yet noisy amenities (smoke detector batteries, buzzing light fixtures, laundry and dishwashing machines to name a few), homeowners can cut back on their personal noise pollution with the quietness of a radiant heating system.
4) Improve Home Humidity, Less Dry
Especially in the Iowa winter season, arid conditions and dry skin are a concern to all. Improve your home’s humidity without plugging a humidifier into every room or installing a humidification system! Radiant heating systems, especially hydronic radiant heating systems, bring humidity into your home rather than evaporate the water in the air away with an HVAC blower.
5) Easily Retrofits Any Space and Any Budget
Switching to radiant heat in your home does not mean you have to dig up your entire yard or temporarily move out of your house for installation. Depending on the type of system, consumers can make switches as small as installation of radiant heat subflooring systems in one room or opt for more of a whole-home solution. Contact a local heating technician to consult on what may work best for your home and budget.
6) Appealing to the Eye
Without the need for return vents or old clunky radiators, radiant heating frees up your space and makes room for more thoughtful decorating. Not to mention, getting rid of radiators removes the safety hazard of kids or pets coming into contact with hot metal.
7) Even Heating Throughout the Whole Home
Every homeowner/tenant can attest to areas of the home they avoid or keep extra blankets in for the winter because of uneven heating throughout the house! Though able to be controlled and directed to some extent, forced-air ventilated systems cannot always keep the entire home at the ideal temperature. By nature, rooms closer to the heating unit will be warmer than those further away or those that are not connected to the duct system effectively.
8) Warm Winter Flooring
A luxury of radiant heating systems is having floors that stay warm in the winter; even materials like tile and concrete garage floors maintain heat. Imagine stepping out of a shower onto warmed tile, or walking around barefoot in the winter!
The Cost & Installation of Radiant Heating Systems
As mentioned earlier, the cost of installing a radiant heating system varies widely depending on how big the space is that you are needing heated, the type of radiant heating system, and the structure of your existing home and heating system.
Considering Space
Are you wanting to completely eliminate an existing forced-air system? Is it simply your basement that is cold and needs radiant heating to improve the temperature? Do you want to add radiant heating below the floors of your bathroom? These are all considerations to consult with your radiant heating specialist on.
Types of Radiant Heating Systems
Electric
Electric radiant heating systems involve the insertion of electrically conductive materials within your home subfloor. While this is a popular option for smaller areas, it is not the most cost-effective for entire homes or big areas due to the use of electricity.
Hydronic
The most cost-effective option, hydronic systems utilize warmed water that is then pumped through the house in the tubing system. This retains heat better than forced heated air and uses your home’s water boiler.
Retrofitting a Home with Radiant Heating
When determining and choosing the best heating solution for your home, your technician will assess and analyze your options based on your existing heating system and the structure of your home.
Des Moines Radiant Heating Company
Wyckoff Comfort Heating and Cooling is proud to offer radiant heating service and installation to Des Moines area homeowners. Whether it be a driveway, garage, or indoor flooring, the Wyckoff team is available to provide peace of mind and comfort under your roof when it comes to heating this season. Contact us to schedule a consultation and service today!