Once you decide on the fuel, you need to choose the method of distributing the heat throughout the house. This can be done with forced-air or radiant heating. Many people find that radiant heating is very efficient when the heating elements are placed in the floors of your home. Here are a few benefits of radiant floor heating.
Even-Heat Distribution
Hot air rises. Regardless of where the vents are in a forced-air system, the hot air is going to be pushed to the top of the room. As a result of this naturally occurring process, the colder air in the room will fall as the air up top heats up. To keep the whole room at a comfortable temperature the thermostat needs to be set at a higher temperature than what you desire.
If you use radiators for radiant heating, you experience the same problem as forced-air heating. The area around the radiators will be very warm, but the warm air will quickly rise to the ceiling, leaving the rest of the room cooler.
Radiant floor heating solves this problem because the heat is coming up from the whole floor. The lower area of the room, where people are, will stay a nice, cozy temperature as the heated air rises from the ground.
More Savings
Since the heat is distributed more evenly with radiant floor heating, you don’t have to set the thermostat any higher than you need to. Lower thermostat settings result in a lower heating bill. You can choose between a furnace or boiler to heat water that runs through thin pipes installed under the flooring, or electrical wires that produce the heat.
If you want to save even more money, look into a geothermal heat pump to provide the heat source. While this will require professionals to come and install pipes and tubes into the ground around your home, the system does not require any fossil fuels or electricity to generate the heat.
Warm Floors
If every room in your home is carpeted, all the floors stay warm. However, if you have tile, laminate, or wood flooring, it can be a bit frigid to step on. Radiant heating can be used with almost any type of flooring and keeps it all toasty. Choose the type of flooring you want without the need for area rugs to keep your feet warm in the winter.
Cleaner Air
A forced-air heating system pushes air through vents and ducts into the house. Bacteria and allergens can get into the ductwork and then be spread throughout the house. While you can have the ducts cleaned, that takes time and money. Even a ductless system will push harmful air around.
Radiant floor heating does not push harmful allergens, toxins, or bacteria into the air. If you’re concerned about someone who is sick or has allergies, you can easily clean the room or your home without worrying about dust and bacteria being spread through the air.
Whether you need a new heating system due to a failing one, want to build a new home built, or just want to make sure your heating system is as efficient as possible, contact Apollo Heating & Air Conditioning. We work with our clients to ensure their homes stay as comfortable as possible during the cold months.