TRADITIONAL HEATING SYSTEM
For our area (Western Washington) traditional heating consisted mostly of boilers and large ornate radiators. The radiators were heated to 180 F and provided a mix of heated air and direct radiant heat. A few houses had monstrous furnaces with gigantic pipes. In the 1940’s people found they could install furnaces with modern sized ducts less expensively than radiators. I grew up with this type of heat, and the lack of comfort was considered “normal”.
These systems involved heating air, often along windows and other areas of high heat loss. Warm air rises creating drafts and areas of uneven temperatures throughout the heated area. In order to create a comfortable living area air must be heated to 120F or higher. This hot air rises to the ceiling wasting energy by requiring more heat to get the air lower in the room to a comfortable level.
RADIANT HEATING SYSTEM
Radiant heat can be imagined much like a light beam. It travels through space and when it hits an object it heats it. (Just as light is invisible until it strikes something it lights up.) This “radiant energy” increases the temperature of objects (furniture, people, the dog…) that lie in the beams direct path.
|
BENEFIT OF RADIANT HEAT ARE:
COMFORT:
Radiant heat provides temperatures that are consistent throughout a room. Since radiant floor heating keeps the heat closer to the floor instead of the ceiling, temperature differences in a room vary only one or two degrees. There is no need for the ceiling air to be as much as 20-30 degrees higher than floor air. This higher air temperature at the ceiling is often lost, wasting energy and money.
Radiant heat eliminates the need for fans resulting in a quiet environment with less dust and other airborne particulates such as allergens. Warmed surfaces and fume-less home heating increase the health and comfort of those inside. Children and pets benefit, as well as adults who can relax in clean and quiet surroundings.
HEALTH AND SAFETY:
As a direct result of the way radiant heat is installed (usually under the floor) there is no possibility of direct contact with hot radiators and no need for noisy fans. Many homes that suffer from damp and musty closets and condensation on walls and around windows have been very successfully corrected by the installation of radiant heating. This system of heating is increasingly popular for new construction as well as remodeling of older homes. Some estimates indicate 40% or more of new residential construction is incorporating radiant as its source of heat.
REAL ESTATE:
Radiant heat has a significant impact on home values. Heat loss can be reduced by about 25%, resulting in heat costs less per BTU than any other kind of heating. With modern homes incorporating many square feet of glass, radiant heat is a very efficient means of heat. When designed and installed correctly the energy requirements can be reduced in some applications by half or more. Unlike traditional heating systems there are no vents to avoid with furniture, no filters to change yearly. The need for duct cleaning is eliminated. All of these factors make a home heated with radiant more valuable in today’s real estate market.
EFFICIENCY & FLEXIBILITY:
Easy to design for all types of homes this system fits into all architectural shapes. In fact when using radiant heat most people find themselves turning down the Thermostat. Radiant offers warmer, more comfortable rooms at lower settings once again saving energy and money.
|
.
LONGEVITY:
Time has proven this type of system given proper design, the best choice of materials and correct installation will last as long or longer than the home or office it heats. Using ultra-tough PEX tube from the Wirsbo company helps. Couple this with a good boiler and the life of your radiant system could even be several times the expected life of a forced air furnace.
ZONABLE:
A big plus with radiant systems is the ability to choose exactly which areas you wish to heat as well as to what temperature you want them. One, two, three or more thermostats can be installed to control different areas that may require more or less heat. Forced air systems have only recently developed zoning capabilities by means of dampers for the residential home. These systems are seldom installed in homes under 2500 sq ft due to several factors. Among these are increased cost and additional space needed. Obviously, a small 3/4” zoned pipe requires much less space to than a large 8” warm-air duct.
HEAT SOURCE:
WOOD:
Using wood to fuel a boiler is not a common choice due to availability, cost and pollution issues. However there are boilers that do use wood as a fuel.
OIL:
Oil boilers are more common than wood but have drawbacks since they require regular maintenance, they lose efficiency relatively quickly and are a common cause of pollution. Efficient oil boilers are often around 80% efficient.
GAS:
Natural gas boilers are less costly and more efficient. They can also be good as far as reducing pollution. The more pollution free the more expensive the gas boiler. Our most popular boilers are now in the high efficiency range, 93-97%.
PROPANE:
Similar to natural gas but more expensive
|
