All Seasons Marketing, Inc

20 years of serving the Southeast with professional sales and marketing services.

Radiant Heating (Hydronic & Electric) Systems

System Design

Electric Radiant Heating (HeatWeave) or Hydronic Radiant Heating (Watts Radiant)?

Please give us a call 800-241-5236 and we will discuss the system that will best fit your application.

Comfort

Why do we need to be heated?

Actually, we don't need to be heated, not in the same sense one might think. Since we are living beings, we actually produce our own energy, or heat, by consuming food (calories). Movements and other activities consume these calories, and a by product of this consumption is heat. Our bodies operate at around 98.6 Degrees F. By controlling the temperature of our surroundings, such as chairs, walls, windows, etc., we will have more control over our own body's heat loss, which will make us feel warmer and enhance comfort.

I've heard that older radiant heating systems made the floors too hot. True?

Yes, this is a true statement to some degree. In the past, radiant heating systems were designed and installed in much the same way as a conventional baseboard system. High temperatures and simple controls were used to control the radiant heating system. These high temperatures were in fact too high from a comfort standpoint. The higher the water temperature in the floor, the higher the floor surface temperature will become. For all systems a maximum floor temperature of 85°F is maintained to ensure comfort. In these older systems, the floor temperature could actually exceed this limit, causing the floor to feel uncomfortable.

Today there are endless arrays of controls and piping methods to ensure this does not happen. Lower water temperatures are maintained to prevent over heating. Indoor/outdoor reset systems are used to help predict heating needs and to increase response times. Radiant heating technology is becoming more and more advanced everyday.

Does a radiant house take a long time to heat up from a cold start?

Most radiant floor heat systems take about a day to come up to full temperature. The reason for this is due to how the radiant heating system stores energy. Before a radiant floor can emit energy (heat) into a space, it first has to raise the floor temperature. Depending on the floor construction and the initial floor temperature, this start up time may be anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Slab on grade floors will see the largest start up time, mainly because they will have the highest mass value.

Does a radiant heating system have any impact on air circulation or cleanliness?

Yes. Since the air is not carrying the heating, and is not being forced to move through the house, less dust and mold is being distributed. This helps to keep allergies and other ailments to a minimum.

Economics

How much should a typical radiant floor heating system cost?

System costs will vary greatly depending on the installation requirements, control choices, and project size. Simple radiant heat systems in large slabs in temperate zones cost only slightly more than the alternatives. However, if you select the many options and features that radiant can offer your home, the first cost will be higher.

Remember that the principal advantages of radiant are comfort and lower operating costs. You should review your plans and requirements with your installing contractor to get a firm price on a turn-key system.

Does a radiant heat system cost less to operate than the alternatives?

Yes they do. The amount of savings will vary depending on the heat loss, how well the structure is built, how well the building is insulated and the natural fuel source being used. For the most part radiant floors will operate anywhere from 25% to 40% more efficiently that other forms of forced air heating.

Are energy saving set-back thermostats desirable on a radiant floor heat system?

It is not recommended to use a set-back thermostat on a radiant heat system. Radiant heat systems do not respond as rapidly as a convection type heating system, mainly because a radiant floor heat system uses the mass of the building to store energy and to provide a more even heat.

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All Seasons Marketing, Inc. 800-241-5236