| |
| |
|
Home Improvement |
|
|
|
Which Type of Radiant Floor Heating is Best For Me?
If you are looking to warm your floors with a radiant heat system, and have typed "radiant heat system" into a search engine, you might find yourself scratching your head at this point. There are dozens of products available to purchase, and there are even more companies telling you that their product is the best. So which product is the best? Should you install a hydronic heating system that pumps hot water through your floors, an electric cable heating system, or a low voltage screen system? The answer lies in the type of project you are doing. Not every system is ideal for every project, but there is an ideal system for every project. Hydronic Heating Systems Hydronic floor heating is the oldest and most popular type of radiant floor heating. These systems are comprised of a boiler or hot water heater, pumps, manifolds, pex tubing, thermostat, and either gypcrete (a concrete-like material) or wood panels. Hydronic heating is the most complex of all radiant heat systems. These systems require trained professionals to design and perform the installation. Your best economies of scale are achieved for hydronic systems in large areas or entire homes because of their expensive components and operational costs. Hydronic systems can be installed under any type of flooring. Most hydronic systems require hot water tubing to be installed in a 2 to 4 inch bed of light concrete and are best installed during the initial construction because of its weight load demands and adjustments to floor height. Recent low-mass products have been developed to avoid these challenges by fitting the tubing into pre-cut wood panels making hydronic systems more convenient and possible for most major remodeling projects. If you want to heat smaller areas like a bathroom or kitchen, a hydronic floor heating system may not be the best value for your project. The complexity and cost of installing the system, along with the long-term maintenance and up-keep required, is not worth the small amount you will save in operational costs. Electric Cable Heating Electric cable heating systems, often called line or high voltage systems, are gaining popularity and are ideal for heating smaller areas (10-300 square feet) like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. On some systems, the cable will be shipped to you as a large spool of cable. These systems are often times less expensive, and give you the ability to space the cable how you want and customize a layout that will heat every square inch of your floor. Other systems have the cable attached to a plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to maintain its proper spacing. Every available cable system is equally effective, and so when determining which system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of the product, along with the ease of installation. Some cables must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can simply be installed in the thin set. Most cable systems can only be installed under tile. However, on others, if the cable is embedded in mortar or concrete, any flooring can be installed on top of the concrete. When heating smaller areas, it is nearly impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system. Low-Voltage Screen Finally, there are low-voltage radiant heat systems. These systems are ideal for mid-size to larger areas (300-3000 square feet) and are comprised of a control box, transformer, heating screen or cable, and thermostat. The main advantage to a low-voltage screen (Zmesh) system is the extremely low profile of the heating element. Zmesh is a 12 inch wide bronze-wired mesh that resembles screen door material. This mesh is practically paper thin and does not buildup floors during the installation. Zmesh can be installed directly under any type of flooring including hardwood, tile, and carpet. Whereas most cable systems must be installed on top of the concrete board when installing tile, Zmesh can be installed underneath it. These systems are easy to install and don't require maintenance like a hydronic system. Radiant heat technology has made significant advances over the years and is an excellent way to supplement your existing heating system or be your sole source of heat. One good way to be assured that you're being sold the best system for your project is to buy from a company that offers all of the available types of radiant heat. Warmzone, Inc. is one company who carries various types of radiant systems and is dedicated to specifying the product that makes the most sense for each individual job. Without a bias towards one system they have become a consumer advocate in the radiant industry and will save you time and money. Warmzone has already done the research and has selected to only work with the best products on the market. Because they are a large nation-wide wholesaler, they can offer you the best pricing by selling to you direct. You can receive a free estimate for your project by submitting a request at www.warmzone.com or calling them at 1-888-488-WARM.
MORE RESOURCES: Sheffield Lake gets home improvement money from ODOD - The Morning Journal Classic Home Improvement Products is your company for Arcadia, California ... - .. Vanilla Ice's New Calling: Home Improvement! - Entertainment Tonight News Taylor wants home improvement - Yahoo! Eurosport UK Historic neighborhood debates home improvement - Palo Alto Online Beware of home improvement projects – and handymen, too - TheTimes Home improvement - Savannah Morning News Cheshire West home improvement agency earns national quality mark award - Cheste.. 'Toy Story' star Tim Allen becomes Chevy pitchman - The Associated Press Home show gives Labor Day home improvement ideas - 10 Connects  |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How To Choose Decorative, Recessed Locking Mailboxes Do you need a decorative, quality, recessed locking mailbox for your home? There is a large selection of mailboxes from which to choose, and you may wonder which is the right mailbox for you. A recessed locking mailbox is a perfect way to keep your mail safe from prying eyes, and can be installed on the exterior of your home or as part of a freestanding mailbox. How to build an energy-efficient home There are just a few important things to know and to remember, when building an energy-efficient home. These are; insulation, air intrusion, thermal mass, and that windows and holes in the wall of the house lose about the same amount of energy. Repairing Your Own Machine Components Many industrial concerns have workshops of their own. For the repair of worn shafts, the lathe machine is excellent. Home Inspection: A Doctor Visit for Your Home Has your house had a check up yet?Home inspection is like a visit to the doctor for your home. The home inspector will give your home a physical from top to bottom. Ceiling Fans - That Dont Require The Ceiling The trend in remodeling homes is to expand the outdoor backyard or patio into a lovely room where you can entertain. It just makes sense to extend your surroundings to be more useful. Light Up Your Life With Feng Shui Feng Shui (pronounced Foong Shway or Fung Shoy) is the ancient Chinese art of luck management, which works by maximising the flow of energy (known as 'Chi') in your environment. Every object, inanimate or living, possesses its own energy field and also has an affect on the flow of Chi in your environment. Lakeside Patios - The Water Makes Decisions For You If you are putting in a new patio on a lakeside, you have unique considerations that other homeowners do not have when it comes to purchasing patio furniture.We built a new patio on a 700 acre lake and I had to look around for just the right outdoor furniture. Improving Your Bathrooms Appearance can be as Simple as Changing Your Bathroom Cabinets Your choice of bathroom cabinet can affect the look and feel of your entire room. If your bathroom could benefit from a fresh new look, then consider replacing your old storage cabinets with stylish new ones. Help Choosing Door and Window Hardware Who would be the best person to help you find suitable fixtures and fittings for doors and windows?Architects are trained to create designs that are structurally sound, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. They also often have a basis knowledge of construction materials, though not the detailed knowledge required when choosing appropriate hardware. Home Inspection Basics The Home InspectorWhen you think about it, it is a bit odd. A person hires a stranger to snoop around another stranger's house for a couple hours and report back. Three Types of Lighting for Room Remodeling When remodeling a room, choosing the correct lighting is one of the most important considerations. Proper lighting sets the atmosphere of the room, creates a particular mood, or provides accent to an architectural style. Chiminea - Buy It for the Versatility of Enjoying Both Fireplace and Grill! I recently visited friends who served me a dinner of grilled salmon and baked potatoes, done to perfection in their chiminea. The sun was setting and it was cooling down but overall a wonderful summer evening. 5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project 1. What experience does your contractor have with this type of project?How much experience does the home improvement contractor have in doing projects like yours? Does s/he specialize in this type of project, or will s/he be using your home as a learning project? Typically, contractors who have done several projects like yours will have a better idea of the actual costs and production issues involved in your project. Professional Asphalt Paving Contractors In California Choosing an asphalt paving contractor can be a major event if you don't take cautionary measures to ensure proper work to be conducted. First, you must review your service provider's credentials and make sure that they have a well known history of success in the asphalt paving industry. Avoiding Leaks When Installing Vinyl Retrofit Windows These days a lot of homeowners are replacing their old windows with vinyl windows using the retrofit style of window frame. This is particularly true in the west, and specifically, in California. What Are Circuit Breakers? Circuit Breakers are devices that stop the electrical current of a circuit in the event of excess or very high voltage. Circuit breakers are handy, not only because they can protect against electrical fires but also because they can be reset. Stair Railings Styles The stair railing at home is more than a simple way to get from a floor to another. You can create an extension of your personal likes in decoration, with ornamental parts of wood, iron and other material easy to install that will increase the value of your home at the same time. Sofa slipcovers - Give your home an instant makeover! Sofa slipcovers are designed to be easy to fit over your existing upholstery, to give your furniture a fresh new look and protect the fabric underneath. If your favorite sofa is looking a bit tired or outdated, but is generally in good condition, you could give it a new lease of life simply by adding some stylish sofa covers. Add Sizzle to Your Surroundings Is your home décor lacking that extra something that spells the difference between comfortable and vibrant or between comfortable and tranquil? Candles might be just the polish your décor needs. Take advantage of the sparkling colors, rich textures, and fresh scents of candles without draining your decorating budget. Electric Radiant Floor Heating Electric radiant floor heating systems are heating systems designed for use under carpeting, area rugs, tile, stone, and laminate wood floors and have been used in Europe, South Africa, and Australia for over 20 years.Radiant heat does away with the age-old problems of cold rooms by offering easy-to-install zone heating.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |