How Does Radiant Heating Differ from Other Systems? What are the Benefits of Radiant Heating?
When it comes to heating bills, people are looking for ways to save as much money as possible. One of the best ways to do so is by using radiant heating, which while having its roots established thousands of years ago by ancient Romans is still a very efficient system to use in Reading residential and commercial buildings. If you’re looking for a new way to heat your home or business, it may pay to consider radiant heating and its numerous benefits.
What is Radiant Heating?
Although it’s been around from as early as the first century B.C., radiant heating offers a simple approach that has had to change little over the years. In essence, radiant heat delivers heat through floors or walls and warms adjacent air only. Most effective as an indoor heat source, it works well heating only one room or an entire house.
Two Forms of Radiant Heating
The two forms of radiant heating are electric and hydronic, also known as water radiant heat. Electric heating works best with hard floor coverings such as tile or concrete, and is not recommended for floors that are carpeted. Considered to be most effective as a supplemental heat source, it’s best used overnights and in early morning hours.
However, hydronic radiant heat is looked at as being much more cost-efficient than electric radiant heat. Used mostly in commercial applications, hydronic radiant heat is cheaper to install and can be operated at temperatures below that of electric radiant heat. In addition, hydronic radiant heat can be better regulated, which allows the heat to be reduced in areas that don’t need it while redirecting it to other rooms that have a more pressing need for additional heat.
Benefits of Radiant Heating
Though considered an extremely simplistic heating system, radiant heating still offers numerous advantages. First and foremost is the potential for lower heating bills during the Reading winter months.
In fact, some estimates state radiant heating can be as much as 30 percent cheaper than forced-air heating systems. Also, radiant heating needs no ductwork, vents, or registers to operate, making it a much cleaner system to use. The indoor air quality also improves by using radiant heat, since no ductwork is used that can let mold spores and dust build up over time. And finally, there is a better distribution of heat throughout the building, since the rooms are heated from the floor up.
Find out more about radiant heating and it’s benefits for your Reading, PA home this season. Call The Plumbing Works at (610) 929-8860 today.
