Radiant Heating - How Hydronic Heating Methods Are More Efficient Than a Furnace and Electric Heat

With all of the hectic day to day stress that a home owner experiences finding a reliable company which can service multiple major systems of a home is invaluable. Home owners may think that it is unusual for a plumbing service company to also handle heating and cooling systems and equipment. In all reality air and water are almost identical in the way each behaves, as both are fluids. With each utility having similar properties, it is no surprise an HVAC company will very often handle plumbing and plumbing repair service requests.
In many homes throughout the country, usually found in northern climates, hydronic heating, one of the most efficient methods, is used to heat the home during cooler weather. Hydronic heating is the use of hot water being circulated through a series of pipes and allowing the heat to dissipate into the living quarters. Most commonly this is seen as units resembling base board heaters and even radiators.
Much like the radiator in a vehicle, there are metal fins lining the interior of the metal housing in baseboard heating fixtures. The fins provide a greater amount of surface area for the heat from the hot water to be shed instead of simply relying on a basic pipe. In addition to this, it is also possible to run a series of tubes under the floor, inside the walls or within the ceiling. Running tubes of circulating hot water through the floor or ceiling is one type of radiant heat. There can also be electric radiant heat systems, but are not always as energy efficient as hydronic heating.
Unlike forced heat, which is the most common heating method found throughout the country, the rooms are warmed from the top down. If the home owner were able to walk on the ceiling, this would be a very efficient and comfortable way to heat the home. Radiant heat, when installed in the floor, heats the rooms from the floor up. Because heat rises, all of the heat and energy from the radiant heat is felt at the bottom half of the room, which is where home owners spend all of their time.
Irregardless of the placement of the piping or radiators, all hydronic heating systems need a boiler, normally kept in the basement, which heat the water. Boilers can either be fueled by natural gas, propane, oil or electricity, with oil and gas being the most common. With just one utility such as heating requiring water, oil, pipes or gas, it can easily be understood why an HVAC company would also need to be versatile by being knowledgeable and experienced with plumbing.

For additional information on the topic of heating and cooling visit Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Home Comfort System

If you are thinking about making some changes to your heating or cooling system, then you may be surprised at just how many choices are available today. No longer is it simply a matter of wood stoves/fireplaces, coal, gas or electric. Today's choices range from geothermal heating and cooling or solar powered systems, basic gas or electric heaters to radiant heat or basic window or room heaters or air conditioning units to humidifiers and dehumidifiers. So, with the many home comfort system choices available, how can you determine what will be best for your home?
In addition to the many types of systems available, you will also want to think about the region of the U.S. you live in. After all, if you live in the northeastern part of the country then your summers are typically cooler and your winters much more severe than those experienced by families in the southwest, and for folks in Florida the humidity level is different than for those in Michigan. Before making a decision, be sure to talk to several people (preferably those who have a residence similar to yours) and see what they have found to be most effective for their home. Then, as you begin your quest, here are several key factors to keep in mind:

1. Does anyone in the home have any allergies or asthma? Do you have indoor pets, especially those known for shedding a great deal? If so, then a whole house air cleaner can help remove any unwanted dust particles and allergens as well as any pet dander. Look for a comfort system with an air filtration system that removes 99% or more of them. Once the system is installed, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding how often the filter(s) need to be changed.
2. Are you hoping to lower your energy costs with the new comfort system? Since this applies to us all, then make sure that the system you are considering has an Energy Star rating. Not only will these products save you money over the course of time, but most of them come with government rebates.
3. What types of materials are common for your flooring and furniture? If you have a great deal of wood, then you will want to consider a whole house humidifier in order to add moisture back in the air and protect the wood floors.
4. How big is your home? Make sure you have the dimensions, not just for your home, but for each room, so that you can get the most from your comfort. One that is too big will cost more to both purchase and use, while one that is too small will be inefficient and have to run too hard to have any money saving value.
5. Does your family constantly adjust the thermostat? Be sure to choose a system with a programmable thermostat so that you can set the temperature to suit the needs of particular day, time of day, or other consideration.

For additional information on the topic of heating and air visit Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Is Radiant Heating Right For You?

There are many ways available to keep your home warm, so it is a given that some are more energy efficient than others. After all, there is the traditional fireplace, coal burning heaters, wood stoves, electric heat and radiant heat. Yet one of the most energy efficient methods, radiant heat, is perhaps one of the most unused, despite having been around since the days of the early Romans.
History shows that the early Romans used radiant floor heat as a form of central heating for their villas and baths by directing flue gases from beneath the stone slab floors. However, this method of heating ultimately became obsolete, until the early 20th century when it was rediscovered and then adapted by modern science so that hot water was run through the iron or copper pipes. In fact, when Frank Lloyd Wright began designing houses, he frequently employed radiant heating.
As with any "new" thing, it took time for radiant heating to become more standard, but today there are many companies that specialize in the installation and maintenance of this energy efficient method of heating one's home. And, despite claims by more traditional heating methods that assert as much as a 92% efficiency rating, a radiant heat system is actually 30-40% more efficient than forced-air heating systems. This is due to a simple law of science: hot air rises and cold air falls. Consequently, radiant heat rises up from the floor heating the air from the bottom up, then during the warmer months the system is combined with an attic mounted air conditioning system so the air is cooled efficiently and effectively-saving the homeowner money!
If you are building a new home, or merely thinking about upgrading your current home heating system, think about these reasons for using radiant heat:

• Consistent warmth throughout the home because heat loss from occupants is reduced as the higher temperatures are nearer to the floor while cooler temperature are at ceiling level.
• More effective use of energy as the rooms are not pressurized and allowing air and heat to seep out.
• Temperatures stay even throughout the home as you can set the temperatures based needed heat levels. Also, because the heat is dispersed through the floor, there is no need to have the furniture set up a specific way to allot for air vents.
• Radiant heat is quiet. Because the heat is produced by water moving through pipes in the floor, there is no need for the system to make any noise when the heater "kicks in". The only sound comes from the burner in the boiler.
• Miniscule amounts of bad air as only 5% of the heat is transferred by convection. This means that there is no dust, odors, germs or allergens being dispersed throughout a building.
• Durability is perhaps the greatest benefit of radiant heating thanks to PEX tubing that is used in installation. It will last for years and requires little or no maintenance.

For additional information on the topic of radiant heat systems visit Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.