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Akron Heated Floors and Radiant Heat Solutions
Residents in Akron, Ohio look to Boost Comfort with Radiant Heat
Are you looking for the most efficient way to add heat to your home as well as luxurious comfort? More and more residents of Akron, Ohio are discovering the benefits of radiant heat, and increasing numbers of new residential construction projects in Ohio are including radiant floor heating installations.
With an annual snowfall of almost 50 inches, Akron residents are familiar with cold weather, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t enjoy luxurious warmth inside their homes. Radiant heat can efficiently provide comfortable warmth in ways that traditional heating systems can’t. With radiant heated floors, you’ll immediately notice a difference when compared with traditional forced-air heating. The heat emanates from the floor up, and the systems operate silently, cleanly, and very efficiently.
All About Radiant Heated Floors
Many think of radiant heat as a fairly recent technology, but actually, radiant heat was used as early as 7,000 years ago in China and Korea. But it wasn't until the Romans adopted the technology and developed it around 300 B.C., that radiant heat became more commonplace. They created the hypocaust; a system that used the hollow space under an elevated stone and tile floor where hot air could be circulated underneath, warming the floor and those inside. A servant would stoke the wood burning furnace so that hot air would circulate throughout the spaces under the floor and up through ducts built into the walls. Naturally, technology has come a long way since then, but the principle remains the same. Heated floors use radiant heat transfer to efficiently warm objects rather than air. Because of this, floor heating systems feature virtually no heat loss, which means no wasted energy.
Efficiency and comfort are just a couple of reasons why many folks in Akron, Ohio are incorporating radiant heat into their homes and businesses. Radiant floor heating is now a practical, affordable option, and both electric and hydronic heating systems can be commonly found in homes throughout the country.
How Do Radiant Floor Heating Systems Work?
Hydronic and electric heated floors both utilize heating elements that are embedded under the surface of the floor. Hydronic systems are water based, so a series of closed loop Pex tubing is used. Specially treated water is heated by a boiler and then pumped through the tubing. This system is more complex and expensive to install than its electric counterpart; however, its operating costs may be less because the boiler may operate on a cheaper utility, such as natural gas.
Electric floor heating systems are more affordable and easier to install. They consist of a heating element, a sensor and thermostat. The heating element varies. Warmzone® carries a large selection of floor heating systems, and the heating elements range from thin heat cable to low-voltage polymer heating panels to paper-thin FilmHeat elements and FoilHeat, etc.
The comparison between traditional forced-air heating systems and radiant heat is striking. With forced-air systems, the heat rushes from vents throughout the home. The warm air rises quickly, and (along with dust and allergens) drops back down when it cools, making it difficult for you to feel warm. Your head and shoulders may feel warm, but your toes and legs do not. But with radiant heat, this isn’t the case. It delivers a heat that must be experienced to be fully appreciated. The warmth rises from the floor and provides “total warmth” for those inside. It’s especially nice for families whose kids spend a lot of time playing on or near the floor.
Radiant heat can also be applied to existing floors – without tearing up the floor. If you have access to the floor joists from below, you can use Warmzone’s RetroHeat® film heating panels. The panels are paper-thin and stapled up between the joists. Batt insulation is then applied over the heating element to direct all of the heat upward to the floor. This is an affordable and effective solution for heating existing floors, and eliminating the need for major remodeling.
To learn more about the many heating options that are available in the Akron area, call Warmzone today at 888.488.9276.