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Sunday, December 16, 2012

A Matter of Heat

By Georgie McNeal


Heat tends to be a pretty big problem during the winter, for example keeping it within a room. We do a great job of keeping the air around us heated, but typically that heating method is not responsible for surface heat. If you rely on the air around you to heat a concrete surface, you're going to have a problem. That being said, hydronic heating is probably the best way to go. What exactly is hydronic heating? It is a form of in-floor heating that provides you an efficient (while not cost effective) way to keep your floor heated.

Firstly, hydronic systems tend to use a water mixture. Just like with your vehicle, you would not want your cooling solvent to freeze in the floor, so a contractor typically insists on the use of propylene glycol. There are also a few different types of piping available, for example polyethylene. More specialized construction projects might call for copper, teel, or Polybutylene. Older construction projects also find these to be popular.

Before we start taling about th hydronic heating benefits, let's talk about sources. Your system can use either a single heat source, or it can use a combination. The most common sources happen to be boilers that use natural gas, oil, coal, or waste oil. They may also use electricity or wood depending on the construction of the home. Along with that you might choose to use heat pumps or chillers powered by any of the above, though you could also opt for a geothermal heat pump if you so desire.

What are the benefits that accompany in floor heating? For one example, if you hop out of bed at 2 am, you don't want to step on a cold kitchen or living room floor. That said, in-floor heating is a great solution, and it will do far more than heat your floor. Along with floor heating, it will also cause a radiant heating effect, which ultimately causes the air around you to be heated quite nicely. You will find that furniture on the floor will benefit fromt his, and your house will become very comfortable.

If you feel you need more heating in your home, then now would be a most excellent time to start looking into the different hydronic heating options. Keep in mind that some methods work well for different floors. For instance it would be a good idea to avoid tubing meant for concrete floors if you plan to use hardwood floor heating. Remember that the wrong tubing can experience cracks or leaks.

These installations would be best handled by an experienced contractor and there are plenty these days who are well versed in in the art of in floor heating. If you already know a good contractor, you are set, if not, it's time to search the internet. Your solution could be within reach!




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