Archive for the ‘Home Improvement’ Category

Want heating or air conditioning tips?

Radiant heating
Utilizing water to produce radiant heat is an application that has been popular since the common use of hot water radiators in the 1940′s, but employing water for cooling has only become viable fairly recently. Radiant heating takes place whenever a hot surface transmits heat directly to a person or object in the same room or area, and hydronic radiant heating uses steam or hot water as the source of the heat. The technology behind radiant cooling is more complicated than radiant heating, and requires cooler surfaces to take in the heat produced by a heated body. Hydronic radiation operates identically for both heating and cooling, with hot or cold water running through an array of pipes embedded in the ceiling, floor, or walls. The most efficient radiant heating systems are installed in the floor where the heat always rises, while the most efficient cooling systems are in the ceiling where the rising heat is more easily absorbed. There are more steps to the set up of a hydronic cooling system than a heating one because you want adequate ventilation to de-humidify the room and provide fresh air. Radiant systems are much more energy effective than conventional systems which blow cold or hot air through ductwork to heat or cool a room, a process that results in much dissipation and energy loss. Putting in a hydronic cooling or heating system may be beyond the ability of most do-it-yourself home improvement practitioners, and normally requires the services of a professional.

Radiant floor heating system
Nowadays, radiant heat is the most economical, safe, environmentally friendly, and comfortable way to maintain the temperature in your home, and systems employing infrared energy have become quite popular. The design philosophy for radiant heating systems is to first heat the floors, walls, and ceilings of the home which will then heat the items nearby, and finally radiates out and the air heats up. The more prevalent forced-air heating systems function in the opposite manner by pushing hot air into a room, however this heats the air toward the ceiling a lot more than the air just above the floor. After considering your needs, you will be able to choose between liquid or electric radiant heating technologies. Hot liquid systems pump heated oil or water through a series of pipes, whereas electric systems consist of a a series of cables as the heat medium. Also known as hydronic heating, liquid radiant heating is a system where pipes are laid out between plywood sheets or over a concrete floor. Two thousand years ago, the Romans refined another form of radiant heat utilizing air that was heated, however currently this technology is not as economical due to the fact that air cannot hold onto heat as efficiently as other systems.

Utilizing electric radiant flooring to heat your home
Rather than having a furnace on all the time, more and more folks are enjoying the benefits of radiant heating. You enjoy a far more efficient distribution of energy with this system because the heated floor radiates energy directly to people and objects in a room evenly. The consistent temperature of the floor translates into a significant reduction of energy use compared with other heating systems. There will be far fewer troublesome parts required for this heating method such as filters and valves. Traditional heating systems allow dust and pollens in from outdoors, and a lot of dust is blown around through floor vents. This method of heating is silent since you never have fans buzzing or radiators rattling as is the case with traditional heating systems. The most important decision you need to make with this method of heating is what type of flooring to choose, as stone, ceramics and porcelain are good ways to conduct heat, while hardwood is a poor choice.

Unable to find the amount of detailed information you are seeking from the articles above? In that case the following Internet sites can be more pertinent. Curious about oil furnace care? If that is the case, following the link to Maintaining An Oil Furnace will be helpful. Are you also searching for information about the best pellet stoves? If so, The Best Pellet Stoves can help.