Monthly Archives: November 2011

Articles

Radiant Heat Has Arrived in Earnest

Electric Radiant Heating Comes in Many Flavors

Although radiant heat has been around for many years now, new technology has paved the way for it to arrive in earnest. There’s no cleaner form of heating than radiant heat. A wire grid (heat cable) installed in the floor provides a totally clean and quiet heat that radiates upward to all those lucky enough to be in the room. There is no blower cycling on and off or the noise that goes with it. And no dust or allergens are blown around either. What there is is clean, silent, comfortable heat. Time marches on. Just as cars today are equipped with more than just an AM radio with big dials, heating systems have advanced to a point where this form of clean, quiet and efficient heat is making a move to become the standard.

Another large advantage of radiant heating is that it is easily zone able. Each room or “zone” can be controlled separately, so if you have rooms that are not used regularly you can turn the heat off or down in those rooms, adding greatly to the efficiency of these systems. This is not something at which a forced air system excels. Radiant floor heating systems typically have thermostats in every room.

ComfortTile floor heating mat, cable and thermostat
ComfortTile floor heating cable in mat and on spools, shown with thermostat.

One of the great things about radiant heating is that technology has provided for its use in many different facets. Did you know that there are radiant roof heating systems that will melt the snow and ice off the roof and gutters? In addition there are driveway snow melting systems that will quietly and efficiently melt the snow and ice off your driveway. Modern technology isn’t just for iPods and iPads. These systems utilize the same type of technology, using low-voltage or line-voltage electric current that runs through heating cable and provides the desired result. These systems are also automated and programmable, and can do their duties when you aren’t even home. There are so many conveniences available to us today at which our parents and grandparents would marvel. Radiant heating is making inroads and it is easy to see why. People are discovering the comfort and efficiency of radiant heating and are adopting it with open arms.

Radiant heating systems can also be installed over existing floors as well. Just because the almost dream home you bought doesn’t have the heating system that would make it the dream home, don’t despair. Heating cable can be installed over the existing floor and a new surface poured over that, thus transforming your almost dream home in to your real dream home. RetroHeat radiant heat systems can also be installed in the floor joists under an existing floor.

With winter knocking on our doors, it’s the season for a snow melting system. Anyone with a snow melting system installed has experienced the joy of driving in to a driveway that has no snow on it when there is snow all around. One might have to try to suppress a smile when your neighbor’s are all snow bound. If you live in an area where snow is a regular concern you can appreciate the convenience of a snow melting system. Perhaps the ultimate dream is that you arrive home from work during a major snow storm and pull into your driveway where all the snow has melted away when it is piling up everywhere else. You park and walk on a sidewalk heated with a snowmelt system, you don’t worry about the ice cycles on the roof above because there aren’t any thanks to a roof snow melting system. You then walk in to the house and take your shoes off and instantly feel the comfort of a warm radiant heated floor. Life is good.

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ComfortTile Radiant Heated Floors

Radiant Floor Heat – Give Your Bathroom Floor the “Spa” Treatment

Want the spa treatment without ever leaving home? It’s the perfect time to take the chill out of your bathroom floor with ComfortTile radiant floor heating systems. Easily installed directly under tile, natural stone other surfaces, ComfortTile radiant heat provides comfortable, even floor temperatures, in your bathroom, kitchen, or entryway. Just about anywhere there’s a tiled surface is a great place for the comfort of ComfortTile heated floor mats or cable. And with a low 3/16-inch (3 mm) profile, ComfortTile is a non-evasive project ideal for bathroom renovations.

So how do ComfortTile floor heating systems work? ComfortTile heated floor mats and cable are a form of electric radiant heat. The mats are essentially pre-spaced heat cable woven into an adhesive-backed fiberglass mesh that can be rolled out and installed under the subfloor of any tiled surface. They are connected to an electric power source and, like forced air systems, are controlled by a thermostat. Once activated, ComfortTile heated floors radiate heat from the floor and up through objects in a given room to deliver warm, even temperatures quickly and efficiently.

ComfortTile floor heating mat, cable and thermostat

This efficiency isn’t limited to the time it takes to activate an electric radiant heat system. By installing electric radiant heated floors, you can watch a small investment grow substantially. Radiant heat delivers higher levels of comfort at lower temperatures than conventional forced air systems, without a reliance on natural gas. There are no vents involved, so air pollutants, as well as the costs of duct cleaning and filter changing associated with forced air systems are virtually eliminated.

The good news, of course, is that while their appeal is high, the initial cost of ComfortTile heated floor mat installation is relatively low, so they’re a great way to build equity in your home. Unlike forced air heat, radiant heat installation isn’t an “all-or-nothing” proposition for homeowners either. You have the freedom to install ComfortTile floor mats in one room, or several. The mats are pre-terminated for use with 120 and 240 volts, and are available in various lengths of 24-inch widths to accommodate any layout, making them a flexible, easy-to-install proposition for do-it-yourselfers everywhere.

Warmzone ComfortTile electronic thermostats are specifically designed to control electric radiant floor heating systems for maximum comfort while minimizing power consumption. With Warmzone ComfortTile radiant heated floors, you can heat one room, or heat them all at the same time, if you wish. The system can be coordinated with your habits, so you get heat where you are, when you need it, without being subjected to drafts, dramatic fluctuations in temperature, and large heating bills.

It’s never too late to benefit from the warmth and luxury of a ComfortTile radiant heated floor. Call Warmzone today at 888.488.9276 to find out how Warmzone can partner with you to reach your home improvement objectives.

Warming Your Hardwood Floors

Add Warmth and Luxury to your Wood Floors with FloorHeat
Considering a wall-to-wall carpet to wood floor conversion in your home? When it comes time to choose an electric radiant heat product, don’t forget to include Warmzone’s FloorHeat in your remodeling plans. This state-of-the-art radiant heat technology features an extremely low-profile heating element designed to distribute heat safely, evenly and efficiently. Because of its efficiency, affordability and ease of installation, homeowners are increasingly turning to FloorHeat for use in a wide variety of electric radiant heat applications.

Heated hardwood floor

Just how does it work? FloorHeat is a self-regulating, semi-conductive polyethylene heating element. It coordinates with a thermostat and sensors placed below the subfloor of any hardwood or laminate surface. The best part, of course, is the heat itself—FloorHeat systems radiate heat up through the floor and objects in a room to evenly warm a room, maintaining comfort at temperatures a few degrees lower that those required by a conventional forced-air system. It’s flexible enough to be installed under a variety of surfaces, in a variety of applications.

Available in 9- or 12-inch-wide rolls, FloorHeat is an ultra-thin, flexible heating element that’s very easy to install. It is a very non-evasive application that does not require elaborate duct work or vent installation, making it a safe bet for the do-it-yourselfer. And as true for every Warmzone purchase, it comes with the wisdom and experience of a knowledgeable team of radiant heat experts. They’ll be there every step of the way, from helping you choose the best system for your radiant heat needs and budget, to providing the support you’ll need to successfully install your FloorHeat in your home.

So you’ve already installed wood floors throughout your home, and you’re realizing that even with all of those nice wool throw rugs you’ve purchased, there’s a considerable difference in comfort where wool meets the floor. No need to tear up and start over. You can easily retrofit your floor with FloorHeat radiant heat. RetroHeat panels can be cut to the desired length and safely stapled in between floor joists. After stapling, simply connecting the electrical system, and install batt insulation underneath the panels to direct heat up through the floor.

It’s never too late to benefit from the warmth and luxury of a FloorHeat radiant heated floor. Call Warmzone today at 888.488.9276 to find out how Warmzone can partner with you to reach your home improvement objectives.