Autumn is the time for heater replacement services. With winter on the way and cold weather already here, homeowners with old, worn heating systems want to put in new ones before the temperatures drop too much lower. Doing so means you can take advantage of the improved efficiency a new heating system can bring, as well as reducing the chances of a winter breakdown as much as possible.
Most homes in the area rely on traditional heating systems like forced-air furnaces and boiler systems. But theyโre not the only type of system available, and if you are in the market for a new heater, it pays to explore the possibilities that an alternative model may provide.
Among the systems you may want to consider is a radiant heating system, which involves warming the home directly through the floor. Hereโs a breakdown of how it works and what kind of benefits it brings.
Through the Floor
Radiant heating systems entail the installation of tubes or coils beneath the floor, through which heated water or some other means of heating is circulated. Pumps are used to circulate the liquid through the tubes, while some systems use electrical coils to provide warmth instead of tubes. The heat from the system warms the room directly through the floor: moving gently through furnishings and your own feet to provide safe, comfortable warmth.
Benefits
Radiant heating systems tend to cost more to install and take time to do so, since in most cases the furnishings in the home must be moved around and the floorboards ripped up and re-installed. In exchange, however, radiant heating systems deliver a number of potent benefits. They can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Efficient Heat. Forced-air furnaces and similar heating systems warm the air around us in the winter. It works, but itโs not a very effective means of making us comfortable. Radiant heating systems expend a lot less energy to warm the home and thus cost much less to run.
- Long Lasting. Radiant heating systems have few moving parts beyond the pumps used to circulate the liquid and are protected from damage by being placed beneath the floors. As a result, they tend to last a long time and donโt suffer from breakdowns often.
- No Breeze. Forced-air furnaces can create a number of issues when they circulate the air. Drafts, for instance, can be common in homes with forced-air furnaces, and the blown air can circulate things like dust and germs: lowering the quality of your indoor air. Radiant heating systems eliminate that problem entirely, without skimping on the warm, comfortable temperatures you need.
- Fast Response Time. When you turn on a regular heater, it often takes time to warm up. That isnโt the case with a radiant heating system. Not only does the warmth arrive quickly, but the reduced โstart-upโ time further improves the systemโs efficiency: putting money back into your pocket.
If a radiant heating system sounds like a good fit for your Westlake, OH home, call Westland Heating & Air Conditioning today!
