Heating Systems Tip: With new advances in technology snow melting heating systems for driveways, sidewalks, and patios are more affordable, and economical than you might assume.

When replacing a home heating system, there are a lot of questions that people have in regards to new home heating systems.  Here is a questions that was recently asked.

Q: My 1,200 square foot home used to be heated by a furnace from 1949 that ran at 25,000 BTU. Recently I changed the system to a newer, 7,000 BTU system. I thought this newer heater would be more efficient, but I find that it takes much longer to heat the house than the older system did. Is there something wrong with my furnace or do I need one that has a higher BTU?

A: It’s a good idea to replace old heating systems with newer, more efficient models. These new models can work just as well or better than old systems, but they do work differently. Where old furnaces could be turned on and heat the house within a matter of minutes, new heating systems can take longer. If you want your home to be warm at a certain time, set the heat to go on about 45 minutes prior to that.

Another important factor is whether your home is “weather-tight.” Make sure all doors and windows are properly sealed. If not, you may be losing heat at the same rate your heating system is producing it. Check with a heating contractor who can tell you whether the new unit is sized correctly for your home’s square footage.

The “Ancient” Art of Sustainable Living

As a current or future radiant heat consumer, you might fancy yourself to be part of a growing trend towards sustainable home heating. What you may not know is that although it is considered an emerging, “modern” trend among residential homeowners, radiant heat technology is actually thousands of years old. 

Ancient ruins of a Roman underfloor heating system.     (Photo courtesy of Silvermel.)

The history of underfloor heating began in 10,000 BC with the Chinese, who used the word “kang”(original meaning, “to dry”) to describe what became known as a heated bed. Inhabitants drafted smoke from fires through stone covered trenches in the floors of their subterranean dwellings. The hot smoke heated the floor stones, radiating into their living spaces. Evidence of heated floors based on this principle were found in 5,000 B.C. in China and Korea.

The Greeks and Romans finessed the process in 500 B.C. with the hypocaust. Literally translated, hypocaust means “heat from below,” from the Greek word hypo meaning below or underneath, and kaiein, to burn or light a fire. This system was more efficient and less evasive than that of its Asian predecessor. It used pillars to raise the floors, creating a space underneath to circulate hot air. Spaces were left inside of the walls so that hot air and smoke from the furnace would pass through enclosed areas underneath the floor and out of flues in the roof, radiating heat through the walls along the way. While the hypocaust was a marked advancement in under floor heating, the process of heating itself was labor-intensive and high in fuel costs, making it a luxury for those living in villas, and at the public baths.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that standards were developed for underfloor heating systems. Five years later, radiant heat became a traditional system in residential buildings in some European and Nordic countries, and began to find its way into non-residential applications. These modern under floor heating systems use either electric resistance elements (electric) or heated fluid flowing in pipes (hydronic) to heat floors. Both can be cast in concrete, placed under the floor covering, or attached directly to the wood sub floor. Either type can be installed as an alternative to forced air to improve home air quality and reduce heating costs associated with fossil fuels, or as a localized system for thermal comfort.

Electric radiant heat marks a growing trend in residential heating. Electric radiant under floor heating systems are less evasive and less costly to install than hydronic systems, which require skilled designers and tradesmen familiar with boilers, circulators, controls, fluid pressures and temperature for proper installation. Electric radiant heat systems are more efficient than hydronic systems. Powered by electricity, radiant heat cables can heat a surface in 30 to 60 seconds, unlike hydronic systems, which may take anywhere from 4-7 hours to heat a surface—a considerable difference in performance. Because there is a boiler involved, hydronic systems may be fueled by natural gas, oil, coal or wood, making them less environmentally friendly and more costly to operate.

Whether you choose electric or hydronic, Warmzone has the experience and expertise to install a radiant heat system that’s right for your home and your budget. Whichever you choose, you’ll have the comfort of knowing you’ve done your part to reduce your carbon footprint, improve your home’s air quality and maintain a warm, comfortable environment for your family. Be sure to visit www.warmzone.com for more information on how Warmzone can customize a sustainable home heating solution just for you!

Radiant heat can be applied for a variety of applications, including driveway snowmelt and roof deicing systems as well as energy-efficient interior heated floors. 

View our HGTV Indoors Out Heated Patio installation video.

With a name like Warmzone, we have an unspoken obligation to live up to the task of matching our customers to the best available system of warmth and comfort.  We strive everyday to ensure that our products and our knowledgeable, dedicated staff will leave memories of service that is second to none, and products that will provide years of enjoyment.

A brief history of Warmzone allows consumers to understand why Warmzone was created. Warmzone realized the growth in the radiant heat industry was causing problems for consumer and contractors due to the abundance of technical information and product choices. Making the right choice for a radiant heat system is crucial and carries serious implications to its cost and effectiveness.  Serving as an intermediary between manufacturers, contractors and consumers, Warmzone’s role is to match individual needs of a project to a heating system that makes the most sense.  We strive to match our customer’s needs with the finest radiant heating systems available.  Warmzone.com offers non-biased, individualized solutions that factor the installation, durability, performance and operational investment as the key criteria for our customers.

There are several variables that Warmzone considers when looking at a project.  Some of these variables include:  square footage, the type of floor covering, the amount of heat needed for a given area, whether that heat will be the supplemental or primary source, how well insulated that environment is, and if it is a major remodel or completely new construction.
           
Based on this criterion, we can then discuss the benefits of a radiant heating system and which technology would be most appropriate for a consumer in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, operational costs and overall upkeep and maintenance.

Because radiant heat is relatively new in the United States, there is a continuing need to educate consumers about a wide variety of radiant solutions.  In the interest of avoiding confusion and finding the best possible application, Warmzone has done most of the homework for our prospective customers.  Our professional consultants learn the details regarding your heating goals and then propose a system that can be easily installed and will fit your budget.  Warmzone continues to strive toward being viewed as the premier radiant provider.  “We want customers to feel confident in this market and receive honest information and pricing regarding the best available products,” says Brandon Weaver, Vice President of Sales.

With so many options in the radiant industry, Warmzone.com is helping contractors and consumers with the pros and cons of each system.  Representatives of Warmzone suggest the best possible system for any project.  We are not tied to any one manufacturer and will provide the very best in pricing and information available.  Warmzone has a very direct relationship with select manufacturers thus eliminating the ‘one size fits all’ sales pitch normally received by homeowners. Using various forms of technology, Warmzone’s focus is to provide customers with the most pertinent information in record time. We know this is the key to establishing trust and long term partnerships.

As heating costs skyrocket, radiant heating continues to come to the forefront.  We at Warmzone excel in providing options that are affordable, convenient and specifically tailored to the needs of individual consumers.  As we match products with needs, we continually strive to provide our customers with “warm, pleasurable” heating experiences.  After all, feeling warm IS a wonderful thing!

We would welcome the opportunity to serve your needs. Visit us at www.warmzone.com, or call us directly at 1-888-488-WARM.       

About Warmzone
Warmzone provides consumers with energy-efficient, radiant heating solutions for homes and businesses. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Warmzone's electricians and radiant heat experts will help you determine the best radiant heating solution, ranging from electric heated floors to large commercial snow and ice melt projects. Send us a plan or drawings and we'll be happy to provide you with a FREE estimate and options for your roof heating and ice melting project.