One large advantage of a radiant heating system is less loss of heat, since it heats from the floor up to the ceiling. Forced air heat is blown up out of a vent, and goes straight to the ceiling instead of radiating slowly upward. This means you are closer to the heat on the floor for a longer period of time.
Radiant heat is an excellent way to save energy. The heating system lays beneath your floor and the heat radiates up. It is more energy efficient in that there is more area radiating heat than other heating otions and thus quicker heat returns. This causes your heating system to run less and save you money and energy.
Helping you save money on your energy bill is one benefit of radiant heating panels. Radiant heating panels also help maintain personal comfort at lower temperatures.
I think if you are using a radiant heating system like warm board that can respond quickly to changes in temperature then a programmable thermostat makes sense. However if you are using concrete slab radiant heat, which takes a long time to heat up and cool down a programmable thermostat will be less efficient than leaving it at one set temperature.
Radiant heating can be advantageous because it reduces the heat loss through ducts. Also, for people with allergies advantages in less of air movement are highly effective. Not only can you save on electricity bills, but also improve the comfort of your home.
Because heat rises, most homes have cold floors in the wintertime. Radiant floor heating provides warm floors and uniform heat throughout the rest of the room. The heat rises from the floor and warms people and objects in the room, creating a cozy atmosphere. The heat produced from radiant heating does not dry the air – or your skin - like forced air heat, and when the air is not dry it feels warmer, so you will be more comfortable even if the room temperature is lower. It will also help prevent the dry cracking skin associated with dry winter air. Your heat will not be directed to certain areas of a room and leave cool spots in other areas, and your children will not have to play on drafty floors. Forced air heating systems are not as efficient as radiant heat because some of the energy is lost while traveling through the air ducts, and the moving air coming from them usually contains dust and allergens which can cause problems for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. When you have air vents in the floors, arranging furniture can be difficult because you must be careful not to put something over a vent or in front of a vent, which would greatly reduce its effectiveness. Forced air heating is sometimes noisy, but radiant heating does its job quietly and efficiently. Radiant floor heating is energy efficient, so your heating costs should decrease, and you will be doing your part to protect the environment while you save money on utilities. Radiant floor heating will also increase the value of your home, which will be a benefit if you decide to sell it in a few years. You can regulate the temperature in each room with some radiant floor heating systems and save even more energy by keeping bedrooms, pantries and laundry rooms cooler than the rest of your home, and if you want extra warmth in the bathroom, you can have that too. You will surely enjoy the clean quiet heat from your radiant floor heating system, and you won’t have to keep house slippers handy to put on your feet when you get out of bed, because the floor will be warm.
The amount of money you save by turning the heating down 1 degree will vary depending on factors such as the size of your home, the type of heating system you have, and the local energy costs. In general, a 1-degree decrease in temperature can save around 1-3% on your heating bill.
With the high cost of energy in today's world, a person would greatly benefit from an up to date heating system. You not only save on your power bill, but your home will be warmer in a quicker amount of time.
The panals store energy and save it as a backup if their is no sun.
Using a low voltage thermostat in a residential heating system can help save energy and reduce electricity costs. It also provides more precise temperature control and can increase the overall efficiency of the heating system.
Imagine waking up on a cold morning and stepping out on a warm floor. This is great, especially if the normal climate is cold, such as in the winter months or in the mountains. An experience like this is possible through a radiant heating system installed underneath the floor. Radiant heating consists of heat generated through either electrical heating elements or heated water. Both types of systems are installed underneath the floor, thus the entire house is warmed as a single unit. How does one choose whether this system is the right one? Here’s how. 1) The first step is deciding whether to purchase an electric or hydronic radiant heating system. Electric systems are easier to install and cost much less than hydronic systems. They also eliminate a lot of the labor costs because the electrical heating system can often be connected directly to the system already present in the home. Hydronic systems require tubing to be placed beneath the floor, pumps to move the hot water, and probably a second boiler or water heater. In addition, the tubing is usually placed beneath a concrete floor, which means the additional expense of pouring concrete, letting it dry and installing the tubing before pouring. 2) The existing flooring can partially determine the choice. Since electric radiant heating requires a space between floors in order to insert the electrical elements. The good news for a hydronic system is that the floor does not need to be remodeled in order to install it; the joist underneath the subfloor will usually work fine. If the decision is made to remodel the floor, concrete or ceramic tile works best with radiant floor heating, especially with a hydronic system. The heat from the water is easily conducted through the floor into the air of the house. 3) There is one downside that makes hydronic radiant heat systems more attractive than electric systems: electric systems cost more in the long run than hydronic systems. For this reason, there are typically installed only in a small part of the house, like a bathroom or bedroom. Hydronic systems actually save up to as much as a third from the yearly heating costs.
Radiant heat offers homeowners a more energy efficient way to heat their homes. Most commonly, radiant heat is generated by either a hot water or steam boiler powered by natural gas or propane. Prior to the use of natural gas, such boilers were often powered by wood fire. More recently, the use of radiant on demand heating systems has become the standard for new construction in many areas. This type of heating is extremely compact and requires only electric service for operation. Not only is this type of heating more efficient than even natural gas powered boilers, but it can be adjusted per room electronically. Gone are the days of having to manually adjust the valves on cast iron boilers in each room. Additionally, with an electric powered radiant heating source, there is far less risk of fire and of carbon monoxide poisoning or gas leaks. Electric powered systems can be vent based, or they can provide heat from within the floor or along baseboards. There are many different options available and in some cases, the homeowner can elect to use a different type of heating element in each room of their home. Modern radiant heating systems are generally custom designed to provide comfort in the home. Kitchens and bathrooms can be heated via the floor, making early morning a more pleasant experience for everyone. Bedrooms and living areas can be heated with blower fans that circulate warm air and also offer air conditioning during the summer months. Regardless of the type of radiant heat installed in your home, you are certain to save money with greater efficiency. You will also be more comfortable with radiant heat than with traditional forced air heating. There are very few or no ducts to require cleaning. The advantages of radiant heat are many, so if you are considering remodeling or building an addition onto your home, you should definitely look into the option of installing a radiant heating system in your home.
It lessens the amount of heat your heating system has to replace saving you fuel and by saving fuel you save $.