SYSTEM DESCRIPTION Radiant heating can be installed in the ceiling, walls, or
floor of a new home. All of these systems radiate heat toward objects -
including occupants - in the heater's line of sight, without heating the air in
between. It works much like direct sunlight on a cold, windless day. Since radiant systems can keep occupants comfortable at
lower air temperatures they may reduce heat loss from the home when the heat is
on for short periods. If the heat is on for long periods of time the air
temperature in the zone will rise to the same temperature as with other zonal
systems. Depending on your living habits, radiant heating units can
be quite energy efficient. Ceiling cable heat, the traditional and least expensive
radiant heat to install, uses cables running along the ceiling between the
sheetrock and the insulation. Newer improved designs use continuous conductive
mats that spread the heating over an entire panel, which is easy to install or
replace, and also less likely to need repairs. Ceiling radiant heat is only slightly more expensive than
most baseboard systems and technological advances have made it much more
reliable than in the past. Radiant heating can also be installed in the floor, heating
the floor to about 80°F. Some homeowners consider floor radiant heat the
most comfortable electrical heating option of all. However, floor radiant heat
is expensive to install, and requires sophisticated controls to prevent
overheating. Another type of radiant heating system is a cove heater.
This system consists of a long, narrow radiant heater installed high on the
wall of each zone. ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES MAINTENANCE Ceiling cable heat systems can be damaged by
attaching things to the ceiling (plant hooks, etc.). Relatively maintenance
free. EFFICIENCY Electric heat is 100% efficient...for every watt of
electricity the system consumes, a watt of heat is created. Efficiency may be
reduced due to poor system design. It is important to do a heat-loss
calculation when sizing the system. CONTROLS (See additional information in
Thermostat section). Typically, an inexpensive bi-metal coil spring thermostat
is used to operate each zone. These thermostats allow the temperature to
fluctuate as much as five degrees on either side of the temperature setting
leading to uncomfortable rooms. The heating system usually gets the blame.
Consider an electronic thermostat to maintain the temperature within one to two
degrees of the set point, creating a much more comfortable environment. CONTROL TIPS For optimum efficiency, reduce the thermostat setting while
sleeping or when the space is unoccupied for four hours or longer. A master
thermostat can be used to control multiple zones at one time. EASE OF OPERATION Individual rooms or zones are easy to operate.
However, considering the whole house as a system it can be time consuming to
assure that each thermostat in each room is turned down when needed. A master
thermostat can be used to control multiple zones.
