Pros & Cons of Radiant Heating
Winters in the Waterford, Michigan area are serious business. The reality is that we’ll be living with frigid temperatures into March and maybe early April. With these hard facts in mind, you may be considering a furnace upgrade.
Heating options vary greatly in our area. That’s good for the consumer because the choice is yours. When it comes to your home comfort, Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has you covered. Our trained Comfort Specialists assess your current situation and provide the best options for you. Call Kotz today for a no-cost consultation.
Radiant heating is among the popular heating options available. Kotz installs and services many radiant heating systems in Waterford. However, you may be wondering what are the pros and cons of radiant heating?
Radiant heat uses a boiler to heat water that runs through pipes installed under the flooring of your home. Another option is utilizing a heat mat with electric cables running through it, which is placed in the sub-flooring. Either application is best installed in new builds, but retrofitting is also a possibility in certain circumstances. Every home must be carefully evaluated to determine if radiant heat is a good fit.
There are several benefits of radiant heat. The heated water or heated electric cables heat the objects in the room as opposed to heat from a heat pump or furnace that blows hot air into the space. When flooring, furnishings and objects in the room are heated, that heat is sustained for much longer periods of time, making radiant heating very efficient.
Another great benefit to radiant heat is that hot or cold spots are less likely to occur, allowing you to feel more comfortable. Finally, with no air blowing around, dust and allergens are diminished keeping the indoor air cleaner and healthier.
Radiant heat does have some disadvantages, though. The first is the higher installation costs due to the need for pipes or matting. A second downside is the amount of time it can take for water to heat, so you may feel like you’re waiting too long for the temperature to get to the level you want. A con with electric matting is that the cost of electricity can be prohibitive in some areas.
