Radiant Floor Heat
December 23, 2008 by Jasmine
Filed under Floors and Stairs
If you are remodeling or building an entirely new bathroom, you may want to check radiant floor heat (although it requires certain skills to fit it in an existing structure) when you have had enough of having your feet touch ice cold tile floor after a shower.
Unlike with the ordinary forced-air heating system where warmed air is blown into the room, the radiant floor heating system with radiant energy that is comfortable and warm under the feet (and even warms the whole body unnoticeably).
There are two kinds of radiant floor heating systems, the electric and hydronic (using hot water). Warmth is acquired from the hot water that is flowing thru a system of tubes in spiral arrangement under the floor in hydronic system. A special heater for the water is needed. Heat is given off by coils, or foil or special electric-resistance panels in the electric radiant system. A large amount of electricity is utilized when these are turned on as they can be compared to inner parts of a very big toaster.
It is difficult to install a radiant floor heating system under an already exiting structure unless you can access the bottom side of the floor easily. Installing it when doing a major overhaul in the bathroom or new construction would be the easiest ways.
Click on the articles below for more thorough discussions about radiant floor heating.