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The
desire for comfort is a basic human wish and nothing delivers comfort
better than radiant floor heating. Imagine your body surrounded by a
cozy warmth that radiates up from the floor. Radiant floor heating heats
your body and objects, not the air. The warmth stays down around the
floor where it is needed most. It is not wasted at the ceiling or lost
to the outdoors whenever a door or window is opened.
As early as 60 A.D., the Romans discovered the best way to heat an
enclosed space is to introduce heat below the floor surface and let it
radiate upward through the floor into the structure. This basic concept
remains true today and advances in technology have brought radiant floor
heating into modern times.
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Here's how it works. Uponor radiant floor heating systems
circulate warm water through PEX tubing embedded in the floor of
your home. The heat radiates up through the floor, warming the
people, furnishings and air in the room. The warmth stays down
around where the people are, not up at the ceiling or lost to
the outdoors every time a door or window is opened. It's a
comfortable, even heat where cold spots and drafts are
eliminated. |
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Why is radiant floor
so comfortable?
The human body has its own hydronic heating system. Heat is distributed
to the body through blood pumped from the heart. The first priority of
the body's heating system is to maintain central body core temperature.
From there, blood is sent to the extremities. Since the feet are the
farthest from the central body core, they are the last to get heat and
the first to recognize the discomfort of a cold environment.
Where the body's hydronic
heat system fails, radiant floor excels. Radiant floor applies direct
conductive heat to the feet (most of us have our feet on the floor), and
to objects in the room that in turn re-radiate heat. Because radiant
floor directly addresses the heat loss of the human body through
conduction, people are typically comfortable at a lower thermostat
setting -- around 65 ° F. This is another reason why radiant floor is so
energy efficient.
The common
forced air systems heat air, not objects, and warm air is often lost
through the walls and ceiling. Radiant floor heating heats the objects
in the room so heat is not wasted. Hot air heating systems do not
distribute heat where the body needs it most, leaving structures with
drafts and high heat loss.
So many
benefits with Radiant Floor Heating...
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Superior Comfort
- Consistent, steady heat all winter
long remaining near the floor where you are. It is a very desirable
cool head, warm feet environment.
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Warm floors in kitchens and bathrooms.
Beautiful wood and marble floors are even more enjoyable because
they are now warm.
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Efficiency -
Because people are in direct contact
with the heat source, they are comfortable at a lower thermostat
setting. Energy savings between 20 to 40% result.
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Zoning Ability
- Radiant floor heating provides room
by room temperature control, allowing more heat where you want it
most.
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Decorating Freedom -
Because the system is encased in the
floor, furnishings can be placed wherever you desire without concern
for impairing heat distribution or hiding unsightly heating
appliances. In addition, Wirsbo radiant floor heating systems can be
installed under any type of flooring, including wood, tile, concrete
and carpet.
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Clean and draft-free
- There are no noisy fans to blow
dust and allergens around your home. Because the floors are warm,
they dry quicker after mopping.
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Radiant Floor Heating Adds Value To
The Home - Radiant floor
heating can immediately increase the value of your home. Installing
Wirsbo tubing in slab or basement applications allows you to turn
cold, damp areas into warm cozy living space - taking full advantage
of all the available square footage in your home.
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