Radiant Heaters 101

December 22, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

The number of types of radiant heaters available for residences or businesses is awfully mind-boggling. There’s really a lot of selection for homeowners to choose from. Today we’ll discuss the electric cable heating system kind of radiant heaters.

Electric cable heating systems are gaining popularity in as radiant heaters and are ideal for heating smaller areas (10-300 square feet) like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. On some systems, the cable will be shipped to you as a large spool of cable. These systems are oftentimes less expensive, and give you the ability to space the cable how you want and customize a layout that will heat every square inch of your floor. Other systems have the cable attached to a plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to maintain its proper spacing.

Every available cable system is equally effective, so when determining which radiant heater system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of the product, along with the ease of installation. Some cables must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can simply be installed in the thinset.

Radiant Heaters Tip: When heating smaller areas with a radiant heater, it is nearly impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system.


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Added Value with Radiant Heaters

December 11, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

In today’s housing market, it’s not a bad idea to add value to your home in new and innovative ways.For example, don’t just think about renovating a bathroom, consider using radiant heaters to warm towel racks in the bathroom, or a heated floor.Can you think of anything cozier on a chilly winter morning than toasty toes when you step out of the shower?

Not only is radiant heating is one of the most comfortable ways to heat your home, but radiant heaters also offer a surprisingly wide diversity of applications. Radiant heaters can be used in a number of applications, including in tiled areas, hardwood flooring, carpeted areas, cement floors, basements, and garages. You see, radiant heaters are a type of heater that warms objects instead of air. Radiant heat uses objects, such as the floor, to heat a home. The air in the room is warmed when it comes into contact with the warmed objects. Heat loss is reduced and the radiant heat remains in the lower part of the room, warmer near feet level and slightly less so at head level, creating the perfect climate for comfort.

Radiant Heaters Tip: whether you’re building a new home or updating your current home, you owe it to yourself to check out the comfort that radiant heat has to offer.


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Radiant Heaters Provide Optimal Heating Solutions for Small Spaces

December 23, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

For homeowners or renovators, it’s worth taking a look at several kinds of radiant heaters for residences or businesses. Today we’ll discuss the electric cable heating system kind of radiant heaters.

Electric cable heating systems, often called line- or high-voltage systems, are gaining popularity and are ideal for heating smaller areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. On some radiant heater systems, the cable will be shipped to you as a large spool of cable. These systems are oftentimes less expensive, and give you the ability to space the cable how you want and customize a layout that will heat every square inch of your floor. Other systems have the cable attached to a plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to maintain its proper spacing.

Every available radiant heater cable system is equally effective, so when determining which system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of the product, along with the ease of installation. Some cables must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can simply be installed in the thinset.

Most cable systems can only be installed under tile; on others, if the cable is embedded in mortar or concrete, any flooring can be installed on top of the concrete.

Radiant Heaters Tip: When heating smaller areas with a radiant heater, it is nearly impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system. 


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Hydronic Radiant Heating

December 19, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

Hydronic under floor heating are the most popular form of radiant heaters. This is mainly because these radiant heaters have been around the longest. This form of heating was first used by the Romans, but there have been significant developments since. In the most recent hydronic systems, PEX radiant tubing has been installed in a concrete mass called Gypsum Concrete or “Gypcrete.” This method works very well in most applications, but there have been developments in the installation process of hydronic under floor radiant heaters that make it easier to install for certain situations. This new development is known as a low-mass or modular board underlayment system. Rather than embedding the hot water tubing in concrete, the PEX tubing is laid in the grooves of pre-cut wood panels. This new method is ideal for remodeling and most new construction projects.

If you’d like to know more about both types of hydronic heating systems, contact the expert staff at warmzone.com.  They can help match your individual project with the best system at the best price. There isn’t a single system out there that is an ideal fit for every project, but there is an ideal system for every project. Also, because of the relationship that warmzone.com has with the manufacturers, they can guarantee the lowest price on the highest quality systems available.


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LX, TX Cable, Whats the Difference?

November 03, 2008 00:11 AM  BY  RILEY PETERSON

Danfoss offers a myriad of cables for all kinds of projects, but figuring out the differences can be pretty tricky. I won’t go into technical details here, rather go over some basic differences that will help you choose which cable to use for which project.

Danfoss LX Cable Interior Cable, best for tile, marble, and slate flooring A thin 3/16-inch diameter electric radiant heating cable made specifically for tile installations. Because of the thinness of the cable, it can go directly into the tile thin-set (thin-set must not be more than ¼” thick or else it will crack the tile).
Danfoss TX Cable Interior Cable, tile, marble, hardwood, slate A thicker ¼-inch diameter radiant heating cable, made to be installed directly into concrete slab. The thickness of the cable makes it more durable to withstand heavier concrete pours.
Danfoss GX Cable Outdoor Cable, concrete, asphalt, brick pavers A thick ¼-inch diameter radiant heating cable, made for use in outdoor driveway, walkway, and sidewalk snow melting. Heavy cable built to withstand concrete pours and hot asphalt.

All of the Danfoss products give you the option of choosing between individual cable in lengths (it comes on a roll) or in woven mats, which has the cable rows pre-spaced and makes installation much quicker and easier. The only difficulty with the radiant mats is that it works best with rectangular areas; however, the mat can be cut to accommodate corners and custom layouts. (Just don't cut the heat cable!) If you have a complicated, odd shaped area to heat, you may be better off with installing the individual heating cable.


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Adding a Heating Source to Your Home is Easier than You Think

December 11, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

Have you ever gone on a ski vacation for the weekend and stayed at a little ski lodge? A lot of the times, they’ll have a huge fireplace in the main room with smaller bedrooms up in the loft area or second-story. But the problem is that when you’re in the main room with the roaring fire, you’re often overwhelmed by the heat and retreat to the bedroom, where it’s far chillier. You see, many vacation or weekend homes weren’t built with air conditioning ducts with which to deliver the heat to the different rooms of the house. However, there is a solution to adding heating to homes that have not been built for traditional forced air systems: radiant heaters.

As opposed to warm air systems (such as a forced air unit heaters), radiant heaters deliver the source of heat to the floor level, not the ceiling. Radiant heaters or radiant energy is the oldest form of heating used to provide comfort and is the basis for all heating systems.

Additionally, radiant heaters also offer more comfort than forced air heating by heating the atmosphere from the ground up. Since heat rises, the heat will be more evenly distributed, providing a much more comfortable atmosphere.

Radiant Heaters Tip: Radiant energy is totally pure radiation and is absorbed by an object without physical contact with the heat source or by heating the surrounding air, as is the case with convective, forced air systems. 


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Buying from Warmzone Makes Sense

August 07, 2007 00:08 AM  BY  WARMZONE

Upon hearing the words, “What can Brown do for You? ®” an immediate vision comes to mind of a large, brown delivery truck with the name UPS emblazoned on each side. United Parcel Service has done an incredible job to bring their name to the forefront in the package-delivery market.  The same might be said regarding “The Golden Arches ®,” McDonald’s famous advertising ploy.  Most highly-successful businesses are easily recognized by a catchy slogan or an eye-catching symbol.

We at Warmzone want to be known in the radiant heat arena as the company that will do everything possible to “just make sense” of what might be a confusing array of possibilities for consumers who are seeking information on alternative heating sources.

Why are such vast numbers seeking an alternative radiant heating source ?

Questar Gas Company, included the following message with January’s fuel bill mailing:  “As you have seen, natural gas bills this winter are significantly higher than last year.  Even with all the news about higher natural gas prices, reality doesn’t set in until your bill is opened.”  Unless customers have been oblivious to drastic increases in fuel costs over the past two months, this was somewhat of an understatement.  More than just reality has set in upon consumers!  Caught somewhere in the middle of paying a huge fuel bill and taking a sick child to see a doctor, people are taking a stand against such increases. 

President Bush has encouraged our nation to look for alternative sources as we have become “addicted to oil.” In his state of the union address on January 31, 2006 he announced the Advanced Energy Initiative, a 22% increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, “to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants, revolutionary solar and wind technologies, and clean, safe nuclear energy.”  Quoting once more from the Questar message: “As you can see, prices on the open market are volatile and have increased to record highs this year both nationally and locally.” 

Volatile, skyrocketing, record high fuel costs provide reasons aplenty for so many people to turn to Warmzone.com for guidance in finding the best-possible radiant heat system for their needs.  Consumers are finding themselves backed into a corner and are looking for an efficient, comfortable alternative.  That just makes sense!

With our commitment to researching the best options for radiant heat and assessing each job individually, our research and design team is prepared to design each project with the ideal system to meet the needs of our customers at the best available prices.

Warmzone is a different kind of company.  Unlike a manufacturer, we do not favor one system over another.  We acknowledge the fact that there are dozens of brands and types of radiant systems that offer unique qualities, but no one system is the answer for every project.  We take great interest in your project goals, requirements and budget and then provide you with a quote for the best system available to complete your project.  We may suggest using an electric, hydronic or a combination of these technologies.  There are clear advantages and disadvantages to each system and technology.  We will explain why we prefer one system over another for your particular project.  At Warmzone.com, you can expect simple, honest explanations for our suggestions to you. 

Customer service is at the top of our priority list.  As with “Brown” or the “Golden Arches,” we would be nothing without you, the consumer.  We are committed to helping people install the latest in innovative radiant heat systems by providing:
            1.  High quality materials
            2.  Installation packages that simplify the work.
            3.  Design assistance
            4.  Installation advice and support.
            5.  The latest ideas in energy efficiency and alternative energy.
We are not satisfied until you are satisfied.  That, of course, makes perfect sense!

Radiant heat systems are constantly evolving – which can be a challenge when it comes to deciding which is the best system for your project.  You can be assured that Warmzone will consider every system and then offer you the best technology for your project.

Most of the systems we design and sell can easily be installed by any plumbing and heating professional or general contractor.  But if you cannot find either professional in your area, our products can be installed by any reasonably-competent handyman.  Custom design and engineering packages are also available to assure that you are getting off on the right foot with your heating investment. These plans take the guess work out of the installation and become a road map for your system for future reference or to pass on to the next home owner.  

We welcome your inquiries and are prepared to help you with your radiant heat decisions.   Warmzone is the only company matching individual heating projects to solutions that make sense among the wide variety of available choices.  We’re not “brown,” nor are we “gold,” but we are leading out to assure customers make the right choice in the ever-increasing radiant heating market. 

Visit us online at www.warmzone.com or speak with one of our representatives by calling us directly at 1.888.488.WARM

© 2006 Warmzone Media.  “What Can Brown Do for You?” is a registered trademark of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. “The Golden Arches” is a registered trademark of McDonald's Corporation. Additional copyrights and trademarks are held by their respective owners.


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Perfect Climate for Comfort

December 21, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

In today’s volatile and topsy-turvy housing market, it’s not a bad idea to add value to your home in new and innovative ways.Don’t just think about renovating a bathroom, consider using radiant heaters to warm towel racks in the bathroom, or a heated floor.Can you think of anything cozier on a chilly winter morning than toasty toes when you step out of the shower?

Not only is radiant heating is one of the most comfortable ways to heat your home, but radiant heaters also offer a surprisingly wide diversity of applications. Radiant heaters can be used in a number of applications, including in tiled areas, hardwood flooring, carpeted areas, cement floors, basements, and garages.

Radiant heaters are a type of heater that warms objects instead of air. Radiant heat uses objects, such as the floor, to heat a home. The air in the room is warmed when it comes into contact with the warmed objects. Heat loss is reduced and the radiant heat remains in the lower part of the room, warmer near feet level and slightly less so at head level, creating the perfect climate for comfort.

Radiant Heaters Tip: The variety of high efficiency boilers or electric radiant floor systems makes radiant heat one of your most efficient ways to heat your home.


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Radiant Heaters

November 11, 2007 00:11 AM  BY  WARMZONE

Radiant heaters, as opposed to warm air systems (such as a forced air unit heaters), deliver the source of heat to the floor level, not the ceiling. And since warm air rises, heating the floors proves to be the most efficient means of heating living areas.

Radiant heaters or radiant energy is the oldest form of heating used to provide comfort and is the basis for all heating systems. Radiant energy is totally pure radiation and is absorbed by an object without physical contact with the heat source or by heating the surrounding air, as is the case with convective, forced air systems.

Under floor heaters were first used by the Romans. Initially the preserve of the rich, under floor heating became increasingly commonplace in public buildings and villas, particularly in the colder regions of the Roman Empire. The Roman system was based on hypocausts, comprising ducts that underlay the floor (itself built on raised brick piles) and flues that were built into walls. Hot air or steam from fires circulated up through this system, warming the floor and walls, with heat passing into the rooms.

More specifically, the floor was laid out as series of concrete slabs acting as radiant heaters supported by columns of layered tiles, with a furnace at the bottom of one exterior wall. By placing the fire here, the draught would take the radiant heat under the floor, and up through the walls to radiant heater chimneys located in the corners of the room.

Today we recognize the brilliance of the Romans and Koreans as early adopters of radiant heating, as the technology is still a desired method for delivering comfortable and efficient heat in our homes. Now we have radiant heaters using electric resistance cables that are constructed of highly rated materials and feature manufacturer warranties of up to 25 years.

 

About Warmzone
Warmzone provides consumers with energy-efficient, radiant heating solutions for homes and businesses. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Warmzone's electricians and radiant heat experts will help you determine the best radiant heating solution, ranging from electric heated floors to large commercial snow and ice melt projects. Send us a plan or drawings and we'll be happy to provide you with a FREE estimate and options for your roof heating and ice melting project.


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Problem Solved!

December 22, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

Are your eyes so tired from all the research you’ve been doing because you’re looking to warm your floors with radiant heaters? We know, it sometimes can be hard to narrow down what kind of radiant heaters to install. There are dozens of products available to purchase, and there are even more companies telling you that their product is the best.

For many homeowners, electric cable heating systems, often called line- or high-voltage systems, are gaining popularity and are ideal for heating smaller areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. These radiant heater systems are oftentimes less expensive, and give the ability to customize a layout that will heat every square inch of your floor.

Every available radiant heater cable system is equally effective, so when determining which system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of the product, along with the ease of installation. Some cables must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can simply be installed in the thinset. Most radiant heater cable systems can only be installed under tile. However, on others, if the cable is embedded in mortar or concrete, any flooring can be installed on top of the concrete.

Radiant Heaters Tip: When heating smaller areas, it is nearly impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable radiant heating system.


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