Although commonly the installation costs of radiant heater are more expensive, but they promise more affordable costs of operation and even less care (lower cost for the maintenance)! So their high up-front cost will pay back itself on more efficient on heating and providing more comfort heating without resulting irritants or dusts (great value for anyone who suffers from allergies). We don’t have to worry to the maintenance costs for air filter, fans, bearings, belts, and so one because radiant heating systems don’t involve these components to work; therefore they need less care for the maintenance (less cost for operating). Overall, if you seriously want to have a good investment in long term, then they are not too bad choice that you should concern & prioritize on your first list.

Typical costs of radiant heating systems

Once again, there are a lot of factors that can influence the radiant heating costs (especially the size and the number of separate zoned areas), but mostly radiant heaters will typically cost around $12-$6 /square foot to install. And the initial cost per square foot for smaller projects is usually relatively higher than larger projects! Each system is usually involved different requirements that will effect and influence the high or low cost.

Well…What else you should know for the typical cost of radiant heaters:

1. There may be only a few hundred of dollars for the cost difference between installing 200,000 BTU (purposed for a large house) and installing 100,000 BTU (purposed for a small house).
2. (For less than a 1000 sq-ft), the cost for installing the heat-source part can be minimized by also using a water heater (relatively easier to install than hydronic boiler with more affordable in up-front cost).
3. Mostly, radiant panel systems are designed with closed-loop model in order to extend the longevity! Therefore, if the used water heater is designed without a heat exchanger than it should be dedicated and purposed to the radiant system. A stainless copper or steel must be utilized if the water heater purposed for domestic water heating in order to separate properly the two systems.
4. The cost can be higher if you choose to use a boiler, but it will be more powerful enough to give faster response, outlast a water heating unit, more efficiency on heating, and less standby loss! Therefore this option is usually preferred.
5. As well we know, the big problem when using a conventional water heater (with storage-hot water tank) is the heat loses. Therefore, if you choose to use water heater, make sure to choose a high-quality storage-tank! The quality is usually rated by R-insulation, for more efficient choose the tank with at least R-16 insulation so thus the standby loss can be minimized.

Why the up-front cost is higher?

In a few cases, this statement is wrong! But generally, the initial costs for installing radiant heat systems are more expensive (several thousand of dollars more) than the typical costs of forced-air systems! This higher cost due to the increased labor costs! Radiant heating system usually will require tubing circuits installed throughout the house floor which around 18-6 inches on center sealed & covered by concrete. Almost all tubing is more purposed to maintain & provide the floor temperature’s evenness instead of to heat the structure! Furthermore, the additional installations of controls, plumbing & other equipments are required for a more specific operation for boiler systems.

On the other hand, forced-air systems usually only need several ducts for the connections of vent and do not need specific system operation. Although the initial costs for the installation is more expensive but radiant heaters will be better value than forced-air systems in long run!

3 Important checklists on installing and using radiant heaters

1. They are claimed to work more efficient (around 50-25 percent more efficient for cost of operation than traditional forced-air heating systems), and this statement only can be realized if the system is designed and installed properly!
2. The heat losses and structure of the system are two major factors that will determine low or high energy bill that we have to pay for each month of heating season. These two factors can be controlled by making ensure that all components are still eligible to work and there are no poor water circulation and poor performance of boiler (poor water pressure). Therefore, it’s so recommended to hire a professional to inspect the existing system and analyze any potential improper issues & problems, and correct them to back to normal again!
3. And always keep in mind, don’t be fooled on only focusing the lower cost without considering and analyzing the guarantees (including follow-up service), quality of materials, design and labor!

Read also types of portable heaters, safety issues on using garage heater and how much does tankless hot water heater cost?

Radiant Heater: Typically Costs! is a post from: More Heaters

Mats of radiant electric heaters

If we consider and discuss about radiant electric heaters system then we can make comparing to the hydronic systems. Hydronic system usually often use into radiant heat flooring system. And for some people making decision to choose and use one of both is difficult and just little bit to become confuse some times. Therefore the researching with learn more how both work to heat the room systematically and compare the cost are required to get the exactly decision for the best result to cover our desire and our demand of heating during winter season.

Basically radiant heaters have the same basically way to work to hydronic systems. But you should know that radiant heater systems that use electric as appliance more modern technology and less expensive in the cost especially in the installation (also easily) than hydronic system. We know some other heat conducting liquid remotely and also boiler which is used to heat the water. Hydronic system also requires and needs plastic tubing. It has the function to pump that finally makes the liquid embedded in the floors of the room.

Then in radiant heating electric systems don’t use the water filled tubes but use many grids electric or usually familiar with nickname as mats. And mats in radiant electric heater use as to spread the electric radiant that embedded to the floor of our home. So we can give statement that radiant electric heaters don’t require boiler to operate because they don’t use water to result heat but use electric radiant, therefore they are cheaper than hydronic system to make our floor warm and comfortable during winter season. They are also growth as popular heaters because of their safety feature for heating.

The mats to spread the electric radiant usually have been already woven completely from the factory so we can install them easily in the floor. The shape design of mats usually likes loops of electrically insulated cables. And the loop design to embed the mats to the floor similar way to how the tubes in hydronic system installation. We can get double benefit if we prefer to use thinner embedded materials of mats design. First we know well the best design to embed the mats with finally can heat with efficiently is increasingly thinner embedding materials where it purposes to catch the heat closer to the human. Then second we can decrease level the thickness of the floor and make the floor lighter if use thinner embedded materials of mats design. Even maybe you will surprise because in the future or already in market today for the advanced more technology of radiant electric heaters purpose can be placed among the carpet padding and the carpet and this absolutely so thin of the mats.

Theoretically we can use optimal performance of radiant electric heaters up to 15 kilowatt for per square foot of the area particularly the areas of the floor. This condition make mats have been produced in smaller of cables that finally can result lighter in weight and easily to install. Therefore it also can decrease the requirements of sub-floor. This technology also result the short times interval for getting warm comfortable temperature in the room as soon since the radiant electric heater turn on.

Many experts are recommended to use thin mats to heat in small room such as bathroom especially in the morning because between one hour and half of one hour are interval times that usually the ideal condition of thin mats radiant electric heater can make the weather to become warm and comfortable. So we can also make conclusion that if we want to heat the large house then better we choose to use hydronic radiant floors system. And if we want to heat for the smaller room then better if we use the radiant electric heaters.

Radiant Electric Heaters is a post from: More Heaters

Are radiant heaters comfortable enough?

As the name suggests, their working principle is like sunshine (directly heating principle) that will make you and your family feel cozy and more comfortably in the cold days of heating season. The most popular type is radiant floor heating system. It heats the floor nicely to keep warm your feet and the entire body, and the air to breath is more refreshing and can be normal (a little cooler). The combination radiant energy and air temperature is maintained at ideal level (equal level for the body’s energy needs) so thus will bring the different sensation of warm-feelings and comfort. When we receive and get an amount of the energy of radiant, our body will be equally cozy at a lower air temperature!

Generally, the heating systems of radiant heaters are typically designed to heat the objects as well as when we are in the sunlight (especially in the morning) and you keep comfortable and cozy at a lower temperature of the air surrounding you.

The following are more reasons why radiant heaters (especially for radiant floor heating) are claimed more comfortable:

1. The system produce less dusts, bacteria, dirt or other unfriendly particles in the room (even we can say there is almost no dust when the heater running), so thus the air filter is not required and this is so beneficial if you or one of your family suffers from allergies (welcome idea for asthma medication). This is the key why they are one of popular choices if we seriously prioritize healthfulness!
2. The hot surface is not visible and therefore will be relatively safer for children or pets that can touch accidentally the hot surface of the heater.
3. Noiseless when working, because there are no fans or blower noise!
4. They don’t need more care for the maintenance, and will be reliable enough in long term.

Radiant heaters work more efficient

When using radiant heating systems, (according to ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers)) users will keep warm and comfortable at around 6-8 degrees Fahrenheit lower than conventional convective systems (like baseboard heating systems & forced-air heating systems). Even there are some experts who have opinion that they will be helpful enough to save around 25 percent of the heating costs. But the system must be designed and installed properly otherwise will not work powerful and efficient. Don’t only focus to the cost when choosing and installing the radiant heat system for your house! Make sure also to consider the quality of material, labor, and design! Don’t forget also to consider the follow-up service and guarantee!

The others posts: How to find the best type of heater for your garage and how to clean your electric water heaters? Read also types of bathroom heaters that should be on your first list to purchase!

Radiant Heaters: Why Choose Them (Pros and Benefits) is a post from: More Heaters

radiant tube heater

Radiant tube heaters also familiar look as gas heaters (either use propane or natural gas) which usually are hung near the ceiling. Some people still confuse to definite and distinguish between radiant tube heater units and radiant brooder. Radiant tube heaters are also called as radiant tube brooders because they can be installed in the brooding areas. But they don’t have same mechanism system to the radiant brooders.

They can be the single as heating device in our house. If we have forced air heater then they also can be combined too. The standard designs of their metal tube usually have long range between 12 meters and 15 meters. Metal tube has function as liaison to firebox. Firebox is usually as source heat of the unit that can reach hot temperature up to more than 500 degrees Celsius. And 12 meters of the central firebox, the temperature can reach approximately more than 200 degrees Celsius.

Discuss about radiant tube heaters, then usually we will discuss about the radiant heat principles. Well, we know in physics theory that there are three methods of the heat distribution that are radiation, convection, and conduction. In radiation method, use visible rays or infrared to transfer the heat. So far, in space heating technology, use radiation and convection method to distribute the heat. Radiant heating has different heating principles than forced air heating. Usually forced air heaters use convection heat distribution to make warm temperature all around space of the room, but radiant heater units usually heat object directly.

But we should know that radiant heaters not distribute heat 100 percent with radiant principles. They still use the convection principles, but the dominate way distribution heat is still with radiant principles. Therefore usually they can heat space quickly than others, and ideal to heat object directly not air. They also put out a very high percentage of their heat energy because they have more radiating surface area, and this condition as well as we find to the radiant tube heaters.

Radiant tube heaters are better than other as heating device, although they usually install in ceiling but can heat in the bottom space of the room. So the temperature of the floor will increase early than others space of the room. It so benefit to object, because can get the warm air early. They are also better than radiant brooder units, because they have the heat source that can be mounted in higher position place of the house like ceiling (It is helpful to make them can work better in heating mechanism than radiant brooders.). And they can save our management time with fewer heating appliances and many fewer adjustments to be made. They are easier for the maintenance because usually they have not-many dust builds up in their burners and normally draw fresh.

Radiant tube heaters also capable to integrate to electronic controllers as long as we obey the cautions about placing temperature sensor properly and also don’t forget to observe and analyze the setting of target temp. We can choose types of them, dual stage heaters or single stage heaters. As add information, usually tube heaters can operated with 240 volts, 120 volts, and 24 volts. It depends to the types of tube heaters.

And the last, when you want to purchase one of radiant tube heaters, don’t forget to consider about the material types and the engineering design. Because these factors usually influence significantly to the performance of the unit.

Radiant Tube Heaters is a post from: More Heaters