The “Ancient” Art of Sustainable Living

As a current or future radiant heat consumer, you might fancy yourself to be part of a growing trend towards sustainable home heating. What you may not know is that although it is considered an emerging, “modern” trend among residential homeowners, radiant heat technology is actually thousands of years old. 

Ancient ruins of a Roman underfloor heating system.     (Photo courtesy of Silvermel.)

The history of underfloor heating began in 10,000 BC with the Chinese, who used the word “kang”(original meaning, “to dry”) to describe what became known as a heated bed. Inhabitants drafted smoke from fires through stone covered trenches in the floors of their subterranean dwellings. The hot smoke heated the floor stones, radiating into their living spaces. Evidence of heated floors based on this principle were found in 5,000 B.C. in China and Korea.

The Greeks and Romans finessed the process in 500 B.C. with the hypocaust. Literally translated, hypocaust means “heat from below,” from the Greek word hypo meaning below or underneath, and kaiein, to burn or light a fire. This system was more efficient and less evasive than that of its Asian predecessor. It used pillars to raise the floors, creating a space underneath to circulate hot air. Spaces were left inside of the walls so that hot air and smoke from the furnace would pass through enclosed areas underneath the floor and out of flues in the roof, radiating heat through the walls along the way. While the hypocaust was a marked advancement in under floor heating, the process of heating itself was labor-intensive and high in fuel costs, making it a luxury for those living in villas, and at the public baths.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that standards were developed for underfloor heating systems. Five years later, radiant heat became a traditional system in residential buildings in some European and Nordic countries, and began to find its way into non-residential applications. These modern under floor heating systems use either electric resistance elements (electric) or heated fluid flowing in pipes (hydronic) to heat floors. Both can be cast in concrete, placed under the floor covering, or attached directly to the wood sub floor. Either type can be installed as an alternative to forced air to improve home air quality and reduce heating costs associated with fossil fuels, or as a localized system for thermal comfort.

Electric radiant heat marks a growing trend in residential heating. Electric radiant under floor heating systems are less evasive and less costly to install than hydronic systems, which require skilled designers and tradesmen familiar with boilers, circulators, controls, fluid pressures and temperature for proper installation. Electric radiant heat systems are more efficient than hydronic systems. Powered by electricity, radiant heat cables can heat a surface in 30 to 60 seconds, unlike hydronic systems, which may take anywhere from 4-7 hours to heat a surface—a considerable difference in performance. Because there is a boiler involved, hydronic systems may be fueled by natural gas, oil, coal or wood, making them less environmentally friendly and more costly to operate.

Whether you choose electric or hydronic, Warmzone has the experience and expertise to install a radiant heat system that’s right for your home and your budget. Whichever you choose, you’ll have the comfort of knowing you’ve done your part to reduce your carbon footprint, improve your home’s air quality and maintain a warm, comfortable environment for your family. Be sure to visit www.warmzone.com for more information on how Warmzone can customize a sustainable home heating solution just for you!

Mostly the radiant heat panels are attracted to the sub floor using approximately 10 screws per panel. Manufacturer recommendations include screwing and fastening adhesive when installing the panel. An electrometric bonding material is placed in the grooves prior to tube installation. The tube is pressed into the groove flush with the surface of the panel. Though the installation does not take much time, you may want to consult the professionals at warmzone.com if you’re considering installing your own radiant heating system.

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.

If you’ve been researching home heating systems, chances are your head is spinning right about now.  It’s no wonder! The number of types of radiant heaters available for residences or businesses could make anyone dizzy in no time at all. 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 is be shipped 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 next to impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system. 

Warmzone.com is a One-Stop Shop for Radiant Heating

Any savvy consumer knows that the internet has a vast vault of stored information on any and all subjects. News, entertainment, music, home improvement, answers to general questions, and all types of product information are just a click away thanks to the modern convenience of web browsing. Products you once considered out of reach or simply too confusing to research are now easy to understand thanks to volumes of information found on the world wide web. One outstanding radiant heat resource is the Radiant Heat Directory. This web page has a comprehensive list of radiant heat links to installation, documentation and radiant heat product information. Warmzone.com is also a great first line of contact when researching radiant heating. Whether you want a heated driveway, radiant heat cables to warm your floors, or roof deicing systems and heat cables to keep your gutters clear of ice dams, Warmzone is a reliable source of radiant heat information.

Warmzone takes pride in knowing details, specifications, and technical aspects of all things related to radiant heat. The experts on hand can answer questions, design radiant heating plans for driveways, floors, or roofs, and give price quotes that are fair and affordable. Installing radiant heat is a simple home improvement that many consumers are finding satisfying because they get a lot of output for minimal input or cost outlay. Radiant heat is an efficient method of home heating and can reduce heating bills and energy bills over the long run. Lucky for us we can surf the web and find answers to most if not all our probing questions in life; including questions about where to find the best radiant heating products and systems. And truth be told, just about all the answers can be found at Warmzone.com. (To speak to a radiant heat expert now, call 888.488.9276.)

What a pain! If you or anyone in your family has asthma or dust allergies, you know all too well how miserable these ailments can make a person. Many allergy and asthma experts will advise certain changes in housekeeping habits to help alleviate allergy- or asthma-causing conditions in your home. In addition, you might consider changing your heat source to radiant heaters.

At first glance, you might not think that radiant heaters could be such a simple solution to helping keep your home healthy. In reality, radiant heaters improve the air quality, which is important, especially for anyone who suffers from either dust allergies or asthma. Not having to change air filters or clean heating ducts should also cut down dramatically on dust or other allergens in your home’s air.

Eliminating dust mites that live in your home would also go a long way towards helping keep your home healthy. Since dust mites love a warm moist environment, towel heaters and other radiant heater systems aid in maintaining a consistent room temperature and keep it moisture-free…and dust mite-free, too.  Furthermore, mold and mildew are also caused from excessive moisture especially in bathrooms with insufficient ventilation.

Radiant Heater Tip: By placing radiant heaters or a radiant heat towel rack in the bathroom you can combat the spread of germs for only pennies a day.