In-Floor Heating

by Patty Lee

Do you wear the thickest, warmest slippers known to mankind during the cold, dark days of winter? Get in-floor heating and you may not need those slippers anymore.

If you are thinking of building a new home or perhaps renovating an existing one, you might want to consider radiant in-floor heating. Heating with hot water is quiet, cost- effective and clean. Temperature remains even also.

In-floor heating consists of loops of cross-linked polyethylene pipes that are installed under the concrete floors in the basement, main floor and second floor. The hot water circulates through the pipe and heats the concrete, radiating heat outward and distributing it evenly throughout the rooms.

For a large home, you will probably want to have two hot-water heaters, one to heat the first and second storeys, and the other to heat the domestic water and the basement.

This type of heating is very popular with people with allergies because there are no dust particles blowing around. And you can put furniture wherever you want because there are no registers. It eliminates duct work in the basement so you can have higher ceilings.

Note that if duct work is not installed, conventional air conditioning isn't possible. You would have to look at alternative means of cooling your home if you live in an area that has hot summers.

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Patty Lee is the Manager of HerIdeas, a delightful place for crafters and hobbyists. http://www.herideas.com Subscribe to the HerIdeas bi-monthly newsletter. Mailto: [email protected]

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