Comfort and Efficiency go Together

After coming in from being in the cold all day I can't help but think of a better way to get warmed up than to bask in the heat of a warm, radiant heated floor. Underfloor heat (a radiant floor heating system) is just what you need after spending a day in the cold. They don't call it radiant floor heat for nothing. The heat radiates up to you, and boy does it feel good.

There is no better way to chase the chills than by warming your feet on a toasty heated floor. Electric radiant floor heating utilizes a heat cable mesh or grid system that is installed over the subfloor. Once fastened down the finish surface is applied over that and you have an efficient, comfortable heated floor that is fully programmable. Underfloor heat can be used in conjunction with a traditional forced air system or separately.

Forget the potential of added efficiency, I can't express enough the elevated comfort levels these systems provide. If your feet are warm you will be warm all over. Underfloor heating is one feature I would insist on if at all possible when scheduling a remodel or new construction. The increasing popularity of underfloor heating is a testament that it's a modern feature whose time has come.

Staying Warm and Comfortable when it's Cold Outside

We are still in the middle of winter and it just plain looks cold outside. Every time you step outside you feel a chill to the bone. The perfect indoor remedy for this is a toasty, radiant heated floor. Underfloor heat is just what you need to get back up to speed when you have been out in the cold. It’s hard not to purr when thinking about it.

Electric radiant floor heat is quite easy to install and it’s a shame homes don't come “standard” with warm floors. I suspect heated floors will be much more common in the years to come. Radiant floor heating utilizes a cable mesh system (such as the Danfoss LX mat or Ideal Heat's Warm Ribbon) laid out on the subfloor. Your finish flooring is then applied over the heat cable. The result is instant-favorite-room syndrome, guaranteed. The comfort of warm floors is unmatched. When your feet are warm, you feel warm all over.

It’s also more likely to be an efficient heat source, as you just need to heat the lower portion of the room where you hang out. (Forced air systems stir up dust and tend to heat the top half of the room.) If you have tall ceilings, warmth emanating from the floor will be even more noticeable – and enjoyable. You don't end up wasting all that heat way up near the ceiling where only the spiders can enjoy it.

If you haven’t experienced radiant floor heating systems, do yourself a big favor and check it out. If not for this winter you can get one in plenty of time to enjoy it next year, and even year 'round. One thing is certain, the weather will be cold again next winter, so why not be prepared by installing a radiant heated floor system?