Which Radiant Floor Heating System is Best for Me

July 6, 2007 Warmzone Editor

If you are looking to warm your floors with a radiant heat system, and have typed “radiant heat system” into a search engine, you might find yourself scratching your head at this point. There are dozens of products available to purchase, and there are even more companies telling you that their product is the best.

So which product is the best? Should you install a hydronic heating system that pumps specially treated hot water through PEX tubing under your floors, an electric cable heating system, or a low-voltage system with flexible polymer heating panels? The answer lies in the type of project you are doing. No single system is ideal for every project, but there is an ideal system for every project.

Hydronic Heating Systems
Hydronic floor heating is the oldest and most popular type of radiant floor heating. These systems are comprised of a boiler or hot water heater, pumps, manifolds, PEX tubing, thermostat, and advanced Rau Panels. Hydronic heating is the most complex of all radiant heat systems. These systems require trained professionals to design and perform the installation. Your best economies of scale are achieved for hydronic systems in large areas or entire homes because of their expensive components and installation costs. However, because hydronic systems can operate on natural gas, oil or propane etc., the operational costs can be a little lower than that of electric floor heating systems.

Hydronic floor heating system featuring RAU Panels

Hydronic systems can be installed under any type of flooring. Most hydronic systems require hot water tubing to be installed in a 2-4 inch bed of light concrete or specially made panels, and are best installed during the initial construction because of its weight load demands and adjustments to floor height. Recent low-mass products have been developed to avoid these challenges by fitting the tubing into pre-cut Rau Panels, making hydronic systems more convenient and possible for most major remodeling projects.

If you want to heat smaller areas like a bathroom or kitchen, a hydronic floor heating system may not be the best value for your project. The complexity and cost of installing the system, along with the long-term maintenance and up-keep required, is not worth the small amount you will save in operational costs. Electric floor heating systems are highly preferred over hydronic systems for small floor heating applications.

Electric Cable Heating
Electric cable heating systems, often called line- or high-voltage systems, are gaining popularity 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. The most popular heat cable is Warmzone’s ComfortTile cable.

ComfortTile floor heating systems feature heat cable that is available on spools as well as cable that is pre-spaced on a flexible mesh with adhesive backing for easy “roll out” installation. The cable on the spool is oftentimes less expensive, and gives you the ability to space the cable how you want and customize a layout that will heat every square inch of your floor. The cable in mats allows for quick and easy installation.

Every available 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. However, on others, if the cable is embedded in mortar or concrete, any flooring can be installed on top of the concrete. When heating smaller areas, it is nearly impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system.

Low-Voltage Heating Element
Finally, there are low-voltage radiant heat systems. These systems are ideal for mid-size to larger areas (300-3000 square feet) and are comprised of a control box, transformer, heating screen or cable, and thermostat. A unique advantage to a FloorHeat low-voltage system is the extremely low profile of the heating element. FloorHeat STEP is extremely thin and does not buildup floors during the installation. The floor heating system features a 12-inch wide, durable polymer heating element that is also self-regulating.

Illustration of FloorHeat installed under hardwood floor

It can be installed directly under any type of flooring including hardwood, tile, laminates, and carpet. Whereas most cable systems must be installed on top of the concrete board when installing tile, FloorHeat can be installed underneath it. These systems are easy to install and don’t require maintenance like a hydronic system. The self-regulating capability of FloorHeat means that when the ambient temperature rises, the electrical resistance increases and the consumption of electricity decreases. For this reason, the element cannot overheat, and the system is extremely energy efficient.

Radiant heat technology has made significant advances over the years and is an excellent way to supplement your existing heating system or be your sole source of heat. One good way to be assured that you’re being sold the best system for your project is to buy from a company that offers all of the available types of radiant heat.

Warmzone is one company that carries a wide variety of radiant systems and is dedicated to specifying the product that makes the most sense for each individual job. Without a bias towards one system, and unmatched customer services (including installation support and free installation training), Warmzone has become a consumer advocate in the radiant industry that can save you time and money.

Warmzone has already done the research and is committed to working with only the best products on the market. Because Warmzone is a leading nationwide wholesaler, you can receive the best pricing by purchasing direct. Receive a free estimate for your project by submitting a quote request or calling Warmzone at 1-888-488-WARM (9276).

Press Releases

Warmzone Acquires Bryan Morris to Become National Sales Director

February 15, 2007 Warmzone Editor

Warmzone announced today that Bryan Morris has been hired to become the National Sales Director. In his role Mr. Morris will oversee the management of all sales and dealer recruiting.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to work with a growing organization like Warmzone. The level of expertise and professionalism of its staff and management is extraordinary. I am thrilled with the opportunity to further guide Warmzone’s sales within their existing business channels and exploring new markets.”

Mr. Morris joins Warmzone following positions over the past 20 years with leading companies such as Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Ikon, Xerox and GM. Morris has established a reputation as a skilled senior manager who focuses on providing quality service for his clients.

“Bryan’s impressive background in sales and management further strengthens our ability to handle large accounts and the growing demand from professional customers including architects and general contractors. He will be a strong leader for our sales and recruiting departments while upholding our commitment to provide unmatched value.” said Brandon Weaver, Co-founder and Vice President for Warmzone.

About Warmzone
Warmzone’s mission is to match customer’s needs with the finest radiant heating systems available. As an intermediary between project requirements and a variety of system choices, Warmzone and warmzone.com offer non-biased, individualized solutions that factor the installation, durability, performance and operational investment as the key criteria of their customers. More information about Warmzone can be found at http://www.warmzone.com

Press Releases

Warmzone Appoints Blair Buxton as Chief Information Officer and Executive Committee Member

June 6, 2006 Warmzone Editor

Warmzone today announced the appointment of Blair Buxton to the role of Chief Information Officer. As Chief Information Officer, Mr. Buxton will be responsible for the vision, strategy, direction, security, infrastructure and oversight of Warmzone’s technology information initiatives. In this role Mr. Buxton will serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

Blair is a technology industry veteran with over 20 years of experience. Immediately preceding his joining Warmzone, Blair was Chief Technology Officer for EnableUs, a GMAC subsidiary, where he was responsible for global architecture, software development and electronic infrastructure.

“I am extremely pleased to have Blair join Warmzone’s executive leadership team, where we will benefit tremendously from his experience, proven record of success and passion for technology,” said Brandon Weaver, Executive VP of Sales for Warmzone. “This appointment of Blair to the Chief Information Officer position fills an important and strategic leadership role in the company and the industry. Blair’s intimate knowledge of information technologies, strategies and services will help ensure Warmzone’s position as a leader in the radiant heat industry and fully realize the growth opportunities before us.”

Press Releases

Warmzone Premier Radiant Heating to be Featured with Bob Vila

January 9, 2006 Warmzone Editor

Warmzone is pleased to announce that they have been selected as the radiant heating company of choice for the latest housing project for Bob Vila’s Home Again television program. Warmzone will be featured on a Queen Anne Victorian home being remodeled in Rowley, MA airing nationally on January 15, 2006. A detailed analysis of the home is featured on BobVila.com along with videos from several of the products featured including Warmzone.

Radiant heating is a clean, economical and efficient alternative to furnaces and other traditional heating systems but is still relatively new to most residents in the United States, though it has been widely used in other parts of the world. Radiant heat utilizes hot water carried through embedded tubing that is connected to a boiler (hydronic heat) or in-floor electric heating cables, to warm the surrounding areas. Radiant heating systems are used for a variety of applications ranging from a primary heat source, to warming floors and melting snow in driveways and on roofs.

“We had a great time working with Bob Vila and his staff at BobVila.com,” said Brandon Weaver, Executive VP of Sales and Product Development for Warmzone. “This is a great opportunity for the many professionals and Do-It-Yourselfers who watch Bob Vila’s Home Again and visit Bobvila.com each month to see that there is an effective alternative to traditional heating methods. Homeowners, architects, builders and project managers seek the expertise of Warmzone to provide balanced solutions for radiant heating installations. We are pleased to have been selected by Bob Vila to highlight radiant heat as a smart alternative to homeowners across the country.”

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