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December 18, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Quite simply put, radiant
heaters are the most efficient form of heat
available in today’s market.
Significantly less operating time is required to attain
and maintain the desired warmth compared to
furnaces and other, traditional methods of
heating, which keeps operational costs to a minimum.
High efficiency boilers or
electric radiant floor systems makes radiant
heat one of your most efficient ways to heat your
home. Combined with a well-insulated home these
systems can quickly warm your home and then shut
down or wait idle for long periods of time before being
called upon by the thermostat to operate.
More than ever before, homebuilders,
househunters, and home renovators alike are
looking for energy-efficient heating options for houses.
We say they need look no further than radiant
heaters for their ideal home heating solution.
Radiant Heaters Tip: It might take a
little effort, but being more environmentally
friendly doesn’t have to involve major
renovations. Many people waste a lot of energy by not
sealing cracks, doors and windows. Checking to
make sure a home’s insulation is in good
shape and replacing it if it’s not is another
good surefire way to stop, prevent, and reverse
energy waste.
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December 21, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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In today’s volatile and topsy-turvy
housing market, it’s not a bad idea to
add value to your home in new and innovative
ways.Don’t just think about renovating a
bathroom, consider using radiant
heaters to warm towel racks in the bathroom, or a
heated floor.Can you think of anything
cozier on a chilly winter morning than toasty
toes when you step out of the shower?
Not only is radiant heating is
one of the most comfortable ways to heat your
home, but radiant heaters also offer a surprisingly wide
diversity of applications. Radiant
heaters can be used in a number of applications,
including in tiled areas, hardwood flooring,
carpeted areas, cement floors, basements, and
garages.
Radiant
heaters are a type of heater that warms objects
instead of air. Radiant heat uses objects, such
as the floor, to heat a home. The air in the
room is warmed when it comes into contact with the
warmed objects. Heat loss is reduced and the
radiant heat remains in the lower part of the
room, warmer near feet level and slightly less so at
head level, creating the perfect climate for
comfort.
Radiant Heaters Tip:
The variety of high efficiency boilers or
electric radiant floor systems makes radiant
heat one of your most efficient ways to heat your home.
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October 26, 2008 00:10 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Winter weather is on the way. Start thinking
about heating
system solutions for the coming winter months or
spend the season shivering and wishing
you’d planned ahead. Leaving decisions like this
to the last moment (for example, when your furnace up
and dies in the middle of a brutal
Nor’easter) causes unnecessary stress, expense,
and, most obviously, a freezing cold house.
Whether you are building a new home from the
ground up, preparing to replace your heating
systems are using electricity instead of natural gas
or heating oil. Not only does this cut down on
heating costs, but it is also more efficient and
eco-friendly as well. Radiant heating
systems are quickly replacing traditional furnaces.
Heating Systems Tip: Choosing the best
heating
systems for a new home or to add supplemental heat
to a cold spot in your home now takes a little
homework. The radiant consultants and designers
at Warmzone have been trained in all of the latest
heating systems to properly assess your project
and prescribe a system that will add value to
your home within your budget.
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December 28, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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If you are looking to warm your floors with radiant
heaters and are trying to research what kind of
radiant heaters to install 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 hot water through your floors, an electric
cable heating system, or a low-voltage screen
system? The answer lies in the type of project
you are doing. Not every 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 either gypcrete (a concrete-like
material) or wood 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 operational costs.
Hydronic systems can be installed under any
type of flooring. Most hydronic systems require hot
water tubing to be installed in a 2-4″
bed of light concrete 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
wood 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 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. On some systems, the cable will be
shipped to you 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 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.
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November 29, 2008 00:11 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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With the current housing market being so
unpredictable, we’re seeing an increasing
number of homeowners are opting to stay put in their
homes, rather than buy a new home. They find
that one way to make their current home a better
fit for them is to remodel the kitchen or
bathroom, or upgrade the home’s heating systems.
While there isn’t a single heating
system out there that is an ideal fit for every
project, there is an ideal system for every
project. Warmzone.com can provide you with the
heating
systems you desire, as well as consult with you on
which systems would be the best fit for your
project.
Hydronic under floor heating
systems are some of the most popular forms of
radiant heat. In the most recent hydronic
heating systems, PEX radiant tubing has been
installed in a concrete mass called Gypsum Concrete or
“Gypcrete.” This method of heating
system installation works very well in most
applications, but there have been developments
in the installation process of hydronic under
floor heating that make it easier to install for certain
situations. This new development is known as a
low-mass or modular board underlayment system.
Rather than embedding the hot water tubing in
concrete, the PEX tubing is laid in the grooves of
pre-cut wood panels. This new method is ideal
for remodeling and most new construction
projects.
Heating System Tip: The hydronic
under-floor heating
system was first used by the Romans; there have
obviously been significant developments since
that time.
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December 24, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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You may not know that radiant
heaters for your home or business come in a variety
of forms – all efficient and providing
reliable, cozy warmth. Today we’re going to
discuss one form of radiant heaters: hydronic floor
heating.
Quite a name, isn’t it?
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
either gypcrete (a concrete-like material) or wood
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
operational costs. Hydronic systems can be
installed under any type of flooring. Most hydronic
systems require hot water tubing to be installed
in a 2-4″ bed of light concrete and are
best installed during the initial construction because
of its weight load demands and adjustments to
floor height.
For heating smaller areas such
as 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, might not be worth the small
amount you will save in operational costs.
Radiant Heaters Tip: Many recent
developments have made hydronic systems more
convenient and possible radiant
heater solutions for major home remodeling projects.
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December 16, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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With the high cost of heating fuels today, many
homeowners are wondering what other heating
options there are out there. Quite simply put,
radiant
heaters are the most efficient form of heat
available in today’s market.
Significantly less operating time is required to attain
and maintain the desired warmth compared to
furnaces and other, traditional methods of
heating, which keeps operational costs to a minimum.
High efficiency boilers or
electric radiant floor systems makes radiant
heat one of your most efficient ways to heat your
home. Combined with a well-insulated home these
systems can quickly warm your home and then shut
down or wait idle for long periods of time before being
called upon by the thermostat to operate.
More than ever before,
homebuilders, househunters, and home renovators
alike are looking for energy-efficient heating options
for houses. We say they need look no further
than radiant
heaters for their ideal home heating solution.
Radiant Heaters Tip: It might take a
little effort, but being more environmentally
friendly doesn’t have to involve major
renovations. Many people waste a lot of energy by not
sealing cracks, doors and windows. Checking to
make sure a home’s insulation is in good
shape and replacing it if it’s not is another
good surefire way to stop, prevent, and reverse
energy waste.
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August 07, 2007 00:08 AM  BY WARMZONE
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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.
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November 03, 2008 00:11 AM  BY RILEY PETERSON
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Danfoss offers a
myriad of cables for all kinds of projects, but figuring
out the differences can be pretty tricky. I won’t go
into technical details here, rather go over some basic
differences that will help you choose which cable to
use for which project.
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Danfoss LX Cable
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Interior Cable, best for
tile, marble, and slate flooring |
A thin 3/16-inch diameter
electric radiant heating cable made
specifically for tile installations. Because of the
thinness of the cable, it can go directly
into the tile thin-set (thin-set must not
be more than ¼” thick or else it will
crack the tile). |
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Danfoss TX Cable
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Interior Cable, tile, marble,
hardwood, slate |
A thicker ¼-inch
diameter radiant heating cable, made to be installed
directly into concrete slab. The thickness of the
cable makes it more durable to withstand
heavier concrete pours. |
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Danfoss GX Cable
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Outdoor Cable, concrete,
asphalt, brick pavers |
A thick ¼-inch diameter
radiant heating cable, made for use in
outdoor driveway, walkway, and sidewalk snow
melting. Heavy cable built to withstand
concrete pours and hot asphalt. |
All of the
Danfoss products give you the option of choosing between
individual cable in lengths (it comes on a roll) or in
woven mats, which has the cable rows pre-spaced and
makes installation much quicker and easier. The only
difficulty with the radiant mats is that it works best
with rectangular areas; however, the mat can be cut to
accommodate corners and custom layouts. (Just don't
cut the heat cable!) If you have a
complicated, odd shaped area to heat, you may
be better off with installing the individual
heating cable.
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December 12, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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We’d risk
a guess that a majority of homeowners are probably most
familiar with forced air unit heaters and might not realize
that there are other options for heating a home
– other options that are more efficient and
even more comfortable. One such option is radiant
floor heating, which, as opposed to warm air
systems, delivers the source of heat upwards from the
floor level, not from the ceiling. Radiant
heaters or radiant energy is the oldest form of heating
used to provide comfort and is the basis for all
heating systems. Radiant energy is heat efficiently
radiating outwards, and is absorbed by an object
without physical contact with the heat source or by heating
the surrounding air, as is the case with convective,
forced air systems.
It might be hard to believe, but under floor
heat was first used by the Romans. While under floor
heating was initially reserved for the rich, it
eventually became increasingly commonplace in public
buildings and villas. This form of radiant heating was
used particularly in the colder regions of the Roman
Empire. The Roman system was based on hypocausts,
comprising ducts that underlay the floor (itself built on
raised brick piles) and flues that were built into
walls. Hot air or steam from fires circulated up
through this system, warming the floor and walls, with heat
passing into the rooms.
If you’re looking for efficient,
comfortable heat for your home, radiant floor
heating could the solution you’ve been looking
for.
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