While in the process of remodeling or building a new home this is the heater for your construction phase. Infrared heaters radiate heat to the
areas that are needed. Helps to keep production up when the weather is against
you.

Many heater choices are available in
the heating market. For business
or industrial purposes, an infrared radiant heater is a common choice for
keeping employees
and clients comfortable. But, safety must be practiced near these heaters for
everyone’s welfare. Make sure that if there are children around you educate
them on the importance of staying away from the heater.

1.  
Function

o   
Infrared
radiant heaters function by burning a supplied
fuel, such as gas, and letting the resulting heat emit outward. These radiant
heaters are without a fan to blow the hot air around, infrared radiant heat
warms the people and items near it by facilitating heat movement.

Considerations

o   
Safety parameters are key to
successful use of an infrared radiant heater. Combustibles and sensitive
materials, such as electronics,
should not be near the heater. Clear any vehicles from the area as well, and maintain an open area so the
heater cannot be knocked over or damaged inadvertently.

Identification

o   
A particular infrared radiant heater
widely used is the radiant heater. Typically found in garages, barns, work
sheds and on construction sites, these heaters keep employees comfortable during
cooler weather.

The green is low temperature distribution of water which in itself is the most efficient heat transfer medium – however what really closes the deal is radiant’s ability to enable and enhance alternative technologies such as solar and geothermal. With the former the “solar fraction” rises as more of the energy collected can be utilized and with the latter, the COP increases proportionally with lowering the required distribution temperatures.

I would however recommend that you either attach the tubing to the underside of the floor or suspend about an inch or two below the floor. The former would be the most efficient and the latter would allow more air circulation around the tubes. In any event, attaching to the joist is the least desirable choice from a heating/heat transfer point of view – not so good for either conduction or convection.

For more on the subject visit the Radiant Professionals Alliance at http://www.radiantpanelassociation.org or http://www.myhomeheating.com

It seems to be somewhat less expensive than forced air compared to my neighbours (I would guess roughly 20% saving). I use natural gas with a 120,000 btu boiler (it could be smaller for my 2100 square foot home).

So, it must be 20% “greener” than a forced air installation. (Although how anyone in their right mind can consider burning fuel at a lesser rate “green” is beyond me. Like buying a hybrid…it still uses fuel, still has to be manufactured, etc. Green? Maybe less black.) Now, if it were entirely solar….

Anyway, while the savings are modest, and the “greening” dubious, it is nice to have warm feet. Also, the slab is a heat condensor in summer, absorbing heat in the day (and slightly cooling the home) and releasing it at night (and thus taking some chill off, if any, at night). The cool floor is comfortable in summer, too. So, it is a free air conditioning system in a way. With solar glass and upstairs fans, it actually works pretty well as a passive solution.

And I will say that actually is a pretty “green” air conditioner.

Sorrey to challenge you theory on allergens, but the cleaner air theory is bunk. Circulating air with effective furnace air filtration is much healthier, as you trap allergens and move the air around. If your house is dirty, try cleaning it and going to hardwood or lino floors. How do I know this? You get dust on the furniture in a radiant house too, and my brother in law is a heating consultant with children who have allergies…his choice (and he could have anything as the company provides it) is forced air, high efficiency, multiple furnace, with hepa filtration installed.

The disadantages of radiant are: very slow to react to sudden temperature fluctuations outside (i.e. a sudden Artic front and you are cold for a day until the slab heats up sufficently), and a rise in temperature leaves the house too warm until the slab cools down; another disadvantage is the lack of air circulation that can result in uneven air tempeatures despite evenly heated floors; another disadvantage is that windy and very cold weather can cool a house enough that radiant heat can have trouble keeping up…this of course depends on exterior glass area and overall insulation; finally, wood floors are punished by radiant heat, as it dries the wood out and may cause cracking noises in certain installations.

The former may be partly solved by computers that sense rising or falling temperatures and then pre-empt the situation by increasing/decreasing water temperature.

The second issue may be mitigated with ceiling fans.

The latter issues could be remedied by improving insulation and keeping water temperatures modest. If the climate is very cold, installation must be considered carefully.

If your outside temperatures do not vary to extreems, then you may not experience some of these problems. (I do in my area….cold!).

I like radiant heat, but nothing is perfect, and green is relative.

It seems to be somewhat less expensive than forced air compared to my neighbours (I would guess roughly 20% saving). I use natural gas with a 120,000 btu boiler (it could be smaller for my 2100 square foot home).

So, it must be 20% “greener” than a forced air installation. (Although how anyone in their right mind can consider burning fuel at a lesser rate “green” is beyond me. Like buying a hybrid…it still uses fuel, still has to be manufactured, etc. Green? Maybe less black.) Now, if it were entirely solar….

Anyway, while the savings are modest, and the “greening” dubious, it is nice to have warm feet. Also, the slab is a heat condensor in summer, absorbing heat in the day (and slightly cooling the home) and releasing it at night (and thus taking some chill off, if any, at night). The cool floor is comfortable in summer, too. So, it is a free air conditioning system in a way. With solar glass and upstairs fans, it actually works pretty well as a passive solution.

And I will say that actually is a pretty “green” air conditioner.

Sorrey to challenge you theory on allergens, but the cleaner air theory is bunk. Circulating air with effective furnace air filtration is much healthier, as you trap allergens and move the air around. If your house is dirty, try cleaning it and going to hardwood or lino floors. How do I know this? You get dust on the furniture in a radiant house too, and my brother in law is a heating consultant with children who have allergies…his choice (and he could have anything as the company provides it) is forced air, high efficiency, multiple furnace, with hepa filtration installed.

The disadantages of radiant are: very slow to react to sudden temperature fluctuations outside (i.e. a sudden Artic front and you are cold for a day until the slab heats up sufficently), and a rise in temperature leaves the house too warm until the slab cools down; another disadvantage is the lack of air circulation that can result in uneven air tempeatures despite evenly heated floors; another disadvantage is that windy and very cold weather can cool a house enough that radiant heat can have trouble keeping up…this of course depends on exterior glass area and overall insulation; finally, wood floors are punished by radiant heat, as it dries the wood out and may cause cracking noises in certain installations.

The former may be partly solved by computers that sense rising or falling temperatures and then pre-empt the situation by increasing/decreasing water temperature.

The second issue may be mitigated with ceiling fans.

The latter issues could be remedied by improving insulation and keeping water temperatures modest. If the climate is very cold, installation must be considered carefully.

If your outside temperatures do not vary to extreems, then you may not experience some of these problems. (I do in my area….cold!).

I like radiant heat, but nothing is perfect, and green is relative.

was there any concerns with warping/discoloring/cracking of the hardwood floor with radiant floor heat? did you install a humidifier to mitigate any issues?