When the cold season hits, a hot water system can only go so far regarding comfort. Notably, your time in the bathroom will feel comfortable, but it will only last a couple of minutes. Then, when you walk out of the bathroom, the cold will hit you like a blow, forcing you to scramble for a duvet, a sweater, or pair of socks to keep you warm. However, you can avoid such issues by installing radiant in-floor heating. As the name suggests, radiant or in-floor heating refers to heating panels installed beneath the floor. While fireplaces, electric space heaters, and furnaces are good heat sources, underfloor heating packs more benefits. Here is why.
Uniform heating
One major problem that homeowners experience with convection solutions is irregular heating. The reason is that warm air from such systems is distributed through vents, leaving some parts warmer than others. For instance, if a fireplace is in the furthest corner of a living room, someone seated on the other side might not feel the same level of comfort as the person seated close to the source. However, underfloor heating eliminates such issues due to its ability to heat a room uniformly. Notably, in-floor solutions heat the entire floor at the same rate, ensuring comfort regardless of where you sit.
Energy efficiency
When you use radiators, furnaces, and other convection heating systems to warm your space, some areas are warmer than others. Therefore, if your windows or doors have gaps, your house experiences cold drafts, particularly in areas furthest from a heat source. As warm air leaves the house through window and door gaps, cold air gets in. Unfortunately, cold drafts make a heating system work extra hard to warm a space, consuming more energy. Since in-floor heating eliminates cold drafts by uniformly warming an entire space, you do not have to crank up the system to achieve the desired comfort level. Besides, in-floor heating has better heat retention, meaning that it requires less energy to operate.
Enhanced hygiene
Mould thrives in damp areas, and cold weather does not help matters. The reason is that condensation in homes is relatively high during winter, thanks to cold walls, floors, and ceilings. Unfortunately, convection heating does little to thwart the formation of condensation due to irregular heating. Thus, mould is likely to grow on your floor, making your home unclean. In-floor heating is a more hygienic option because it keeps the entire space warm and dry at all times. Therefore, it discourages mould growth and infestations by dust mites and other bugs.
