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In-Floor Heating For Your Muskoka Cottage And Home!
In-Floor Heating For Your Muskoka Cottage And Home!
Cold feet? No matter how thick your socks are, the frigid floor always seems to nip your toes!
Nobody likes cold feet on a chilly winter morning. But it's hard to warm up when Northern Ontario temps drop so quickly!
Cottagers and homeowners are on the hunt for affordable, cosy heating. Something that will keep them warm all winter long without breaking the bank!
If this is you, keep reading!
In this article, you’ll learn all about electric in-floor heating.
In-floor heating offers a seamless solution to cold tile, stone and laminate flooring.
Instead of walking on a frigid floor all winter, you can enjoy warmth in each step!
Looking for a quiet, non-allergenic and energy-efficient heating solution? Consider in-floor heat!
What Is In-Floor Heating? How Does It Work?
Electric floor heating warms your home from the ground up.
No joke!
Here’s how the process works:
Electric floor heating uses resistance wires made of copper or nichrome. Your Gravenhurst heating tech installs these wires beneath your flooring.
These resistance wires have high thermal conductivity. This means they can produce heat very quickly. All it takes is an electric current to pass through them!
This heat then uses radiant energy to rise.
Note: You experience radiant energy naturally on a daily basis! One example of naturally occurring radiant energy is sun rays. You can also experience radiant energy from a lightbulb, microwave or campfire.
The cool thing about radiant energy? As it travels, it can warm other heat-conductive materials!
For example, on a hot day at the beach, you may notice that the top of the sand is quite hot to touch. This is the result of radiant energy from the sun’s rays.
If you dig a little deeper, you will also notice that the sand starts to feel cooler below the surface.
The sand beneath the surface typically doesn’t get very hot. Why? Because sand has low thermal conductivity. This prevents the heat from spreading deeper.
Thankfully, there are many materials that offer high thermal conductivity. Stone and tile are prime examples!
Installing in-floor heating under these materials will maximize energy efficiency and performance. That’s why most homeowners install this type of heating in their bathroom and/or kitchen floors.
These rooms usually have tile installed to prevent water damage, stains and odours. But while these surfaces are easy to clean, they don’t keep the area warm.
In-floor heating solves this problem by effectively heating the tile below your feet!
5 Reasons To Choose In-Floor Radiant Heating
There are many benefits to in-floor heating, whether used at your home or cottage.
We’ve listed the top 5 benefits below!
1. Out of Sight
One of the selling features of in-floor heating is that it takes up zero extra space.
In fact, you'd barely know it was there at all if not for the cosy heat you feel!
Most heating systems need extra space for bulky installations. But not in-floor heat!
These traditional heating systems use up space with indoor units, ductwork and vents.
In-floor heating offers a seamless and invisible approach!
Your flooring conceals all the wiring used for your electric floor heating. The only visible element is your thermostat!
2. Quiet
Besides being out of sight and mind, your in-floor heating is also soundless.
Unlike forced-air heating systems, radiant heat offers a silent approach to home heating.
As discussed earlier, in-floor heating uses radiant energy to heat your floors. Instead of moving heat by blowing it from one room to the next, it warms your flooring material directly.
3. Non-Allergenic
Do you struggle with dust allergies? In-floor heating can help!
A forced air system uses air ducts to blow heat from one room to the next. However, this process actually spreads dust and other allergens throughout your home.
In-floor heating systems use radiant heat instead of forced air. This means they do not spread any particles - dust or otherwise!
This makes in-floor heating a non-allergic heating solution!
4. Energy Efficient
Radiant in-floor heat ensures efficient, uniform heat.
With fuel costs constantly fluctuating, homeowners are now searching for cheaper home heating. And while we could recommend many energy-efficient heating systems, this is one of our favourites!
As mentioned above, radiant heat does not use forced air to move heat around a home. It uses thermal radiation (radiant heat).
This form of heat means you never have to worry about,
a) Losing heat through cracks in your ductwork, or
b) Forcing your system to work overtime to heat a cold spot in a far-off room of your home.
5. Maintenance-Free
Are you on a furnace maintenance plan with our team? These plans offer regular tune-ups for your HVAC equipment. They ensure your heating system is always in good working order.
We highly recommend maintenance plans for most HVAC systems. This includes furnaces, heat pumps, boilers and fireplaces.
But we don’t typically recommend them for in-floor heating.
Why?
Because in-floor electric heating is a one-and-done installation process!
These systems do not need regular maintenance - or any maintenance at all!
In fact, your radiant heating system will last approximately 20+ years after installation. No upkeep is necessary!
Shop Our Nuheat Mat, Cable, Mesh and Membrane Selection!
At Gravenhurst Heating, we supply only the best in in-floor heating.
We offer Nuheat mat, cabling, mesh and membrane options. Whatever works best for your unique home and budget!
Warm Up With In-Floor Heating
Stop layering your socks! Experience the cosy warmth of in-floor heating this winter.
These systems are perfect for both your home and cottage.
Contact our GPHE team to learn more or get a free in-floor heating quote!
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