When renovating, one of the goals is to make your home unique. You want it to work for you and your family, whatever that means. You probably also want a stylish, trendy design with the most popular new features. One thing that fits both of these qualifications is heated floors. Once something only available in the most luxury homes, floor heating systems can now be installed almost anywhere. Here is why radiant floor heating is taking over the Seattle area.
Energy efficiency
Although it most likely will be more expensive to install in the first place, floor heating systems will save you money in the long run. That is because they are much more energy-efficient than traditional radiators. A radiator has to reach a temperature of around 150 degrees in order to properly heat the room, while heated floors only need to reach 84 degrees.
There are two types of radiant floor heating: water and electric. Either pipes or wires run underneath the entire floor. When hot water is pumped through the pipes or electricity through the wires, it quickly and evenly heats the entire room. The heat isn’t stuffy, and you won’t have to open a window near the radiator to keep that part of the room at a normal temperature. The average household saves 15 percent on their energy bill by using heated floors.
Easy to use
Putting in a floor heating system has never been easier, as some companies offer the wires already properly spaced sewn into mesh. Once radiant floor heating is installed, it requires no maintenance. Most heated floors come with a 30-year guarantee. The heat is controlled with a thermostat just like radiator heat is. You can program this to automatically adjust or set it manually. There is no loud banging or strange sounds involved like old radiator pipes make. Heated floors are so convenient, you will almost forget where your heat is coming from.
Freedom of design
Unlike radiators or other typical heaters, floor heating systems take up no space at all. You have complete freedom to design every room in your house however you want without having to work around the part of the floor or wall that holds a heater. Heated floors can also be laid underneath basically any floor covering. That means whether you want tile, carpet, wood, laminate, vinyl, or stone, your floor will be warm and cozy. If you want different flooring in different rooms, that is not a problem. You can still have heated floors installed all over the house.
Safety
Radiant floor heating is very safe and will never burn your feet. Unlike metal radiators, it is not unbearably hot to the touch. There is also nothing for young children to trip over or fall against and hurt themselves. Floor heating systems cause minimal air movement, which means less dust floating around than radiators cause. This is great for people with seasonal and dust allergies. There is also less dust because there is no physical unit in the space collecting dirt underneath it.
Need help putting heated floors into your home?
Whether you want to renovate a room or build an entirely new house, Eakman Construction can help. They are committed to helping customers create their dream home. Eakman knows the importance of communication and never makes a big decision without consulting the homeowner first. With years of experience, you can trust them to design a beautiful space and finish the job right. Call (206) 972-2275 or email info@eakmanconstruction.com for more information about how Eakman can help meet all your renovation needs.