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December 26, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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We couldn’t say it any plainer than this:
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: Being more
environmentally friendly doesn’t have to
involve major renovations. Many peoples’ homes
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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November 20, 2007 00:11 AM  BY WARMZONE
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Heating systems
for homes and businesses are faced with an increasing
number of options to consider for their primary and
secondary heating. While fire places and coal burning
stoves become less popular, other alternative heating
methods are quickly becoming more common. Traditional
furnaces as a primary heating system are now being
challenged from radiant baseboards, radiant floor
heating systems and even radiant ceiling heaters. Many
of these new heating systems are using electricity
instead of natural gas or heating oil.
Space heaters are
also becoming a less expensive option to upgrading a
poorly insulated home or to add supplemental heat to cold
areas. Thermostone heaters and
heated
towel warmers
from
Climastar
mount to a wall and are a couple of heating
systems that have been commonly used in Europe for decades
are now gaining acceptance in the United States. Many
interior designers are adopting these electric heating
systems as fashionable accessories to bathrooms,
basements and home offices.
A common
challenge to traditional heating systems is the inability to
zone your home for specific areas of the home without
heating the entire home. Electric radiant heating
systems can be easily designed to be independently
controlled by zone which enables a home owner to increase
the temperature for defined areas of the home during
occupancy and conversely allows a particular zone to
remain off during down times. This strategy not only
saves the home owner money, it gives you complete
control to efficiently warm you most used living spaces
without comprising cost.
Choosing the best
heating system 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
inside of your budget. Contact us by phone or email to
learn more about your home heating goals and we will
sell you a heating system that works for you.
About Warmzone
Warmzone provides consumers with
energy-efficient, radiant heating solutions for homes
and businesses. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah,
Warmzone's electricians and radiant heat experts will help
you determine the best radiant heating solution,
ranging from electric heated floors to large
commercial snow and ice melt projects. Send us a plan or
drawings and we'll be happy to provide you with a
FREE estimate
and options for your
roof
heating and ice melting
project.
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December 22, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Are your eyes so tired from all the research
you’ve been doing because you’re
looking to warm your floors with radiant
heaters? We know, it sometimes can be hard to narrow
down what kind of radiant
heaters to install. There are dozens of products
available to purchase, and there are even more
companies telling you that their product is the
best.
For many homeowners, electric
cable heating systems, often called line- or
high-voltage systems, are gaining popularity and are
ideal for heating smaller areas like bathrooms,
kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are
comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. These radiant
heater systems are oftentimes less expensive, and
give the ability to customize a layout that will
heat every square inch of your floor.
Every available radiant heater
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 radiant
heater 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.
Radiant Heaters Tip:
When heating smaller areas, it is nearly
impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an
electric cable radiant
heating system.
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December 15, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Who isn’t a fan of saving energy,
especially if it’s easy? 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.
Learn what many others are
learning every day: 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.
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 13, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Have you ever gone on a ski vacation for the
weekend and stayed at a little ski
lodge?A lot of the times, they’ll have a
huge fireplace in the main room with smaller
bedrooms up in the loft area or
second-story.But the problem is that when
you’re in the main room with the roaring
fire, you’re often overwhelmed by the heat
and retreat to the bedroom, where it’s far
chillier.You see, many vacation or
weekend homes weren’t built with air conditioning
ducts with which to deliver the heat to the different
rooms of the house. However, there is a solution
to adding heating to homes that have not been
built for traditional forced air systems: radiant
heaters.
As opposed to warm air systems
(such as a forced air unit heaters), radiant
heaters deliver the source of heat to the floor
level, not 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.
Additionally, radiant
heaters also offer more comfort than forced air
heating by heating the atmosphere from the
ground up. Since heat rises, the heat will be
more evenly distributed, providing a much more
comfortable atmosphere.
Radiant Heaters Tip: Radiant energy is
totally pure radiation 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.
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December 18, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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The home improvement world has seen many recent
developments in heating, making hydronic systems
more convenient and possible radiant
heater solutions for major home remodeling projects.
Today we’re going to discuss one form of
radiant
heaters: hydronic floor heating.
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.
If you’re wanting to
heat smaller areas such as a bathroom or kitchen,
a hydronic floor radiant
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:
Radiant
heaters for your home or business come in a variety
of forms – all efficient and providing
reliable, cozy warmth
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September 20, 2007 00:09 AM  BY WARMZONE
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With a name like
Warmzone, we have an unspoken obligation to live up to
the task of matching our customers to the best available
system of warmth and comfort. We strive everyday
to ensure that our products and our knowledgeable,
dedicated staff will leave memories of service that is
second to none, and products that will provide years of
enjoyment.
A brief history
of Warmzone allows consumers to understand why Warmzone
was created. Warmzone realized the growth in the radiant
heat industry was causing problems for consumer and
contractors due to the abundance of technical
information and product choices. Making the right choice for
a radiant heat system is crucial and carries serious
implications to its cost and effectiveness.
Serving as an intermediary between manufacturers,
contractors and consumers, Warmzone’s role is to
match individual needs of a project to a heating
system that makes the most sense. We strive to
match our customer’s needs with the finest
radiant heating systems available. Warmzone.com offers
non-biased, individualized solutions that factor the
installation, durability, performance and operational
investment as the key criteria for our customers.
There are several
variables that Warmzone considers when looking at a
project. Some of these variables include: square
footage, the type of floor covering, the amount of
heat needed for a given area, whether that heat will
be the supplemental or primary source, how well
insulated that environment is, and if it is a major remodel
or completely new construction.
Based on this criterion, we can then discuss the benefits of
a radiant heating system and which technology would be
most appropriate for a consumer in terms of
effectiveness, efficiency, operational costs and
overall upkeep and maintenance.
Because radiant
heat is relatively new in the United States, there is a
continuing need to educate consumers about a wide variety of
radiant solutions. In the interest of avoiding
confusion and finding the best possible application,
Warmzone has done most of the homework for our
prospective customers. Our professional consultants
learn the details regarding your heating goals and
then propose a system that can be easily installed and
will fit your budget. Warmzone continues to
strive toward being viewed as the premier radiant
provider. “We want customers to feel
confident in this market and receive honest
information and pricing regarding the best available
products,” says Brandon Weaver, Vice President
of Sales.
With so many
options in the radiant industry, Warmzone.com is helping
contractors and consumers with the pros and cons of each
system. Representatives of Warmzone suggest the
best possible system for any project. We are not
tied to any one manufacturer and will provide the very
best in pricing and information available. Warmzone
has a very direct relationship with select
manufacturers thus eliminating the ‘one size
fits all’ sales pitch normally received by
homeowners. Using various forms of technology,
Warmzone’s focus is to provide customers with
the most pertinent information in record time. We know this
is the key to establishing trust and long term
partnerships.
As heating costs
skyrocket, radiant heating continues to come to the
forefront. We at Warmzone excel in providing options
that are affordable, convenient and specifically
tailored to the needs of individual consumers.
As we match products with needs, we continually strive
to provide our customers with “warm,
pleasurable” heating experiences. After
all, feeling warm IS a wonderful thing!
We would welcome
the opportunity to serve your needs. Visit us at www.warmzone.com, or call
us directly at
1-888-488-WARM.
About Warmzone
Warmzone provides consumers with
energy-efficient, radiant heating solutions for homes
and businesses. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah,
Warmzone's electricians and radiant heat experts will help
you determine the best radiant heating solution,
ranging from electric heated floors to large
commercial snow and ice melt projects. Send us a plan or
drawings and we'll be happy to provide you with a
FREE estimate
and options for your
roof
heating and ice melting
project.
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November 06, 2008 00:11 AM  BY WARMZONE
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There has been
much debate over low voltage radiant systems versus line
voltage radiant systems as radiant heat gains popularity in
North America. The aim of this article is to dispel
some of the myths surrounding the different kinds of
systems.
Myth 1: Low voltage radiant systems are safer than
line voltage.
Low voltage is
low, so it makes sense that it’s safer, right? While
this makes perfect sense initially, we have to take a
closer look to find out the real answer. If your
definition of safe is the chances of being hurt by
voltage during installation, low voltage will give you a bit
of a shock, but won’t cause lasting damage. The
real question we should be asking is how durable is
the cable against damage and how well is the cable
insulated. Both line and low voltage snow melting systems
are embedded in 4 inches of concrete, asphalt, or
under pavers. When installed properly the embedded
systems are not exposed and harmful. Some low voltage
heating wires are NOT designed for embedment. These have
only a thin layer of plastic and a heating element
that is THHN/THWN wire. This wire is intended for
interior use NOT in concrete, asphalt, or under
pavers. Low voltage wires do not have ground fault
protection, so electrical leakage can go undetected.
In contrast, line
voltage obviously has higher voltage, which is why line
voltage cables are built to withstand wear and tear, and are
much more difficult to damage. If you do manage to
damage a line voltage cable, don’t worry! Line
voltage systems are equipped with ground fault
protection (GFEP) breakers with a 30 milliamp trip. Which
means the system will automatically shut off when it
has reached beyond allowable leakage levels. What does
this mean? Well for one you don’t need to worry
about bodily harm, but you also don’t need to worry
about potential fire hazard from a damaged cable. The
bottom line: both line voltage and low voltage systems
are safe to use.
Myth 2: Low voltage radiant systems cost less to
run than a line voltage system.
It is true that
low voltage radiant systems consume a lower amount of
power, but this doesn’t mean it is less costly to
run. Low voltage systems can actually be more
expensive to operate because these systems generally
produce 20 watts/sq ft (which is below ASHRAE standards). By
producing less heat per square foot, it takes longer to heat
the same area, thus increasing the cost and the time
it takes to melt. Because of the decreased heat
output, during heavier snow falls low voltage systems
struggle to keep up with the snowfall, and have to remain on
much longer. For this reason, ASHRAE has set forth
watt standards for snow melting.
Line voltage
systems are designed specifically for the environment in
which they will be operating. These systems are made to
produce the necessary watts (that meet ASHRAE
standards) to melt snow in the most efficient time
possible.
Some low voltage systems on the
market have some distinct advantages over line
voltage. Zmesh is low voltage, but does not rely on
heat cables to generate heat. Instead it is constructed
of a unique thin mesh that requires no embedding in thinset
and can be installed directly under carpet pad,
hardwood and even for use on your roof for snow and
ice melting. The biggest advantage of Zmesh is that you
can hammer nails into it without worry of damage!
Myth 3: Low voltage systems are easier to repair.
Both line voltage
and low voltage cables are easy to repair. Simply
remove the bad section of cable, add in a splice kit, cover
it back over with whatever surface it’s in, and
the system should operate as normal. You do not have
to replace the entire cable or rip out the entire
surface, only the area that is damaged. The location of the
break can be identified by using devices such as the
DEVItrace from Danfoss or a TDR, which uses radio
frequencies and a “wand” to locate the damaged
section of cable.
Myth 4: Low Voltage systems are more efficient.
Low voltage
systems are NOT more efficient. Since these systems have a
much lower output of heat per square foot; they take much
longer to melt snow, especially during heavy snow
storms and probably will not be able to keep up with
the demand. Further increasing their inefficiencies, low
voltage systems must have the electricity pass through a
transformer and very thick power leads (2 gauge),
which causes voltage to drop as it travels distance
before reaching the heating element. Line voltage cables
have the energy to go directly into heating, without the
loss of power. Overall, both line and low voltage
systems are more efficient than hydronic snow melting.
Myth 5: Low voltage systems offer a better warranty.
Some low voltage
warranties are very deceiving. They boast of a 25 year
warranty period, but when examined closer it is found that
the 25 year warranty only covers the heating wire. As
discussed earlier these heating wires are actually
THHN or THWN, which can be purchased relatively
cheaply at any hardware store.
Warmzone’s
line voltage cable manufacturer’s warranty (Danfoss)
covers up five times the cost of the original system
which is intended to cover the cost and time involved
in making repairs, not just the actual heating element
itself.
Myth 6: Both systems provide sufficient heat.
Low voltage
systems in most snow melting applications do not meet the
ASHRAE standards. The minimum watts per square foot ASHRAE
requires in North America is 32 watts per square foot.
Popular low voltage systems on average are designed to
produce approximately 20 watts per square foot and
with extremely tight spacing will max out at 30, still below
the standards ASHRAE has set forth.
Line voltage
systems are designed specifically for the environment in
which they will be operating. These systems are made to
produce the necessary watts (that meet ASHRAE
standards) to melt snow in the most efficient time
possible.
Myth 7: Both systems are UL Approved.
Most low voltage
snow melting systems are not UL listed. Warmzone’s
line voltage systems are UL tested and approved.
SYSTEM WEAKNESSES
- THHN/THWN wire was not designed for concrete
embedment. The outer jacket is soft and easily
cut which will shorten its life.
- Low heat output – Does not satisfy
ASHRAE requirements.
- Bulky and costly controls (transformer and
control box are 100 lbs per 200 square foot
zone).
- Warranty - only covers THHN/THWN wire. Control
box is 1 year, transformer is 5 years.
- Slow to install - the transformer and control
box are complicated and time consuming to
install.
- Noise – transformers emit noise and
location of them must be considered.
- Price – low-voltage systems are
typically double the price of a comparable line
–voltage system.
As radiant
heating systems have gained popularity, a lot of
fly-by-night manufacturers are trying to cash in on
the recent boom. This sparked ASHRAE to come out with
standards for radiant snow melting systems to prevent
abuse from manufacturers. Most low voltage radiant snow
melting systems don’t meet the ASHRAE standards
for quality and efficiency. Unfortunately, not all
consumers are aware of standards in the radiant
industry and purchase faulty products unwittingly and end up
with negativity towards radiant heating in general.
Rest assured there are plenty of efficient radiant
systems that will run smoothly for decades without
needing any maintenance. Make sure to do thorough research
before purchasing any products, which means checking
for proper safety certifications and standards, and
you won't regret it.
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December 21, 2008 00:12 AM  BY STACEY BARRUS
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Innovations in home heating are here and ready
to keep your home comfortably heated!Flat
panel radiant
heaters are used to heat objects via radiant heat
transfer. These radiant heaters have
traditionally been used in a variety of industries
and applications. Some of these applications include
space heating, drying, curing, and water
evaporation. More recently, these heating
systems are also gaining popularity in home heating
applications as well.
Radiant
heaters use different types of emitter surfaces.
Choices include: quartz, high-temperature glass,
stainless steel, and ceramic tiles. These are
all materials that are easily and efficiently used in
home applications such as flooring, countertops,
and towel racks. Because these items are easily
turned into emitter surfaces for radiant heat,
they can easily and beautifully be incorporated into
home heating applications such as heated floors,
walls, and towel racks.
To find out about radiant
heaters for your home, check with the folks at
warmzone.com. They have a complete product catalog of
radiant heating solutions that can accommodate
almost any application or budget.
Radiant Heaters Tip:
Not only are radiant
heaters a great way to efficiently heat a home,
while maximizing your home’s beauty, but
they are very cost effective and easy to
install.
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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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