Archive for the ‘Home DIY’ Category
A few heating and air conditioning tips
Radiant heating and cooling
Hot water radiators in the 1940′s saw the first mass utilization of hydronic radiant heating technology, while hydronic radiant cooling technology has lagged behind and is only now coming into its own. Radiant heating takes place whenever a hot surface transfers heat directly to an object or person in the same room or area, and hydronic radiant heating uses steam or hot water as the heat source. Radiant cooling, however, is what happens if a cool object takes in heat, as when your body heat is absorbed by the cold surface of a radiant cooling system. Hydronic radiation works identically for both cooling and heating, with cold or hot water running through a series of pipes installed in the ceiling, floor, or walls. The most effective radiant heating systems are installed in the floor where the heat rises, while the most effective cooling systems are installed in the ceiling where the ascending heat is more readily absorbed. Radiant cooling systems are more difficult to install than radiant heating systems, as you have to handle the humidity and the need to supply fresh air and ventilation. Radiant systems are much more energy effective than traditional systems that blow cold or hot air through ductwork to heat or cool a room, a process that causes much dissipation and energy loss. Installation of a hydronic heating or cooling system will probably be beyond the capabilities of most do-it-yourself home improvement practitioners, and typically requires an HVAC contractor.
Radiant heating systems
Nowadays, radiant heat is the most cost-effective, dependable, eco-friendly, and comfortable method for heating your home, and systems using infrared energy are increasingly popular. Depending on the radiant heat technology one prefers, the walls, ceilings and floors are warmed by hot liquid or electricity, which heats the items that are close by and then transfers to the air. Systems like these are in direct contrast to the more prevalent forced-air heating systems which consist of hot air being pushed into a room where it heats the ceiling while the floor remains colder. The standard forms of radiant heating are liquid (water or oil) systems in which hot liquid is pumped through the piping system, and electric radiant systems, which use a series of electric wires. Officially called hydronic heating systems, hot liquid radiant systems are constructed using a network of pipes laid out over cement floors, or are sandwiched in between plywood sheets. Nowadays, hot air type radiant systems are outdated (the Romans perfected them) and rarely used because air in itself cannot hold large amounts of heat.
About radiant heating
There are three methods of heat transfer: conduction, in which heat moves directly from object to object; convection, in which heat is transferred through a liquid or through the air by moving currents around an object; and radiation, in which objects are warmed directly over a distance by a heat source, such as the heat from the sun. You will find three varieties of radiant heat floor systems, ones that use hot air, ones that use electricity, and ones that utilize hot water, which are also known as hydronic systems. Since air is an inefficient medium for holding on to heat, it is hardly ever used anymore and is considered obsolete. Radiant heating systems that use electric cables, are very popular and are easy to install underneath such flooring materials as tile, stone, hardwood, or laminated wood. The most popular method of radiant heating is hydronics, which involves the steady pumping of hot water from a boiler through tubing loops installed under the flooring. You can enjoy greater flexibility of temperature control with certain hydronic systems which adjust exactly how much hot water is pumped through the tubing loops beneath the floors of each room, so that temperatures can vary according to personal needs. The two basic methods of installation for both hydronic and electric radiant heat flooring systems are “dry” installation, where the electric cables or water tubes are inserted between sheets of plywood and installed beneath the floor, or “wet” installation, where the cables/tubing are embedded in slabs of concrete. When choosing the most suitable flooring to go in with the new radiant floor heating system, keep in mind that ceramic tile operates best with radiant heat, and solid, non-laminated hardwood covered by carpet is the least effective.
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