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If you're having your flooring replaced, it might be a good idea to consider installing a radiant heat system at the same time.

You've probably heard the term before but might not know what it's all about. Radiant heat is applying a heat source directly to the floor of your house. This source disperses heat directly from the surface and radiates it around the room in an even fashion.

Radiant heating has some great advantages:

• It's more efficient than baseboard heating and the ducted forced-air heating where energy can be lost through transmission
• Because the system is more efficient it, it costs less to run
• Since heat is not being blown through air ducts, it can cut down on the amount of allergens distributed through the room or house

Radiant flooring heat can be generated by several methods - gas/electric, wood burning, solar, and more. There are 2 types of residential radiant flooring systems:

Hydronic Radiant: this is the most popular radiant flooring option. Heated water is pumped from the heating unit through tubes under the flooring surface. The temperature can be controlled through zoning sections, along with a system of pumps and thermostats, to keep colder rooms warmer and warmer rooms cooler.

Electric Radiant: this method is not nearly as efficient as hydronic heating because of the higher cost of electricity. Electrical cables are installed onto the subfloor, underneath the hardwood flooring or tile flooring. Electric radiant works best when it can be used during off-peak hours to save money. The best way to do this is to have a concrete floor which can hold onto the heat for up to 8 hours at a time - which keeps you from running the electricity during those peak hours.

If you're looking to re-do your flooring, talk to radiant heat flooring contractor about adding a radiant heat system at the same time. There are many "dry" installation methods that do not require excessive construction to install the systems. Know your options and discuss the whether your choice of flooring material works with a radiant heating plan.

And, if you need radiant flooring heat - we're here to help - ConstructionDeal.com will match you to floor heating installers at no charge. You'll have several companies calling you instead of you trying to call them at random, and that saves you time.

You'll also have several bids to do the work and you choose the best installation price - that saves you money. What more could you ask for?

Labels: Flooring Installation, Flooring Options, Radiant Heat Flooring