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About radiant heating
Of the three possibilities of heat transfer, radiation, convection, and conduction, this article describes radiant heating, where objects and people are warmed by a separate source of heat, and not by warm air currents. Radiant floor heating systems apply one of three methods to heat the floors of a house, hot water, hot air, or electricity which then heats the people and the objects in the room. Hot air radiant heat is the least popular and least effective since air does not retain a lot of heat, and is regarded as obsolete and hardly ever used. Radiant heating systems which employ electric cables, are in high demand and are easy to install underneath such flooring materials as tile, stone, hardwood, or laminated wood. Hot water systems, called hydronics, are very popular these days since they are the most cost effective, need no electricity, and only utilize hot water pumped from a boiler into an array of tubes installed beneath the floor. You can enjoy greater options for temperature control with certain hydronic systems which adjust exactly how much hot water is pumped through the tubing loops under the floors of each room, so that temperatures can vary according to personal preference. The two basic methods of installation for both hydronic and electric radiant heat flooring systems are “dry” installation, where the water tubing or electric cable networks are sandwiched between plywood sheets 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 along 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 efficient.

Electric radiant floor heating
Widely considered the most energy efficient way to heat a home, electric radiant floor heating is a network of thin cables below the floor. You enjoy a far better distribution of heat with this system since the heated floor radiates energy directly to people and objects in a room evenly. You might see a reduction in heating costs by as much as a third thanks to the consistent room temperature and improved retention of heat. There will be far fewer troublesome parts involved in this heating system such as filters and valves. Heating systems using forced air often create dusty, drafty environments, especially when dirt and dust is easily trapped by floor vents. This method of heating is silent because you never have fans that buzz or radiators rattling as is the case with traditional heating systems. The most critical decision you face with this heating system is what type of flooring to go with, as ceramics, porcelain and stone are good methods of heat conduction, while hardwood is not a good selection.

Using radiant heating
Environmentally sound, money-saving, and safer for families and pets, radiant heating systems should be seriously considered by all homeowners. The design philosophy behind radiant heating systems is to first heat the walls, ceilings and floors of the home which will then heat the objects nearby, and eventually radiates out to heat the air. Contrast this heating system with traditional forced air systems that push a lot of hot air into a room, and as the air gets warmer the room heats up, but this leaves the floors cold even as you feel the warm air on your upper body. The most common forms of radiant heating are liquid (water or oil) systems in which hot liquid is circulated through a system of pipes, and electric radiant systems, which use a series of electric wires. The array of pipes in a hot liquid system, commonly known as a hydronic system, are almost always mounted between plywood wallboards, or laid out over a slab of concrete. A third technology, hot air radiant systems, was widely used originally by the Romans, and is no longer around since the air just can not store large amounts of heat.

The issue of heating and cooling is going to concern a variety of diverse things. The links below will direct you to additional sites which might be of interest. Follow this link to find out about oil furnaces. A similar source of support will be The Best Pellet Stoves which has posted information and suggestions involving pellet stoves.