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Jolly
Plumbing
& Heating
Locally Owned & Operated since 1955
Radiant Heating Services
Most homes rely on a forced-air system to stay warm, using fans, ducts, and vents to push heated air into each room. While this method gets the job done, it’s far from the most energy-efficient or cost-effective option. That’s where radiant heat comes in—a smart alternative that heats your home evenly while cutting down on wasted energy.
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What is Radiant Heating?
Radiant heating is a system that supplies heat to a home from the floor, walls, or ceiling using heating elements that deliver heat directly from the surface by using way of infrared radiation. A smaller example of infrared radiation you may be more familiar with is a toaster, which uses coils and infrared radiation to cook food.
Radiant heating has a number of advantages over forced-air heating systems and baseboard heating systems because it is unseen, energy-efficient,,energy-efficient and keeps the air much cleaner inside your home
Radiant Floor Heating Colorado Springs
Whether you need a new radiant heater or have a repair with your radiant heating system, Jolly Plumbing can handle any job, any size. We service both residential radiant heaters as well as commercial radiant heaters, which means you get the same great customer service whether you are a Colorado Springs homeowner or a local business that requires more water capacity to serve your customers.
Radiant Floor
Heating
The most popular type of radiant heating system found in homes is radiant floor heating. Within this category, there are three main types: air-heated radiant floors, hot water systems, and electric systems. These can be installed using different methods and materials, like concrete or plywood. But to keep things simple, we’ll focus on the heating systems themselves.
Air-Heated
Radiant Flooring
Air-heated radiant systems aren’t as common as the other types because air doesn’t retain heat well. As a result, these systems constantly circulate heated air, which can drive up energy costs. Even so, they’re still more energy-efficient in the long run compared to traditional forced-air systems. Some setups even integrate solar panels to power the system, making them an eco-friendly option.
Electric Radiant
Flooring
​This type of radiant flooring uses a network of electric cables embedded directly into the floor. When installing an electric system during a home’s construction, choosing the right flooring is crucial, as it directly affects the system’s efficiency. For example, installing the cables within a thick concrete slab significantly boosts effectiveness. The concrete retains heat for hours, reducing the need for constant input from the cables
Hydronic Radiant
Flooring
The most popular type of radiant heating system found in homes is radiant floor heating. Within this category, there are three main types: air-heated radiant floors, hot water systems, and electric systems. These can be installed using different methods and materials, like concrete or plywood. But to keep things simple, we’ll focus on the heating systems themselves.
​What Are the Pros and Cons Of Radiant Heat?
Radiant heating can be an excellent choice for your home. However, it’s always a good idea to not only focus on the good things that come from something you’re considering but also any potential negatives. There are certainly some pros and cons when it comes to radiant heat. So let’s create a breakdown for you:
Common Radiant Heating Questions
Is It Expensive to Run Radiant Heat?
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Radiant heat is a dream for many homeowners, but often, they don’t run radiant heat in their homes because of fears about the cost. So, let’s discuss the cost involved with running radiant heat. On average, you can expect to pay about $6 to $20 per square foot for under flooring radiant heat when putting it in your home. These prices typically include both the product itself and the insulation. There are two types of radiant heat most commonly used in residential homes: electric and hydronic.
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Electric systems are mats that run on electricity that go underneath your floor. These systems are almost like a heated blanket. Hydronic systems use heated water to warm your floors. Consider these systems like a hot water bottle. Electric systems are usually cheaper to install than hydronic systems when it comes to costs as they are often a type of mat rather than water in pipes. Still, the daily operating cost can be more expensive. Water holds heat very well and doesn’t require as much energy to keep it warm over time in comparison.
How Long Does Radiant
Heating Last?
A lot can go into putting in radiant heating, from the cost to the installation process, and one of the biggest questions can be how long does it last. No one wants to go through the hassle of having their ceiling replaced or floors pulled up for radiant heating, even when replacing their old flooring at the same time, if the product’s lifespan is too short to make it worth their while. The truth of the matter is that while radiant heating flooring systems won’t last forever, they do have a relatively long lifespan, especially when you compare them to the lifespan of your more traditional forced-air furnace.
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Most furnaces will have a lifespan of about 10 to 25 years or so, depending on how it’s maintained and used. On average, the lifespan of a radiant heating system is expected to be about 30 to 45 years. In fact, many of these systems have at least a 25-year warranty on them
​We’ve Got Allergies. Can A Radiant Floor System Help?
It may surprise you to find out, but a radiant floor heating system can be very beneficial for people with allergies and other upper respiratory issues. A traditional forced-air furnace works by directing heated air through your home’s ducts and out the vents. Any dust, dirt, and debris lying in your ducts or around the vents can then be blown through your home every time the heat kicks on. As a result, poor indoor air quality can exacerbate existing health conditions, such as allergies and asthma. Heating your home through a convection system like a radiant floor means that you’ll no longer have this potentially dirty heated air circulating your home and aggravating you and your family’s lungs.
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In addition, many people that choose to go with a radiant floor system prefer to get rid of the carpeting in their home. One of the reasons people like carpeting is that it helps keep the floor warm for your feet on cold days. Carpeting is no longer necessary with a system that heats your home through the floor.
​Is Radiant Heating the Best Product For Me?
It can be hard to determine if trying something that seems outside of your experiences is right for you. Most individuals are used to forced-air heating systems and are unfamiliar with radiant heating. The question of whether or not radiant heating is the best product for you boils down to what it provides over traditional heating systems.
Radiant heating is an excellent choice when you’re looking for heating options that are affordable every month. Since this heating option is more efficient than traditional heating, your monthly bills are often less than they would be with forced-air heating. Also, since it’s more efficient, you can help to reduce your carbon footprint if you’re looking to be greener.
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Another benefit of radiant heating is that it can help keep your home cleaner. Allergy sufferers, individuals with asthma, and other health conditions need to have good indoor air quality to protect their health. Getting rid of forced-air heating means that the dust and other debris that are forced through your heating system and get blown into the air are eliminated. It can be a massive reduction in poor air quality that you may not even realize.