Wood flooring looks wonderful. But when you live in an area with chilly winter weather, that feels awfully cold on bare feet. Stepping out of a warm shower onto a cold tile floor sends shockwaves through your body. Well, radiant floor heating keeps your feet warm in the winter without resorting to thick wool socks or slippers. It has also gained a following in recent years in areas where temperatures stay at or below freezing for weeks at a time (like the Jersey Shore).
Radiant Floor Heating
How Does it Work?
Radiant floor heating dates back to ancient Rome. This system of heating sends warm water through pipes or electrical cables that lay under your home’s flooring (either in the concrete or the subfloor). Instead of heating your entire home this way, you might choose to target specific areas like the bathrooms and kitchen. Some places install radiant heating in the driveway to avoid the back-breaking work of clearing off the snow during the winter.
Benefits of Radiant Floor Heating
Since heat rises, it tends to work more efficiently than a forced-air system. The heat stays with the objects it heats (in the floors) instead of dispersing into the air and cooling off. Also, forced-air units depend on the circulation of hot air. This forces pet dander, dust, and other allergens to move around as well. Radiant floor heating requires no circulation. Therefore, fewer allergens are blown around. Add to this the fact that radiant heat regulates temperatures better, leaving no place for cold spots. Plus, they offer a luxury upgrade to feature if/when you decide to sell your Jersey Shore home.
What Does it Cost?
Radiant floor heating does not come cheap. To install the system in your entire home typically runs between $20,000 and $40,000 depending on your home’s size and whether you use pipes or electrical cable. Thus the reason many homeowners choose to only use it in a few targeted areas rather than the whole house. Limiting it to specific areas cuts this cost down to just a few thousand. While upfront costs can be a little pricey, you reduce your energy costs significantly each month. Those savings add up pretty quickly.
The best time to install a radiant floor heating system is during initial construction or a remodel. So, if you plan on making changes to your kitchen or bathrooms in the near future, consider including this system in those plans. Also, make sure you use a licensed, bonded, and insured professional with experience in the system you want to be installed. Check their credentials before hiring them. Due diligence helps avoid added expense down the road.
Sherri Lilienfeld, Apex Prime Realty, Your Source for Jersey Shore Real Estate