Staying Warm...and Green!

December 25, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

For anyone who is looking for a great way to save energy, and maximize comfort, then radiant heaters may be the ideal solution. Installing radiant heaters in a home under construction or in an existing home is proven to cut heating costs. It works by putting water lines in the home’s concrete floors or under existing floors and running hot water through them. Radiant heaters help to keep the whole house at a more constant temperature. In this way, our regular heaters don’t have to do as much to keep things warm and toasty during the winter.

You’ll find that switching to Radiant heaters will not only help save energy and lower heating costs, but it will certainly add to comfort as well. That is because it put the heat at our feet, which are generally cold, and offers cooler air near head level, where we are generally a little warmer.

Many times, what first springs to mind when people think of eco-friendly energy and heating is solar power. While solar panels are expensive, there are other eco-friendly ways to cut your power bill. In fact, energy savings can be found right beneath your feet: radiant heaters.

Radiant Heaters Tip: It is reported that many people waste a lot of energy by not sealing cracks, doors and windows; checking to make sure a home’s insulation is in good shape and replacing it if it’s not is another good way to stop energy waste.


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Buying from Warmzone Makes Sense

August 07, 2007 00:08 AM  BY  WARMZONE

Upon hearing the words, “What can Brown do for You? ®” an immediate vision comes to mind of a large, brown delivery truck with the name UPS emblazoned on each side. United Parcel Service has done an incredible job to bring their name to the forefront in the package-delivery market.  The same might be said regarding “The Golden Arches ®,” McDonald’s famous advertising ploy.  Most highly-successful businesses are easily recognized by a catchy slogan or an eye-catching symbol.

We at Warmzone want to be known in the radiant heat arena as the company that will do everything possible to “just make sense” of what might be a confusing array of possibilities for consumers who are seeking information on alternative heating sources.

Why are such vast numbers seeking an alternative radiant heating source ?

Questar Gas Company, included the following message with January’s fuel bill mailing:  “As you have seen, natural gas bills this winter are significantly higher than last year.  Even with all the news about higher natural gas prices, reality doesn’t set in until your bill is opened.”  Unless customers have been oblivious to drastic increases in fuel costs over the past two months, this was somewhat of an understatement.  More than just reality has set in upon consumers!  Caught somewhere in the middle of paying a huge fuel bill and taking a sick child to see a doctor, people are taking a stand against such increases. 

President Bush has encouraged our nation to look for alternative sources as we have become “addicted to oil.” In his state of the union address on January 31, 2006 he announced the Advanced Energy Initiative, a 22% increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, “to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants, revolutionary solar and wind technologies, and clean, safe nuclear energy.”  Quoting once more from the Questar message: “As you can see, prices on the open market are volatile and have increased to record highs this year both nationally and locally.” 

Volatile, skyrocketing, record high fuel costs provide reasons aplenty for so many people to turn to Warmzone.com for guidance in finding the best-possible radiant heat system for their needs.  Consumers are finding themselves backed into a corner and are looking for an efficient, comfortable alternative.  That just makes sense!

With our commitment to researching the best options for radiant heat and assessing each job individually, our research and design team is prepared to design each project with the ideal system to meet the needs of our customers at the best available prices.

Warmzone is a different kind of company.  Unlike a manufacturer, we do not favor one system over another.  We acknowledge the fact that there are dozens of brands and types of radiant systems that offer unique qualities, but no one system is the answer for every project.  We take great interest in your project goals, requirements and budget and then provide you with a quote for the best system available to complete your project.  We may suggest using an electric, hydronic or a combination of these technologies.  There are clear advantages and disadvantages to each system and technology.  We will explain why we prefer one system over another for your particular project.  At Warmzone.com, you can expect simple, honest explanations for our suggestions to you. 

Customer service is at the top of our priority list.  As with “Brown” or the “Golden Arches,” we would be nothing without you, the consumer.  We are committed to helping people install the latest in innovative radiant heat systems by providing:
            1.  High quality materials
            2.  Installation packages that simplify the work.
            3.  Design assistance
            4.  Installation advice and support.
            5.  The latest ideas in energy efficiency and alternative energy.
We are not satisfied until you are satisfied.  That, of course, makes perfect sense!

Radiant heat systems are constantly evolving – which can be a challenge when it comes to deciding which is the best system for your project.  You can be assured that Warmzone will consider every system and then offer you the best technology for your project.

Most of the systems we design and sell can easily be installed by any plumbing and heating professional or general contractor.  But if you cannot find either professional in your area, our products can be installed by any reasonably-competent handyman.  Custom design and engineering packages are also available to assure that you are getting off on the right foot with your heating investment. These plans take the guess work out of the installation and become a road map for your system for future reference or to pass on to the next home owner.  

We welcome your inquiries and are prepared to help you with your radiant heat decisions.   Warmzone is the only company matching individual heating projects to solutions that make sense among the wide variety of available choices.  We’re not “brown,” nor are we “gold,” but we are leading out to assure customers make the right choice in the ever-increasing radiant heating market. 

Visit us online at www.warmzone.com or speak with one of our representatives by calling us directly at 1.888.488.WARM

© 2006 Warmzone Media.  “What Can Brown Do for You?” is a registered trademark of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. “The Golden Arches” is a registered trademark of McDonald's Corporation. Additional copyrights and trademarks are held by their respective owners.


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Radiant Heaters 101

December 22, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

The number of types of radiant heaters available for residences or businesses is awfully mind-boggling. There’s really a lot of selection for homeowners to choose from. Today we’ll discuss the electric cable heating system kind of radiant heaters.

Electric cable heating systems are gaining popularity in as radiant heaters and are ideal for heating smaller areas (10-300 square feet) like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. On some systems, the cable will be shipped to you as a large spool of cable. These systems are oftentimes less expensive, and give you the ability to space the cable how you want and customize a layout that will heat every square inch of your floor. Other systems have the cable attached to a plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to maintain its proper spacing.

Every available cable system is equally effective, so when determining which radiant heater system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of the product, along with the ease of installation. Some cables must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can simply be installed in the thinset.

Radiant Heaters Tip: When heating smaller areas with a radiant heater, it is nearly impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system.


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Radiant Heaters Offer Reliability and Comfort Year Round

December 24, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

You may not know that radiant heaters for your home or business come in a variety of forms – all efficient and providing reliable, cozy warmth. Today we’re going to discuss one form of radiant heaters: hydronic floor heating.

Quite a name, isn’t it? Hydronic floor heating is the oldest and most popular type of radiant floor heating. These systems are comprised of a boiler or hot water heater, pumps, manifolds, PEX tubing, thermostat, and either gypcrete (a concrete-like material) or wood panels. Hydronic heating is the most complex of all radiant heat systems. These systems require trained professionals to design and perform the installation. Your best economies of scale are achieved for hydronic systems in large areas or entire homes because of their expensive components and operational costs. Hydronic systems can be installed under any type of flooring. Most hydronic systems require hot water tubing to be installed in a 2-4″ bed of light concrete and are best installed during the initial construction because of its weight load demands and adjustments to floor height.

For heating smaller areas such as a bathroom or kitchen, a hydronic floor heating system may not be the best value for your project. The complexity and cost of installing the system, along with the long-term maintenance and up-keep required, might not be worth the small amount you will save in operational costs.

Radiant Heaters Tip: Many recent developments have made hydronic systems more convenient and possible radiant heater solutions for major home remodeling projects.


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Non-Traditional Heating is Now Mainstream

December 20, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

Not traditionally used in heating homes, flat panel radiant heaters are used to heat objects via radiant heat transfer. These radiant heaters have traditionally been used in a variety of industries and applications, such as space heating, drying, curing, and water evaporation. More recently, these heating systems are also gaining popularity in home heating applications as well.

Radiant heaters use different types of emitter surfaces. Choices include: quartz, high-temperature glass, stainless steel, and ceramic tiles. These are all materials that are easily and efficiently used in home applications such as flooring, countertops, and towel racks. Because these items are easily turned into emitter surfaces for radiant heat, they can easily and beautifully be incorporated into home heating applications such as heated floors, walls, and towel racks.

To find out about radiant heaters for your home, check with the folks at warmzone.com. They have a complete product catalog of radiant heating solutions that can accommodate almost any application or budget.

Radiant Heaters Tip: radiant heaters a great way to efficiently heat a home, while maximizing your home’s beauty, but they are very cost effective and easy to install. 


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Too Many Choices for Home Heating Systems

November 14, 2008 00:11 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

If you’ve been researching home heating systems, chances are your head is spinning right about now.  It’s no wonder! The number of types of radiant heaters available for residences or businesses could make anyone dizzy in no time at all. There’s really a lot of selection for homeowners to choose from. Today we’ll discuss the electric cable heating system kind of radiant heaters. Electric cable heating systems are gaining popularity in as radiant heaters and are ideal for heating smaller areas (10-300 square feet) like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These systems are comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. On some systems, the cable is be shipped as a large spool of cable. These systems are oftentimes less expensive, and give you the ability to space the cable how you want and customize a layout that will heat every square inch of your floor. Other systems have the cable attached to a plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to maintain its proper spacing.

Every available cable system is equally effective, so when determining which radiant heater system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of the product, along with the ease of installation. Some cables must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can simply be installed in the thinset.

Radiant Heaters Tip: When heating smaller areas with a radiant heater, it is next to impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system.


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Heating Your Home Via Hydronics

December 18, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

The home improvement world has seen many recent developments in heating, making hydronic systems more convenient and possible radiant heater solutions for major home remodeling projects. Today we’re going to discuss one form of radiant heaters: hydronic floor heating.

Hydronic floor heating is the oldest and most popular type of radiant floor heating. These systems are comprised of a boiler or hot water heater, pumps, manifolds, PEX tubing, thermostat, and either gypcrete (a concrete-like material) or wood panels. Hydronic heating is the most complex of all radiant heat systems. These systems require trained professionals to design and perform the installation. Your best economies of scale are achieved for hydronic systems in large areas or entire homes because of their expensive components and operational costs. Hydronic systems can be installed under any type of flooring.

Most hydronic systems require hot water tubing to be installed in a 2-4″ bed of light concrete and are best installed during the initial construction because of its weight load demands and adjustments to floor height.

If you’re wanting to heat smaller areas such as a bathroom or kitchen, a hydronic floor radiant heating system may not be the best value for your project. The complexity and cost of installing the system, along with the long-term maintenance and up-keep required, might not be worth the small amount you will save in operational costs.

Radiant Heaters Tip: Radiant heaters for your home or business come in a variety of forms – all efficient and providing reliable, cozy warmth

 


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LX, TX Cable, Whats the Difference?

November 03, 2008 00:11 AM  BY  RILEY PETERSON

Danfoss offers a myriad of cables for all kinds of projects, but figuring out the differences can be pretty tricky. I won’t go into technical details here, rather go over some basic differences that will help you choose which cable to use for which project.

Danfoss LX Cable Interior Cable, best for tile, marble, and slate flooring A thin 3/16-inch diameter electric radiant heating cable made specifically for tile installations. Because of the thinness of the cable, it can go directly into the tile thin-set (thin-set must not be more than ¼” thick or else it will crack the tile).
Danfoss TX Cable Interior Cable, tile, marble, hardwood, slate A thicker ¼-inch diameter radiant heating cable, made to be installed directly into concrete slab. The thickness of the cable makes it more durable to withstand heavier concrete pours.
Danfoss GX Cable Outdoor Cable, concrete, asphalt, brick pavers A thick ¼-inch diameter radiant heating cable, made for use in outdoor driveway, walkway, and sidewalk snow melting. Heavy cable built to withstand concrete pours and hot asphalt.

All of the Danfoss products give you the option of choosing between individual cable in lengths (it comes on a roll) or in woven mats, which has the cable rows pre-spaced and makes installation much quicker and easier. The only difficulty with the radiant mats is that it works best with rectangular areas; however, the mat can be cut to accommodate corners and custom layouts. (Just don't cut the heat cable!) If you have a complicated, odd shaped area to heat, you may be better off with installing the individual heating cable.


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Energy-Efficient Home Heating Options

December 16, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  STACEY BARRUS

With the high cost of heating fuels today, many homeowners are wondering what other heating options there are out there. Quite simply put, radiant heaters are the most efficient form of heat available in today’s market. Significantly less operating time is required to attain and maintain the desired warmth compared to furnaces and other, traditional methods of heating, which keeps operational costs to a minimum.

High efficiency boilers or electric radiant floor systems makes radiant heat one of your most efficient ways to heat your home. Combined with a well-insulated home these systems can quickly warm your home and then shut down or wait idle for long periods of time before being called upon by the thermostat to operate.

More than ever before, homebuilders, househunters, and home renovators alike are looking for energy-efficient heating options for houses. We say they need look no further than radiant heaters for their ideal home heating solution.

Radiant Heaters Tip: It might take a little effort, but being more environmentally friendly doesn’t have to involve major renovations. Many people waste a lot of energy by not sealing cracks, doors and windows. Checking to make sure a home’s insulation is in good shape and replacing it if it’s not is another good surefire way to stop, prevent, and reverse energy waste.

 


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Evict the Allergens

December 16, 2008 00:12 AM  BY  JEN BAKER

A lot of people out there might hear about allergies and asthma and assume that they're only warm-weather maladies–I sure did once upon a time. But the sad and uncomfortable truth is, they’re very often year-round! Allergies and asthma affect at least 60 million Americans in one way or another, generally making the sufferers rather miserable. Many allergy and asthma experts will advise certain changes in housekeeping habits to help alleviate allergy- or asthma-causing conditions in your home. In addition, you might consider changing your heat source to radiant heaters.

It could come as a surprise to learn that radiant heaters could be such a simple solution to helping keep your home healthy. In reality, radiant heaters improve the air quality, which is important, especially for anyone who suffers from either dust allergies or asthma. Not having to change air filters or clean heating ducts should also cut down dramatically on dust or other allergens in your home’s air.

Allergy experts agree that another way to keep your home healthy is to eliminate the dust mites that live in your home. Since dust mites love a warm moist environment, towel heaters and other radiant heater systems aid in maintaining a consistent room temperature and keep it moisture-free…and dust mite-free, too. Furthermore, mold and mildew are also caused from excessive moisture especially in bathrooms with insufficient ventilation.

Radiant Heater Tip: Did you know that simply by placing radiant heaters or a radiant heat towel rack in the bathroom you can combat the spread of germs for only pennies a day?

 


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