
In both cases, electric heating makes the most practical sense with hard floor coverings, such as tile and concrete. The intensity of the charge (and generated heat) reflects the thermostat setting. Others affix cables to heat-amplifying conductive panels, typically made of plastic or metal, in an air pocket between floor layers. Some systems run cables directly into a layer of material, such as concrete or gypsum, between the sub-floor and the floor’s visible layer. Electric Radiant HeatĮlectric radiant heating systems feature loops of charged cable (resistance wire) that generate heat either continuously or during the evening and overnight hours. Today, radiant heating systems come in two basic forms. Archaeological evidence suggests that similar systems were invented independently in Pakistan and the Caucasus as early as the 4th century B.C. The Romans used an early form of radiant heat in public buildings as early as the 1st century B.C., though their approach (known as hypocaust) was prohibitively costly for private property owners. Humans have understood and employed the principle of radiant heat for thousands of years. However, some businesses (often restaurants or entertainment venues) and upscale homes use radiant heat to warm patios and other outdoor spaces. Radiant heating systems are most effective as indoor heat sources, either in a localized area (such as a bathroom) or an entire dwelling. When installed only in flooring, systems may simply be referred to as “underfloor” or “floor” heating systems. Sign Up Nowīy contrast, radiant heating systems deliver heat through a building’s floors or walls, warming adjacent air only indirectly. For $79 (or just $1.52 per week), join more than 1 million members and don't miss their upcoming stock picks. Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations have an average return of 618%. Cooking ovens work on this basic principle as well. Most modern heat distribution systems, such as radiators and forced-air ducts, are convective – by circulating heated air through a finite space, they warm the entire volume to a desired temperature. Homeowners and landlords looking to improve efficiency and lower costs often turn to radiant heat, an ancient indoor heating method that’s gaining favor with cost- and eco-conscious property owners. If you’re willing and able to shoulder a significant upfront cost, one of the best ways to reduce your heating expenses (and carbon footprint) is to replace an older, inefficient system with a newer, greener one.

However, there are many ways to reduce your heating bills, such as installing a programmable thermostat or bulking up your home’s insulation. When the weather is cool, heat is a nonnegotiable expense, no matter what type of system you have. Depending on the type of dwelling, geographical location, and the property owner’s budget, heating systems take different forms: forced-air ducts connected to heat pumps or central furnaces, steam radiators connected to boiler units, electric baseboards, and electric space heaters that plug directly into wall sockets, to name several.

Outside of tropical climates, every dwelling requires a reliable source of artificial heat.
