When you consider the way that humans generally feel warm and comfortable, you can see why many traditional heating systems simply do not have a great satisfaction rating. Also, by considering how humans experience warmth, you can see why radiant floor heating mats are so popular with customers. Quite simply, electric floor warming systems rely on heat transmission, the way we naturally experience ideal comfort and warmth. Radiant heat transmission is higher with in floor heating systems than with traditional heating systems, making it a more natural form of heat.
Heat transmission can be a complex idea, but you have probably experienced its effects yourself. If you have ever been warmed by wrapping your hands around a steaming mug of cocoa on a cold day, you have experienced heat transmission in action. Similarly, if you have watched a cat loll luxuriously in a patch of sunlight or have snuggled under an electric blanket, you can see how heat transmission works – and how cozy it is.
Research has shown that electric flooring has a higher component of radiant heat transmission than high temperature heating systems, such as forced air systems, radiators, and baseboards. Of course, this is partly because electric floor heating work through radiant heat, while many heating systems just blow so much hot air around. Resarchers found that the radiant heat transmission component for an in floor heating system is between 50% and 70%, while the radiant heat transmission component for radiator heating systems is between 30% and 50%.
What this means for you is this: Most traditional heating systems transfer heat “by air” rather than by radiant heat transmission. If you have ever stepped into a very hot room, you can appreciate this type of “by air” transmission – the hot air hits your skin, and you feel warmer. In contrast, radiant heat transmission available through electric floor warming systems (like Nuheat) works by transferring heat from surface to surface to you. In an in floor heating system, the air stays cool while in a traditional heating system, surfaces remain cool.
Research has proven that radiant heat transmission is the most comfortable form of heat for humans. Again, you probably know this instinctively. Lying on a warm beach while cool sea breezes wash over you is very relaxing. On the other hand, putting your foot on a cold surface on a sticky hot day is usually less comfortable. Researchers have proven that customers with radiant heat report much higher levels of satisfaction with their heating systems than customers with traditional heating systems. Researchers believe that this may be because radiant heat may be the more natural form of heating for humans. With radiant floor heating mats, such as Nuheat mats, your room air temperatures may be one to two degrees lower than with traditional heating systems, even as you experience greater comfort.
Tags: Nuheat, radiant floor heating