![]() Radiant heat systems are well known for the efficiency gains they provide over conventional forced-air systems. Half of all annual home fires occur during December, January and February, which means the highest-risk months are coming up.Ī simple inspection of the connection wires, thermostat readings, system pressure and other checks as may be relevant to your type of system can put your mind at ease for the next year. Inspect the entire system for safety issuesīecause radiant heating systems are designed to be “out of sight, out of mind,” it is all too easy to simply assume all is well.Īccording to the National Fire Protection Association, 15 percent of all home fires can be traced directly to malfunctions in home heating equipment. By replacing valves before they fail, you can often avoid having to replace pipes or the pump itself. Often, increased operational noise points back to an issue with the pumps and/or valves. When you start to hear clangs, bangs, hissing and other similar noises, these are warning signs that something is changing inside your system. One reason radiant heaters are so popular is how quiet they are…most of the time. When a leak is suspected, it is important to identify it and fix it as quickly as possible. Over time, even steel pipes can become compromised, although this more commonly happens with copper piping. Since most radiant systems are what are called “closed-loop systems,” a leak compromises the entire system by letting in oxygen that can cause corrosion internally. When the pressure fluctuates outside of this range (or the optimal range as described in the manufacturer’s information for your system), it is time to call out an expert to locate the source of the problem and flush your system, if necessary. Optimal pressure ranges for most systems is between 10 and 20 pounds. Rather, you need to check the pressure at least once per year. Radiant heating systems should not ever need to be flushed. The most common type is still hydronic radiant heat. Once you find out which type you have, it becomes a lot easier to figure out what type of maintenance your system needs. Hydronic radiant heating uses tubes of hot water to do the same and can be operated in larger spaces with lower costs. Gas radiant heating uses natural gas with a variety of configurations, from tube to tile, to deliver low-intensity and high-intensity infrared radiant heat.Įlectric radiant heating uses electric wires to transmit heat and is typically cost-effective only in smaller spaces. Modern radiant heating can take three forms: gas, electric or hydronic. Just walk outside into a sunbeam on even the coldest day and you will feel warmer – this is radiant heating in action.īasically, instead of using a blower to push heated air out into a room, radiant heating uses waves of electromagnetic infrared energy to heat objects in the room. In fact, our own sun is the simplest and most ancient type of radiant heater. Fireplaces, wood stoves, space heaters and heating boilers are examples of radiant heating. Radiant heat is not just one of the most efficient heating systems, it is also one of the easiest in terms of annual maintenance.Īdditionally, it’s one of the oldest types of heating. Read on for four key maintenance tasks you will want to tend to right away. Winter is on its way now and it is time to get your radiant heater system in fighting form for the plummeting temperatures yet to come. Like any appliance, the more love you give them, the more love they will give you in return. Radiant heating is so wonderful, isn’t it?ĭuring our long, cold Canadian winters, having radiant heating is like being constantly enveloped in a warm, friendly hug!īut radiant heaters are not maintenance-free, contrary to what many homeowners may assume.
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