Why Heating Your Home With A Radiator May Be A Better Choice This Winter

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If you've ever basked in the sun outside on a cold day, it won't take much to convince you of the benefits of radiant heat. Radiators are an old-school home heating method that use the same mechanism as the sun. Compared to the furnace-powered forced air systems that use ducts and vents to blow warm air throughout people's homes, the alternative is better at creating more comfortable winter conditions. A radiator can make your home feel cozier, but it can also improve your air quality, it doesn't create dry air, it's quieter, and it tends to be more efficient.

Whether your motivation is to save on your utility bill or replace a broken HVAC systyem, if you're considering adding radiators to your home, you should know your options before you make a choice. Different fuel sources can be used to power radiators — there are electric, gas, and oil options. Those last two types require a boiler to pump either steam or hot water through the system, while electric units can be plugged-in or hardwired. And there are a variety of types, such as radiant floor heating, wall or ceiling panels, baseboard radiators, or below-the-window units. Whichever type you choose there are multiple benefits — as well as a few downsides to know about.

Converts to this heating method are won over by its multiple benefits. Compared to forced air systems, radiators are better at making winter more comfortable because they warm surfaces instead of the air — and air doesn't hold warmth well. And instead of choosing one temperature to maintain for an entire floor of your home, radiators only run in rooms where they are needed, making them more efficient than HVAC systems. Furthermore, each member of your household can have a different heat setting, depending on preference. These old-school heaters are even more efficient when there is thermal mass to store and radiate warmth, such as concrete, tile, or stone flooring. You'll need to learn how to bleed your radiator to release air trapped in the pipes, but other than that this alternative is low maintenance. You should also notice less impact on air dryness from a radiant system compared with forced air.

The biggest downside to choosing radiators is that installation costs can be expensive. They also take longer to warm up so a little planning is required to keep your home toasty. Another downside is that unlike with forced air, most radiant systems don't have settings to cool things off in summer, so you might still need some form of air conditioner. There are, in fact, radiant cooling systems, but they are not widely installed. If you're thinking about transitioning your whole home to this heating method, one low cost and low commitment way to try it out is to use an electric model as a space heater, such as a Costway 1500W oil filled radiator, available from Walmart.