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Radiant Floor Heating — What You Should Know

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Radiant floor heating receives a lot of positive press, and for good reason. It is considered more energy efficient, can contribute to better indoor air quality, and can save you money. It also produces a warm, cozy environment that is comforting and inviting during the cold Northern Virginia winters. If you’re considering adding radiant heating to your indoor space, there are few basics to know about this heating option.

How it works

Radiant heating depends on heat transfer. A heating system in the floor warms up the people and furniture that come into contact with the floor. Heat then radiates into the indoor space. Think of it working just like a hot stove radiating heat into the kitchen when you’re cooking. Radiant heating systems also rely on convection, heat rising from the floor to the ceiling, to heat a space.

Benefits

Radiant floor heating systems have several benefits for indoor spaces. First, these systems often heat a room more efficiently because there is no heat loss through ducts. This means the system doesn’t have to work as hard to heat the same space, which saves you money on energy bills, and it also conserves fossil fuels because you require less energy to heat your space.

Secondly, radiant systems provide an environmental benefit. Since these systems eliminate ducts and forced air, you can eliminate a wide array of pollutants and improve your indoor air quality.

Types of systems

There are two ways to install radiant floor heating. First, you can use electric systems. These consist of electric cables or mats of electrically conductive plastic installed under the flooring, which you control with a thermostat. The other way to install radiant heat is hydronically. Pipes circulate heated water in a pattern under the floor to deliver heat. These systems are controlled by a boiler or by adjusting the amount of water circulating through the pipes.

Radiant heat can increase comfort and air quality in any indoor space. To learn more about installing a system for your indoor space, contact Jones-Rogers, Inc. We’ve proudly served residential and commercial customers in Northern Virginia.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about radiant floor heating and other HVAC topics, visit our website and see our special offers.

Jones-Rogers, Inc. services Northern Virginia.  

Installing A Ventilation System: Keep These 8 Design Factors In Mind

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Installing A Ventilation System: Keep These 8 Design Factors In MindMany Northern Virginia homes and buildings used to rely on “natural” ventilation to maintain a flow of fresh air – the movement of air in and out the gaps and cracks around doors and windows, as well as just leaving windows open, period. These days, we recognize that that unintended gaps and cracks lead to significant energy waste – which translates to higher utility costs – and that natural ventilation fails to provide adequate moisture control.

A modern ventilation system uses a system of vents, ducts and fans to control moisture and maintain consistent airflow in tightly sealed, energy-efficient homes or office buildings. Our indoor areas remain consistently comfortable and indoor air quality high as the stale air is exhausted out and fresh air flows in.

Not all ventilation systems are equal, however. Good design is key to the success of your system. When you are designing a ventilation system, consider these eight tips:

  • Each living space and room should have its own vent dedicated to fresh-air supply.
  • Each room dedicated to cooking, bathing or other high-moisture activities should be equipped with its own return vent. Return vents exhaust humid or stale air outdoors.
  • Install all return vents within a foot of the ceiling and about 10 feet from cooking appliances.
  • Your intake vents need breathing room. Install them away from obvious sources of pollution, such as driveways, as well as furnace and dryer vents.
  • Used manufactured ductwork whenever possible rather than trying to use existing cavities of your home, such as closets. Ductwork is designed to convey air as efficiently as possible.
  • To minimize energy waste, keep your ducts as straight and short as your structure allows and insulate any ducts that run through unconditioned spaces.
  • Make sure you can access any filters that will require replacement or washing. Filters should be checked every one to three months and replaced when they are dirty.
  • Take the time to find a qualified, experienced contractor. Start by verifying potential contractors’ license status, asking for references and following up on those references.

If you’re thinking about installing or upgrading a ventilation system, the certified, professional technicians at Jones-Rogers, Inc. will be glad to answer any questions. We operate in Northern Virginia, specializing in residential and light commercial service and installation since 1970.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ventilation systems and other HVAC topics, visit our website and see our special offers.

Jones-Rogers, Inc. services Northern Virginia.  

Ventilation image via Shutterstock

Think Buying A Furnace Online Can Save You Money? Think Again

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Many of us turn online first for information when it’s time to make a major purchase: We survey the latest technology, read reviews and compare prices. You can buy anything online, too, and that includes heating equipment. If you’re considering buying a furnace online, however, remember that the personalized service you’ll receive from a local HVAC contractor will pay off it in the end – despite bargain-basement prices touted online.

When you’re buying a furnace, you are buying a piece of equipment whose operational costs will eventually form the bulk of its expense. And a local contractor can help you identify a furnace that remains a smart investment over the course of its lifetime, working efficiently to keep your family comfortable.

Here’s how local HVAC contractors save you money in the long run:

  • By standing behind their product and its installation. Unlike most online retailers, local contractors can offer warranties on furnaces because they can ensure proper installation. Manufacturers hesitate to warranty furnaces sold online because they can’t control sizing or installation. But the technicians who work for local contractors train with manufacturers, ensuring installation according to the manufacturer’s specifications. A furnace backed by a warranty is a smarter investment than one that’s not.
  • By ensuring proper sizing. Your local contractor will calculate your building’s heat load and help you size your new furnace accordingly. A proper “load calculation” involves many factors as varied as your building’s windows and the number of big appliances it houses. It should be performed by a technician who visits your home and uses the industry standard Manual J method. An improperly sized furnace is destined to operate inefficiently and may break down prematurely.
  • By getting to know you and your system. Local technicians who perform preventive maintenance on the furnaces they install are in a unique position to notice subtle changes that might indicate problems. They can catch minor problems before they grow into major ones – preventing costly repairs or replacements.

If you are considering buying a furnace, contact the certified, local heating and cooling professionals at Jones-Rogers Inc. We proudly serve Northern Virginia.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, visit our website and see our special offers.

Jones-Rogers, Inc. services Northern Virginia.  

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