Hydronic Radiator Panel: Hydronic Zone Heating - Wave Of The Future?
In the average US home almost 56% of the utility costs are spent on heating or cooling. As a result, more and more people are turning to zone heating to cuts costs and save money. If you have ever wanted to know more about hydronic radiator panels or zone heating then you should read this article to discover how this old method, made new can save you bunch of money.
What is Zone Heating?
Zone heating is actually quite an old system of heating a house or building. In the past farm family would only use fireplaces in certain areas of the home in order to save on firewood. In modern homes, this amounts to turning down the central thermostat to below 72 degrees (commonly to 65) and using space or zone heating to bring up temperatures in more frequently used rooms, like dens, living rooms or kitchens.
The advantages of zone heating are that you get heat where you need it, when you need it. This also stops the never-ending fighting over “it’s too hot in the television room, but it’s freezing in the bedroom, where the computer is!” This system also saves you money. The central heating system only kicks on when truly needed, while heaters take care of each room individually.
Why is a Hydronic Radiator Panel Better for Zone Heating?
First hydronic or liquid-based panels are radiant heaters. Radiant is the type of warmth you feel when standing out under strong sunlight; warmth without direct contact. Unlike direct heat from wood stoves, kerosene or electrical heaters you don’t have worry about the fire hazards of open flames, spilled fuel or tipped over appliances.
A hydronic radiator panel may be filled with a harmless oil or silicone fluid or just plain tap water. An encased electrical element heats up the transfer fluid which in turn releases the heat into the room in an even pattern. No more “melting” if you too close or “chipping ice” if you sit too far away.
Another thing that is great about a hydronic radiator panel that with their slim designs, they can be mounted on just about any type of wall. They can fit under windows or vertically against just any sort of out-of-the-way space, even behind a door.
Since hydronic radiator panels are off the floor, this allows you to clean around your baseboards and furniture like normal, without a build-up of dust and dirt like on floor-level heaters. Plus their larger surface area allows them to put almost 2 to 4 times the heat as a standard hydronic baseboard heater with the same length.
And unlike some other forms of radiant heating which can take several minutes to come up to the desired temperature, a hydronic radiator panel is both quick and easy to operate. No fancy valves or pumps like with in-floor hydronic heating systems.
With a wall mounted hydronic radiator panel you get quiet and consistent heating that you allows you the freedom to install in just the rooms where you need supplemental heat the most, without running up huge installation costs.
