How Often Do You Need To Service Your Radiant Heat System

All About Outdoor Radiant Heating Systems

You don't have to wait for the first signs of jump—or shovel a load of snowfall from your patio—to enjoy an alfresco repast in your home's outdoor infinite.

Heat the Patio Year-Round with Outdoor Radiant Heat

Photo: istockphoto.com

This commodity has been brought to you by SupplyHouse.com. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

If y'all're lucky enough to take an outdoor space for entertaining, your patio probably gets a lot of use in the summer and early fall, merely that's but half the year. In one case the mercury drops and the snowflakes brainstorm to fly, nigh homeowners quickly embrace their outdoor furniture and curl their grills into storage sheds. Indeed, one of the more than frustrating aspects of having a patio is dealing with it during those long wintertime months of decay, when keeping it clear of snow and ice is often more trouble than information technology'south worth.

The adept news is, it doesn't have to be this style.

Wouldn't it be great if you could apply your patio all winter long without having to shovel off loads of snow or worry nigh slipping on its icy surface? Well, you lot admittedly tin! With some strategic planning and a little aid from radiant heating, y'all'll be able to charcoal-broil outdoors no matter how much snow you got final night, without ever having to lift a shovel.

You lot may already exist familiar with interior radiant heat, which relies on electric mats, such as SunTouch HeatWave TapeMats, and radiant cables similar SunTouch WarmWire Cable (both bachelor at SupplyHouse.com) that operate beneath a home'due south floors. The applied science circulates estrus to every corner of a floor in which it'due south installed, so the estrus radiates to the objects and, more importantly, people above, keeping everything toasty warm. What you lot may non know is that this technology isn't limited to indoor use—it can besides be used to heat exterior patios and other paved surfaces. "You can put radiant heat pretty much anywhere," says Daniel O'Brian, technical expert at online retailer SupplyHouse.com. "Concrete, patio stones, pavers, dirt, grass—it'due south all being done."

Outdoor Radiant Heat Technology

If y'all have a favorite restaurant with an alfresco dining area that seems to remain snow-gratuitous all year long, it's most likely benefiting from a radiant heating organisation beneath the concrete surface. Restaurants with open-air dining were among the outset to install radiant-heating systems in their outdoor areas. The heating arrangement melts snow as it lands and keeps ice from forming. Just every bit of import, the warmth of the patio surface radiates through the tables and chairs then diners can comfortably eat outdoors on sunny wintertime afternoons.

Homeowners, too, can put this thermal-boosting engineering to work for them in winter months, transforming their outdoor living spaces into serene winter retreats. And it'south not just for patios: Underfoot radiant technology can exist used to proceed walkways, steps, and even driveways snowfall- and water ice-free all winter long.

"Regardless of how much yous shovel, if you live in a identify where it snows a lot, in that location's virtually e'er a buildup of packed-down snow and ice on your driveway," O'Brian says. "Radiant systems will melt that away right when it lands, keeping your walk into the business firm nice and safety." Anyone who has ever delayed removing fresh snow knows this truth: In one case someone walks on or drives over it, the snow packs downwardly and the freeze-thaw cycles that follow turn this snowpack into a dangerous ice slick. That's where outdoor radiant heat comes in.

Heat the Patio and Melt Snow Away with Outdoor Radiant Heat

Photo: istockphoto.com

Outdoor Radiant Estrus Advantages

Extending your outdoor enjoyment is only one perk of installing radiant heat below your patio and other paved surfaces. Hither are just a few of the other benefits:

You'll be able to retire your snow shovel for good! You won't need information technology anymore (and your back muscles will cheers).
You lot'll never again need to use stone salt or water ice-melt chemicals that damage paved surfaces, plants, and car pigment, and pose wellness risks to your pets.
You lot'll never take to call a snow-removal service over again.
You'll proceeds the peace of heed of knowing that your walkways will always be free of slippery ice, which is particularly of import for those with elderly or disabled family members. In fact, concrete wheelchair ramps are prime candidates for radiant heat.
You'll spend less fourth dimension mopping upwards melted snowfall indoors or scrubbing floors to remove table salt stains, since everyone entering the abode will take drier shoes.
Paved surfaces around the house will final longer considering the radiant heat will reduce temperature fluctuations within the paving material. This means that outdoor amenities like lawn patios might actually crave less maintenance to wait like new—and their skillful looks could even be a selling indicate when it comes time to put the house on the market.

Electric vs. Hydronic Radiant Heat

SupplyHouse.com offers two basic types of outdoor radiant heating components, hydronic (in which a hot-water solution flows through tubing) and electric, and each offers sure benefits. Choosing the appropriate system for your needs volition largely depend on whether you're willing to pay more up forepart, or you'd prefer to take a smaller initial outlay with the possibility of college operating costs down the road.

Heat the Patio Year-Round with Outdoor Radiant Heat

Photograph: istockphoto.com

Electric RADIANT SYSTEMS

Electrical radiant systems are peculiarly versatile. Electrical components—such every bit Danfoss GX Snowfall Melting Mats and Danfoss GX Snow Melting Cables (both available from SupplyHouse.com)—can be configured to fit under virtually any size patio, driveway, or walkway. Depending on the paving surface the organization will warm, the electrical heating components tin exist installed on a base layer of sand with the paving materials (similar bricks, stones, or pavers) positioned on top, or they tin be embedded in wet concrete but below the surface at the same time that the concrete is poured. Electric mats and cables are insulated and designed to resist corrosion, and when correctly installed, they'll offer years of snow-melt reliability.

HYDRONIC RADIANT SYSTEMS

Hydronic radiant systems can be more expensive to install than electrical systems, simply they're cheaper to operate in the long run where electricity prices are high. These systems utilize PEX tubing, such as Uponor'due south ½-inch hePEX tubing, which tin be purchased in various lengths to fit the scope of your project. The tubing is typically embedded in concrete slabs and connected to a boiler, then pumped with a hot-h2o solution containing propylene glycol antifreeze to warm the paved surface. Hydronic systems tin be set upward to run on alternative ability sources, such as solar panels, heat pumps, and geothermal setups.

Currently, hydronic outdoor heating is found most oftentimes in commercial settings, such as NFL football game fields and natural grass stadiums, where the consistent, gentle heat protects the turf and allows the grass to abound twelvemonth-round. That said, it's just as constructive in residential applications. For example, hydronic radiant heating is peachy for keeping backyard greenhouses warm enough to overwinter tender container plants while maintaining a fresh supply of edible greens and vegetables all year long.

Arrangement Control Options

Both hydronic and electrical snow-melting radiant systems tin exist controlled by either a manual on-off switch or the installation of a sensor-detection system. Cost-friendly sensor controls, such as Uponor's Unmarried-Zone Snow Cook Control, are good choices for homeowners who want sensor command on a single radiant-heated surface—for example, just the patio.

A more comprehensive control system, such equally Viega'southward Advanced Snow Melt Control, features air, moisture, and slab temperature sensors that make information technology easy to individually control multiple radiant-heating zones—say, your patio, driveway, and front walk. When selecting the components your system needs, continue in listen that information technology'south best to piece of work with one manufacturer rather than trying to pair a thermostat from i visitor with cable from another; SupplyHouse.com'south extensive selection will help make this possible.

Outdoor Radiant Heat Installation

Whichever way yous lean, the organisation tin exist installed past a contractor of your pick. Practice-it-yourselfers who are familiar with wiring, plumbing, and paving might be able to install their ain systems, but because of the complexity, it'south unremarkably better to let a professional handle the projection. "Installation tin exist a very labor-intensive and time-consuming job, and at the end of the day, the pros are going to do a better job regardless," O'Brian says.

The all-time time to install a radiant-heating organisation is when you install that new patio or sidewalk, only retrofitting is possible in some situations. Choosing to retrofit, notwithstanding, will often void the manufacturer's warranty, and so it should be reserved for situations where a new installation isn't viable.

Take you been suffering from cabin fever this winter? Consider calculation this project to the top of your to-do list come jump, and y'all'll be able to savor an extended patio flavour almost immediately. No affair your outdoor heating needs, SupplyHouse.com has the radiant heating components to warm your paved surfaces and keep them free from snowfall and ice until balmier weather returns. Visit the website or call ane-888-757-4774 to speak with customer service today!

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