HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-10-18, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2000. PAGE 15.
Homeowners warm up to radiant floor heating
The answer to lower home heating
costs could be right under your toes.
Radiant floor heating, uses innova
tive technology under the subfloors
in your home to generate heat from
the ground up. It not only creates a
more comfortable environment, it
can reduce your heating bills - con
suming up to 30 per cent less energy
than a traditional forced air furnace.
The idea isn’t a new one. In fact,
the concept was first developed dur
ing the Roman Empire and has been
the most popular choice among
European homeowners ever since.
Deck your deck in
protective wardrobe
The Old Farmer’s Almanac is pre
dicting a chilly, white winter this
year, and you aren’t the only one that
will need a winter wardrobe. Your
deck needs to be protected from the
cold and snow as well.
Damage to exterior wood takes
several forms in the winter, melting
snow being one of the most com
mon. The moisture from melting
snow can be quickly absorbed by
unprotected wood, causing it to swell
and soften. This can cause your
wood to have a shorter life span and
need expensive repair or replace
ment.
Experts offer the following sug
gestions in preparing your deck this
fall.
First, if you built a new deck this
summer, you will need a different
treatment than you would for a deck
that has had at least a year to weath
er. Wood is most vulnerable during
its first year and should not be left
unprotected, especially during the
harsh winter months.
New wood treatments are designed
specifically to work with unweath
ered wood to limit moisture damage
and provide a more controlled
weathering process.
If your deck has been around for a
Now, North Americans are discover
ing that the many benefits of radiant
floor heating are more than just hot
air.
The secret is right under your feet.
Believe it or not, if your feet stay
warm, the rest of your body will feel
warm. Because radiant floor heating
provides higher temperatures at the
ground level, you can actually lower
the thermostat and not notice the dif
ference. Even a few degrees lower
can make a big difference in your
fuel bills.
By heating the floor, using a series
year or longer, you can use other
forms of deck protection. One form
is an oil-based, clear wood finish that
allows the wood grain to show
through. These finishes, penetrate
deep into the wood grain, reviving
the wood while further protecting it
against moisture damage from the
inside. After a thorough cleaning,
apply the finish, but do so before the
temperature drops too much.
Other products to consider on a
weathered deck that can protect
against moisture are semi-transpar
ent and solid color stains. You can
give your deck a new look with
beautiful, long-lasting color. While
solid color stains cover the wood
grain but allow texture and grain pro
file to show, semi-transparent stains
add color and enhance the wood
characteristics.
Find a quality stain that is guaran
teed to last.
No matter which finish ‘you
choose, it is important to clean your
deck before application. Otherwise,
the dirt will prevent the finish from
properly penetrating into the wood
grain. Use a non-bleach cleaner, that
is safe on the wood’s delicate fibers
and won’t harm plants and shrubs.
- News Canada
of pipes circulating hot water, heat is
continually absorbed by every object
in the room, creating a more constant
room temperature.
Compared to the traditional forced
air furnace, radiant floor heating has
the upper hand in so many ways.
With a furnace, the hot air is directed
upwards and gets trapped at the ceil
ing, creating the common “cold feet,
hot head” syndrome common to
Canadian households. Homeowners
don’t feel the heat, so they turn up
Cozy comfort
the thermostat. And the wasteful
cycle continues.
In a radiant floor heating system,
the heat radiates from the floor creat
ing a more constant room tempera
ture and less heat loss through the
ceiling. With radiant floor heat there
is less air movement which keeps the
dust down, providing a healthier
room environment for allergy suffer
ers.
Radiant floor heating systems can
be installed anywhere in and around
the home to improve the comfort
Treat yourself
to new appliances from
Groves TV & Appliance Centre
Serving Clinton and area since 1935
• Roper • Inglis • Whirlpool • Kitchen Aid • Crosley
• Broil King BBQs • Sharp TVs & Microwave Ovens
• Woods Freezers • Samsung TVs
Sales and Service
Ask about our current
Bell ExpressVu
promotions
Radiant floor heating adds a
warm touch to hardwood,
ceramic and vinyl flooring.
10 Huron St., Clinton
482-9414
levels in any room. Embedded in
concrete basement floors, it adds a
warm touch to a family rec room.
Tile floors in kitchens, bathrooms
and foyers all benefit from the more
efficient, ground-up warmth. It
works well under hardwood, ceram
ic tile, carpet or vinyl flooring.
The same radiant heating system
used to warm up homes can also be
installed outside, under driveways
and front walks, so you can give
your snow shovel the heave ho.
- News Canada
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Hamilton Street, Blyth
523-9305
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192 Josephine St.
Wingham 357-4173/ ANTENNA,
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