The terms “Floor warming” and “Floor heating” are often used interchangeably and I think that does the customer a disservice as it can be confusing and possibly misleading. No-one, in my experience, is deliberately trying to mislead anyone – it’s just that humans have a habit of using terms and phrases imprecisely which can lead to confusion and misunderstandings.
In the SmartRooms world we think the terms should be better defined, so I’m going to take a shot at it:
Floor Warming: the primary goal is to maintain a warm, comfortable floor temperature.
Floor Heating: the primary goal is to maintain a warm, comfortable temperature in the room (or space) by means of heat transfer through the flooring.
To some, the difference may not be obvious or is too subtle to pick up on in a normal conversation. Floor Warming is NOT intended to heat the whole space – just maintain an acceptable floor temperature. The goal is different. And how you approach that goal should be different, too.
But can’t I heat my room with SmartRooms’ Floor Warming System?
Yes. In most cases, our Floor Warming System can be used as a primary heating system if there is sufficient floor space to meet the heat loss demand of the room. However, using the Floor Warming System may not be your most cost-effective solution. Much depends on the room characteristics and what exactly you’re trying to accomplish (the goal).
At SmartRooms we have developed a broad array of different radiant heating products that are designed to work well in almost all circumstances, but some products are better than others in some cases. Unlike other manufacturers who only have a limited range of products, SmartRooms has developed the products and the expertise to help you decide what is best for you.
As versatile as radiant heating is, there is no product that can be “all things to all people”. That’s why we have a broad array of products to address your unique situation.
Hello,
I am looking for a primary heating source for my basement, which of your radiant heating products would you recommend?
I am looking for the most cost-effective solution.
thank you,
Andrew
Hi!
Thanks for your question! The answer to that question is: “it depends”. There really isn’t anything such as a generic solution – not if you want to do it right. Many factors come into play such as the layout of the basement, if the basement is already finished, the type of ceiling you might currently have, the insulation in the walls and floors, etc. I believe that your situation is going to be unique to you and a cost effective and energy efficient solution is going to be equally unique.
Please give us a call on our toll-free line 866-457-4600. We can discuss your project and come up with some options.
Thanks for asking!