Radiant heating isn’t new, but its popularity is on the rise and becoming a major selling feature in new and old homes, putting conventional forced-air systems on a fast track of being a thing of the past.
Comfort and energy-efficiency are the two main reasons why people love radiant floor heating so much, making it an attractive feature for potential homebuyers. Investing in eco-friendly improvements in your home reduces emissions and saves you money – from tax breaks to lower energy bills.
The energy needed for radiant floor heating, which can be used as a primary heat source, amounts to approximately two-thirds of the energy required for standard central forced-air heating. Radiant heating is an affordable luxury that not only saves you money but also encourages a healthy lifestyle. The silent heat has no air ducts, which eliminates blown air, ultimately resulting in an 80% decrease of dust mites, bacteria, and in your homes air, an ideal feature for those with allergies.
Although the initial installation cost may be 10 to 25 percent more expensive than a conventional heating system, a properly designed and maintained radiant heating system can cost 25 to 50 percent less to run and maintain. Also, the life expectancy of a radiant heat system is typically the life of the floor (up to 50 years), double or even triple that of the 10-to-25-year life expectancy of a forced-air furnace. Radiant heating can increase the value of your home at resale because these systems are considered a highly desirable option among home buyers.
“Radiant flooring is one of the amenities that sold the homeowners on this ‘bright and airy’ waterfront home,” said Jeanmarie Bay of Town & Country Real Estate. The home she is talking about features heated tile floors throughout an open floor plan. The kitchen features quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances — including a dual fuel stove and a two-drawer dishwasher — and a walk-in pantry. There’s a three-sided gas fireplace between the den and dining area, which has sliding glass doors to the deck.
Bay says the 2001 home offers a front porch, rear deck, and brick patio on the .54-acre property, which sits on 105 feet of waterfront overlooking Eugene Creek in New York. The home comes with beach rights, deeded dock rights and a bulkhead, complete with a dock offering electric and water lines that run year-round. With all the upgrades features and prime location, it was the radiant heating that set the waterfront property apart from others.
The multiple benefits of floor heating are undeniably appealing and will, altogether, create ultimate homeowner satisfaction. With the ability to be installed underneath virtually any flooring surface, its low maintenance, and efficiency, radiant heat is an affordable way to increase the value of your home and to stand out in the marketplace when it’s time to sell.
