Many of us have considered underfloor heating, especially when we step into the bathroom during a harsh Des Moines winter. Today, our electricians will share many benefits to underfloor heating that you may not have considered. You may find that there is more to underfloor heating than simply a warmer bathroom floor (although that is nice).

Underfloor heating spreads evenly dispersed, rising heat throughout your room’s flooring; heat emanating from the floor warms the air, which then rises toward the ceiling before cooling and falling, only to encounter more warm, rising air. This creates a pocket of cool air stuck in the ceiling of your room, leaving the space from floor to head height a comfortable, warm temperature. Additionally, since the heat doesn’t come from a single source (vent, radiator, etc.), there are no hot or cool spots in the room, the entire space is even heated.

Each room that has an underfloor heating system installed will have its own corresponding thermostat, which effectively removes the need to heat each room to achieve a desired temperature in a single room. For instance, during the night, your home could be relatively cool, except in bedrooms; likewise, certain floors can be kept at a cooler temperature when not in use during daylight hours. This can heavily cut down on energy costs when compared to inefficient whole-house heating systems.

The homes of today are more open and airy than ever, with open-concept living dominating real estate markets across the country. Open spaces are notoriously difficult to heat with radiation or forced air systems, which can create undesirable warm and cool zones in the space. By contrast, underfloor heating works excellently in larger, more open spaces.

In addition to the better, steady stream of heat found in your rooms, you will enjoy a comfortable warming underfoot. While this may seem like a feeling reserved for luxury homes, many other countries use underfloor heaters almost exclusively in new construction for its comfort and efficiency. You will no longer have to hope and wait for the furnace or radiator to kick on for warmth to flood your room, instead you will enjoy a steady stream of warmth coming from beneath.

If you’ve ever renovated a home with radiator or ventilation heating, you’ve undoubtedly had to deal with relocating or working around existing HVAC lines. Unlike traditional heating systems, underfloor heating poses little-to-no issues when renovating or remodeling your rooms. Plus, since professionally installed underfloor heating is compatible with most flooring types, you won’t find yourself limited in choices for placing an all-new flooring over your heating system.

Underfloor heating may require a bit more planning and investment to install than fixing an old furnace system would, but the benefits you can gain by adding it to one or more rooms in your home are worth the effort. Be sure to consult one of our Des Moines electricians with your plans for underfloor heating prior to construction for best results, advice, and electrical installation.

Get in touch with our Des Moines electricians today!

Are you in need of an electrician in Norwalk Iowa?  Call Custom Electrical Services!  We offer straightforward pricing and 24 hour service!  Our electricians in Norwalk have the training and skill needed to complete the simplest of task to the most lavish.  Note sure what your project will cost?  Our Norwalk, IA electricians can come to your home or business and provide you with a straightforward price.  We charge by the job not by the hour so you know upfront what the cost will be and not have to worry about the time it takes to complete.  You know your project will be in the best hands possible when choosing Custom Electrical Services.  We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 5 year warranty.  Custom Electrical Services holds an A+ rating with the BBB.

We take our job serious.  We understand your home is your castle, our electricians will respect you and your home.  Do you know who will arrive for your electrical project?  Our electricians undergo a thorough background check and drug screen.  They wear the seal of safety which is performed by an independent 3rd party.  Our electricians take this certification serious and wear the badge with pride.

Ron Mealey founded Custom Electrical Services in 2005.  Working out of his home in Norwalk with no employees, Ron grew the company to one of the leading residential and light commercial contractors in the area.  To date Custom Electrical Services does over 5 million dollars in sales, wires over 300+ new homes and performs over 3,000 service calls each and every and is still growing.  Custom Electrical Services employees around 24 people.  Ron is a member of the Norwalk community and has Custom Electrical Services home office and warehouse located in Clive, Iowa.  Custom Electrical Services is a member of the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce.  Our electricians in Norwalk, participate in the annual 4th of July parade each and every year.

Do you need more space for a growing family? One of the tradeoffs to buying a larger home is having to pay more in utility costs for heating, cooling and other appliance use. However, advances in energy efficiency mean that you can offset some of that increased consumption. That means you save money and worry less about your energy use, even if you just bought the mansion you always dreamed of.

Bigger Houses and Bigger Households

We like our homes bigger. The average American home size has grown  20 percent since 1980, and we've been filling those homes with ever more electricity-dependent devices, like televisions, computers and household appliances. Fortunately, over 70 percent of the growth in household and building size has been offset by efficiency improvements, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Total energy use by U.S. households inched up each year between 1980 and 2009, the EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey reports. That is because of various reasons, including more households, larger households and a trend toward bigger houses. However, consumption per square foot actually dropped by 37 percent during that time period -- and if it hadn't, the total increase would have been considerably higher.

Residential energy accounted for 21 percent of total U.S. consumption in 2012 so the cumulative savings are significant. The numbers are astronomical -- residential usage increased from 9.3 quadrillion BTUs (British thermal units) in 1980 to 10.2 quadrillion by 2012 -- and without additional efficiency measures the total would have increased by another 3.6 quadrillion BTUs.

Multifaceted Efficiency Efforts

There are numerous factors driving the efficiency revolution: Stricter consumer appliance standards, local building codes geared toward efficiency and federal tax credits, in addition to awareness outreach programs and labeling efforts like the federal Energy Star program have all contributed to the reduction in consumption per square foot.

If you want to save the most energy, smaller is always better when it comes to houses. There's less space to heat and less to cool. However, if you need the extra space, take heart knowing that technological and behavioral improvements mean that a large house doesn't gobble up nearly as much energy as you might expect.

For more ideas on how to decrease your consumption, ask a home services expert to evaluate your home. He or she can help you find new ways to save no matter the size of your home.

Call local Mister Sparky® for more energy efficiency tips and advice. We're always here to help!

Even in Texas, it can get chilly.  Having a properly heated home can mean the difference between a happy family and a cold one.  Thankfully, there are a few quick, inexpensive things you can do to make this winter more bearable.  Here are a few heating tips from local Dallas Electrician that can help you stay cozy this winter.

These are just a few of the ways you can warm up this winter and make the most of your home’s energy.  If you’re interested in learning more about ways to efficiently heat your house, or if you have other questions about general electric repair, give us a call and we’ll help you design the electrical plan that’s right for you.

Have heating tips you’d like to share with us? Post a comment or post on our Facebook page.

About ElectricMan Inc.

ElectricMan Inc. is one of Dallas’ most trusted electricians. Nick Schaeffer, Mr. ElectricMan himself, has quite the resume for a master electrician. He started the company by himself in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since! For more information about Electricman’s list of electrical repair services, please visit www.ElectricManInc.com