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Maine is often associated with beautiful fall foliage, millions of acres of forests, and long, cold winters with heavy snowfall. With cold weather comes a need for efficient heating. While many heating options are available, one not everyone thinks about is radiant floor heating. Here is what makes radiant floor heating for Maine residents’ the perfect heating option.
Climate Considerations for Maine
With each season, the weather in Maine varies throughout the state.
Spring
Spring is more of a transitional season that guides Maine from the cold of winter into the warmth of summer. Temperatures can vary drastically, with days ranging from the low 40s to the high 60s and nights ranging from the high 20s to 40s. These are also the rainiest months, with around 9 to 10 days of rain every month of spring.
Summer
During the summer, daytime temperatures can range from the mid-70s to the 80s along the coast, increasing as you go more inland. Nights cool down, lingering around the high 50s and low 60s. Summers are typically drier, with occasional rain, thunderstorms, and high humidity.
Fall
Fall is when Maine shines, with the beautiful fall foliage covering the thousands of trees in the state. Maine still has summery weather from September to early October, though temperatures slowly start to cool in late September. Fall temperatures can range from the low 50s to the low 70s in the daytime and the 30s to the 50s in the evening.
Winter
Winter brings shorter days and cold temperatures, with lots of snow and little sunlight. On average, winter temperatures remain consistent during the days, hovering around freezing in the 30s. Evenings are much colder, dropping down to the mid-teens. The farther inland you go, the colder temperatures will be. Snowfall averages around 50-70 feet annually and can reach over 100 feet as you get farther north.
3 Benefits of Radiant Floor Heating in Maine
Radiant floor heating is a great, highly efficient option, especially in Maine. Three of these notable benefits include:
1. Energy-Efficient
Unlike traditional systems that need to be set to high temperatures before they will heat a room, radiant heating systems only need to reach around 84ºF to warm an entire space. With the way these systems work, there is no heat loss, which makes them energy efficient and helps you save on heating bills.
2. Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostat compatibility gives you more control over the system by allowing you to set schedules and zones and monitor your energy usage to ensure that you are using your system efficiently. It also helps save money on your heating bills since you can set up different zones at different temperatures or schedules.
3. Air Quality
Radiant heat flooring doesn’t require circulation to move the heat around, so it doesn’t move dust and allergens around like ducted heating systems. This makes for cleaner air, which is better for people with allergies and asthma.
Electric radiant heating also has the benefit of being virtually invisible because everything is underneath the floor, except for the thermostat. Electric systems also offer wider compatibility with floor coverings while barely raising the floor height.
Types of Radiant Heating
There are two types of radiant floor heating: electric and hydronic. While both are effective, it is important to consider the differences to select the best option for your home.
Hydronic Radiant Heating
Hydronic systems use a series of small, flexible water pipes connected to a boiler system. Water gets heated in the boiler and then circulates through the pipes to create heat. Installing a hydronic system is expensive; however, the long-term running costs are significantly lower. Installation is also much more time-consuming and requires more work, which makes these systems a better option for new builds. Hydronic radiant heating systems also require maintenance to ensure they are working correctly.
Another consideration is that a hydronic system takes longer to heat and cool down and it raises floors higher.
Electric Radiant Heating
Electric radiant floor heating relies on electrical cables under the floor. These systems are much easier and more cost-effective to install, and they heat up and cool down quicker than hydronic systems. While electrical systems can cost more to run, smart thermostats make it possible to set zones, which allow you to control the temperature in each zone to keep the overall running costs relatively low. With electric radiant heating, you don’t have to worry about the system raising your floor too much. They are also compatible with more types of flooring.
How Radiant Floor Heating Works
Radiant floor heating systems consist of small water tubes or electrical cables installed underneath the flooring. The heat they create combines thermal radiation and electromagnetic waves from either hot water or electricity. The heat first warms the floors and then rises up to be absorbed by the room’s various objects, people, and animals, which creates effective and efficient heat at lower temperatures and ensures that there are no cold spots.
Ways to Maintain Radiant Floor Heating Systems
The maintenance required for radiant heat flooring varies depending on the type of system. Generally, an electric radiant heat floor system will not require maintenance or service if installed correctly, which makes it an incredibly hassle-free heating option.
The same cannot be said for a hydronic system, which requires maintenance and check-ups to ensure that the components are working properly. This means you need to:
- Check the system pressure.
- Analyze the water’s color.
- Remove excess air.
- Check the boiler’s performance and activation.
Cost of Radiant Floor Heating
The cost of radiant floor heating in Maine depends on the type of radiant heating system you choose and the size of the system. Generally, the average radiant heat flooring system costs $10 to $15 per square foot. You also have to factor in the installation cost, which can cost anywhere from $260 to $400 per day.
Aside from the cost of the system and installation, you also must consider the cost of running your system, which varies depending on where you live, the size of the system, and your usage. Even with these variables, radiant floor heating is significantly less expensive than traditional heating systems.
Best Places to Install Radiant Floor Heating in Maine
An effective radiant floor heating system will allow you to control each room separately, customize settings, and heat only the rooms you use. This makes the system a great option for anywhere in your home. Some specific areas you may want to consider are:
Basements
Basements are cold places, especially if they are unfinished. Even when finished, they are cold and need extra help to keep them warm. Radiant heating will sufficiently heat the space when you want to use it, while staying off at other times.
Kitchens
Like bathrooms, kitchens often have cold tile flooring and they can be humid, which makes for a cold space. It is a room you use every day, multiple times a day, and for longer periods than a bathroom, which means you want to maintain it at a steady, consistent temperature, which radiant flooring will allow you to do easily.
Bedrooms
A cold bedroom can negatively affect your sleep. Sleeping with extra blankets is an option, but that can make you too hot and uncomfortable, which also isn’t good. Having radiant heating will let you set your room to be at the perfect temperature at night while you sleep.
Home Offices
Installing radiant heating in your home office is a great way to bring more comfort into a space where you spend a lot of time. A warm, comfortable office will ensure you’re able to focus and be productive.
Bathrooms
Bathroom floors are notoriously cold, no matter where you live or the temperature outside. They can be even colder in winter, especially in places like Maine, where the entire bathroom will have an uncomfortable chill. That’s not considering the humidity and damp towels, which add to the cold. Radiant heating will eliminate the cold, to give you a much more comfortable bathroom space.
Driveways
Electric radiant heating is a perfect addition to driveways in Maine. The system will help melt snow and keep it clear so you don’t have to shovel or lay salt.
Why Choose Warmup for Radiant Floor Heating?
Warmup is a UK-based, research-driven company with over 30 years in the industry, that is focused on developing innovative, energy-efficient heating solutions.
At Warmup, we offer the highest quality electric radiant heating products. What makes Warmup products unique is the dual-fluoropolymer heating wire we use; this wire is the toughest wire on the market and is incredibly thin, with a 1/8″ (3mm) diameter, which ensures it won’t raise your floors. It is also UL-approved and meets the highest safety standards. We offer many electric floor heating systems compatible with various flooring types and work without smart thermostats to provide the most efficient use and save you hundreds in utilities.
Contact Warmup today to learn more about installing electric radiant floor heating in Maine and how your home can benefit from it!
