Alternative Heat Source Warms Homes and Hearts

Alternative Heat Source Warms Homes and Hearts

(ARA) - Winter is coming and with it cooler temperatures. Contractors are gearing up to help homeowners renovate their heating systems for a more efficient, comfortable and cozy winter.

Many situations, such as the age of your home and the heat source you have, call for creative heating solutions.

For homes that need an upgrade to heat more efficiently, an alternative type of heating element may be necessary. This was the situation with the Park Avenue project, an old house that was refurbished by Third Way Network, a non-profit organization that develops housing for low-income families in Minneapolis, Minn.

"We went into the old house to re-engineer the space into a three bedroom, two bathroom apartment to suit a mom and her three children. Part of it was a basement space that didn't have any heat and the bid for a hot water heating system was $14,000," explains Michael Keeler, director of operations for Third Way Network. "We needed another option and I had heard about radiant heat cables. I contacted Orbit Radiant Heating and the company provided us with everything we needed to put in the radiant heating system."

Nexans radiant electric cables are 1/4-inch thick in diameter, up to three times thicker in diameter than similar products significantly increasing the system's durability, and have a patented splice so the wire blends in with the cable for simplified installation and safer operation. The cables use electricity to warm the floor's surface and then the heat radiates into the rest of the room. There are no cold drafts, no blowing air, which means less dust, and because it heats more efficiently, it uses less energy.

Orbit provides electric radiant indoor and outdoor heating systems for almost any surface including tile, hardwood, laminate and carpet. Or, you can install it outside to help manage snow and ice on concrete, brick, pavers or asphalt as a safety precaution. Nexans cables can also be installed on roofs and gutters to promote ice melting.

"You can send us a sketch of your room with the layout and the voltage, and we'll design a custom-fit cable grid," says Ron Herd, president of Orbit Radiant Heating. "No matter how unique your situation, we can actually design each installation to suit your needs." For the family on Park Avenue in Minneapolis, it was a perfect solution.

"We installed the cable throughout the apartment," says Keeler. "When kids come into a home that's warm and comfortable after living in a shelter for a few years, it makes a big difference. Orbit helped us provide this for them."

For more information, visit www.orbitmfg.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent