How to Heat a Basement and Keep it Warm

Green Wave Distribution ~

At one time, basements were considered to be storage areas in the home, so it didn’t matter if they were dark, dank, and chilly. Today, however, most homeowners prefer to make the most out of their living space, and they transform their basement into functional room that improves their overall quality of life. The fact remains, though, that the basement can still be a cold room, and it’s notoriously difficult to heat.Fortunately, you do have options — and you might be surprised to find out that it’s easier to heat a basement than you might think.

Radiant Flooring — The Best Way to Heat Basement Floor

Radiant flooring is a heating solution that can be used as an alternative to traditional heating systems, such as a forced air system. While a forced air system works to distribute warm air throughout the home utilizing a series of ducts, radiant flooring distributes heat directly to the room through the floor. Our underfloor heating technology relies on self-regulating carbon polymer heating coils in order to distribute heat to the room. These elements are thin, flexible, and require little-to-no maintenance over the long term, and they are installed just underneath the flooring materials. Many people assume that radiant flooring is a good way to heat basement floors, making them comfortable to the touch and preventing people from having to step on cold tile or wood flooring. However, this technology does more than making the floors warm to the touch — it can serve as a primary or supplemental heat source in the basement. It’s one of the most effective ways to heat a basement to your desired temperature and maintain that temperature throughout the day. It is the best basement heating solution because it is effective, efficient, and sustainable.
 

Why Should You Choose Underfloor Basement Heating?

Radiant heating is considered to be one of the best ways to heat a basement. These are the top reasons why you should invest in our innovative and sustainable heating technology for your basement:
  • Your radiant heat solution is installed below your flooring materials, allowing you to make the most out of your space in the basement. Supplemental heating technology, such as a space heater or a radiator, is going to take up valuable space in your basement and dictate the way that you use the room. With radiant floor heating, you maximize your flexibility.
  • One of the biggest advantages of relying on radiant heat in your basement is the fact that our heating solutions require little-to-no maintenance over the long term. These solutions are notoriously reliable, and because there are few parts involved, you will rarely need to worry about repairs.
  • Radiant heating is an efficient and affordable way to heat a basement. With forced air, you are often paying to distribute warm air to a room with plenty of air leaks, ultimately sending your money out the window. Radiant heat solutions cost less to operate, and the energy that you use stays inside the room.
  • With underfloor heating in place, you can rest easy knowing that your basement will always be heated to your desired temperature. It is one of the few ways to heat your basement to your preferred temperature consistently.
STEP® HEAT Radiant Heating
 

The Best Materials When Heating Basements with Radiant Flooring

Fortunately, radiant floor heating solutions are compatible with a variety of flooring materials. These are the best floor materials to choose from when heating the basement:
  • Tile — Tile is one of the most popular flooring materials for underfloor heating, largely because stone tile will heat quickly and retain your desired temperature. It’s also a good flooring material for basements, which can sometimes flood.
  • Wood — Natural wood flooring can be used with our radiant floor heating systems, and wood floors are becoming increasingly popular in basements. It’s important to consider the type of wood that you use, though, as some wood can expand or warp when exposed to heat.
  • Carpet — Carpet is another viable option with our self-regulating underfloor heating system. You will want to be mindful of the carpet thickness, though, in order to maximize the efficiency of your system.
  • Composite Flooring — Composite flooring is an affordable and versatile material that is compatible with our radiant heat solutions.

Installing Radiant Heating for Basements

Another reason that many people consider radiant flooring to be the best way to heat the basement floor is that the installation process is quick and easy. Professional contractors can install a radiant floor system in a matter of hours, allowing you to transform your basement into the comfortable space you always wanted it to be. Typically, your underfloor heating system will be installed around the time that you are finishing or renovating your basement, however, there are circumstances in which our systems can be retrofitted to your existing floors by installing it between the floor joists.

Enhance Your Results with These Tips for Heating the Basement

To maximize the efficiency of your radiant floor basement heating system, you can also take these extra steps in your basement: Keep the doors closed to your basement to trap the heat in the space. Seal any exterior windows that are located in your basement. If you are finishing your basement and adding drywall, be sure to invest in insulation as well. This will help keep the heat that you generate inside your basement.
 

Learn More About the Best Way to Heat Basement Floor Today

A forced air system is not going to distribute heat evenly to the basement, which is located underground and often has a concrete subfloor. However, a radiant flooring solution will provide clean, even heat distribution to the floor and ultimately heat the entire space to your desired temperature. It is considered to be the top way to heat a basement, and at Green Wave Distribution, we offer the best radiant flooring materials for your home improvement project. For more information about the best way to heat the basement floor and the underfloor heating solutions that we have, contact Green Wave Distribution today.

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