What Is Heat Loss and Why Does it Matter?
Most people know heat loss when they feel it. You can just tell when you are in a room that doesn’t hold the heat well. However, many do not realize that heat loss is an actual measurement that is used to determine the amount of heat transfer that takes place in a given space. When you are considering investing in radiant flooring, it’s important to understand heat loss and the impact that it can have on the flooring that you choose.
What is Heat Loss?
Heat loss is defined as the amount of heat that transfers through the materials of a building from within the structure to outside it. It doesn’t matter if the heat loss occurs as a result of convection, conduction or radiation. In some cases, the heat loss occurs as a result of the combination of all of those movements.
Depending on your location, heat loss is measured in kilowatts or British Thermal Units. This number generally represents how much energy it takes in order to keep a space heated to the desired temperature on the coldest possible day.
How to Calculate Heat Loss
While heat loss itself is measured in kilowatts or British Thermal Units, and the exact heat loss measurement is used in order to determine the overall heat transfer rate, which is measured as U values. Both homeowners and contractors will consider the U value of a space in order to determine the best way to heat it as efficiently and effectively as possible.
For example, if you have a room in your home with a high U value, you may want to consider measures to reduce the amount of heat loss in your home. A room with a low U value, on the other hand, is generally considered to be well-insulated and well-protected against heat loss.
Heat losses and U values are calculated using a variety of factors, including:
- The composition of the material in a given space.
- The thickness of the building materials in a particular part of the home.
- The conductivity of all building materials in a particular part of the home.
The Impact of Heat Loss
Heat losses and heat transfers will play a significant role in the effectiveness of your heating solution. It is important to understand the impact of heat loss when you are investing in a new heating system, such as underfloor heating, because the amount of heat loss will determine whether that solution will be effective or not.
These are just a few of the reasons why you should identify where heat loss is occurring and determine the U value rate of a given space before you invest in an underfloor heating system for your home:
- The amount of heat loss that takes place in a space will ultimately determine what type of equipment is needed in order to adequately heat the area.
- The heat losses in a room could have an impact on the regulatory approval of the space.
- In a space with significant heat loss, you and your contractor may have to come up with innovative solutions to properly heat the space and keep everyone who will use the space as comfortable as possible.
- The heat loss calculation will also help you and your contractor determine how much energy will be required to heat the space, and it also can help you predict future heating costs.
On the surface, heat loss may seem like a minor measurement that can easily be overlooked, but it actually plays a pivotal role in the long-term success of your heating system.
How to Reduce the Amount of Heat Loss in a Space
Fortunately, there are many ways that you can work to reduce heat loss in a space and still invest in the heating solution that you prefer. If you are looking to install radiant flooring in your home, you can reduce heat loss and increase the effectiveness of your new system by:
- Taking steps to reduce air leaks in the room. For example, if you are planning to install heated floors in your bathroom, you can seal areas where air typically escapes, such as around windows or even along the door frame.
- Adding insulation to the space. In the event that you are having heated floors installed in a garage, you may want to invest in additional insulation first. This insulation will reduce heat loss in the garage, which may have a relatively high U value. By adding extra insulation, your new heated flooring system will be more effective.
The heat loss in any given room can be further reduced when you opt for an energy-efficient heating solution, such as radiant flooring. When a heating system works quickly and efficiently to heat a space — and that space is well-insulated and protected — your heat transfer rate will drop significantly. Ultimately, working to reduce the heat losses in your home combined with choosing an energy-efficient heating solution will lower your heating costs in the long-term.
Using Radiant Flooring to Combat Heat Loss
When installed in a room with a low U value and where few heat losses occur, radiant flooring can be an effective heating solution that makes your space as comfortable as possible.
There are several considerations that you need to keep in mind when considering radiant flooring as a way to reduce heat loss in a room:
- The size of your room. Naturally, radiant flooring will be able to more thoroughly heat a space that is smaller and that has proper insulation. In larger rooms or more open spaces, radiant flooring can be used to heat the area, but you may also need to consider supplemental heating solutions.
- The type of flooring in the room. Fortunately, underfloor heating is a flexible and versatile option that can be installed under a variety of floor materials. However, some materials hold heat better than others. Natural wood floors, for example, are an ideal material to use when you are having underfloor heating installed along with new flooring.
- The air temperature that you prefer in a room. You should talk with your radiant flooring contractor to determine if your personal preferences for air temperature work well with the output of their underfloor heating system.
- The power of the radiant flooring system. At Green Wave Distribution, we offer a safe, low-voltage underfloor heating system that is powerful, reliable and efficient, and it can effectively heat most spaces, including residential rooms, garages, sheds and more.
Radiant flooring is an ideal option if you are looking to reduce heat losses in your home. Underfloor heating is more than just a luxurious enhancement that makes you feel more comfortable in a particular room — it’s actually a heating system that can work to bring the room to its desired temperature. It is one of the most sustainable ways to heat a space or a structure, given the fact that it relies on electricity and is created from recycled materials. Green Wave Distribution is one of the leading providers of radiant flooring, and our experts can provide you with information about how this heating system can reduce heat loss in your home. Contact us today for more information about the benefits of radiant flooring.
