地板采暖系統(tǒng)是否物有所值？我們將討論您家中地板采暖系統(tǒng)的成本和效益。
Yet another gray winter morning, and you drag yourself out of bed, dreading the icy shock of your
otherwise beloved hardwood floors. Or your bathroom is all toasty and steamy from that long, hot
shower, but your tile floor feels like the surface of a frozen pond.
It’s on days like these that the idea of an in-floor heating system
seems less like a luxury item and
more like a necessity. (Besides, heated floors were good enough for the Roman Empire.) But before
you commit to what can be a major remodeling project, it’s best to ask yourself whether a radiant
floor heating system is an appropriate solution for your specific home
heating needs.
The chief benefit cited for the installation of heated floors is increased
energy efficiency. And it’s true
that there are a number of factors—not all of them purely scientific—that can make floor-heating
systems more utility-bill-friendly than conventional HVAC systems.
又一個(gè)灰色的冬天早晨，你把自己從床上拖下來(lái)，害怕你心愛(ài)的硬木地板的冰冷沖擊?；蛘吣愕脑∈沂?/span>
長(zhǎng)時(shí)間熱水淋浴的所有烤面包和蒸汽，但你的瓷磚地板感覺(jué)就像一個(gè)冰凍池塘的表面。
在這樣的日子里，地板采暖系統(tǒng)的想法似乎不像奢侈品，更像是必需品。（此外，加熱地板足以滿足羅
馬帝國(guó)的要求。）但在您承諾進(jìn)行重大改造項(xiàng)目之前，最好先問(wèn)問(wèn)自己，輻射地板采暖系統(tǒng)是否適合您
的特定家庭采暖需求。
可以使地板采暖系統(tǒng)比傳統(tǒng)的HVAC系統(tǒng)更具實(shí)用性。
When an in-floor heating system is the perfect solution for comfort
With an in-floor heating system, the laws of thermodynamics are on your side. Perhaps the best way
to understand how in-floor heating can help to heat an entire room is to consider how most furnace-
based heating and cooling systems operate. Air is heated and then impelled (blown, via a fan) through
ducts, which empty through vents and dampers into the various rooms of your home. Because air literally
has to be moved or circulated throughout your home, a certain amount of heat loss is inevitable. This loss
can be compounded in homes and individual rooms in which vents are located near the ceiling rather than
the floor. Remember,
hot air rises and only falls if it loses energy, also known as “heat.”
Also suggested: Myths vs. Facts: The Truth About Radiant Floor
Heating
By contrast, according to Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss of Scientific American, the uniform
heat distribution
over the entire surface of a floor heats the lower half of the room, enveloping inhabitants in warmth at a
lower overall temperature—in some cases up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit cooler—than a conventional heating
system.” In other words, in-floor heating systems provide a different mode and level of comfort. And, as
various public awareness campaigns have long reminded us, the more comfortable we feel, the more inclined
we might be to nudge down our
thermostat, in turn lowering our energy expenditures.
Comfort, of course, is a matter of perception. More quantifiable are the
cycling properties of in-floor heating
systems. By and large, radiant heating systems turn on and off less frequently than conventional forced-air
HVAC systems. Less turning on and off and less resetting and ramping up from a “cold start” equals less
energy usage.
Additionally, homeowners have a variety of options to choose from in powering a
floor heating system. Radiant
systems are compatible with electrical, natural gas, solar and even geothermal energy sources. As many
homeowners are all too aware, legacy furnace systems are typically restricted to running on a single energy
source, such as heating oil. If the market for that energy source turns volatile, rates can fluctuate, prices spike
and you can end up paying more to
heat your home regardless of how low you set your thermostat.
Finally, if you do identify a particularly energy-efficient in-floor heating
system and choose to install it in your
home, you could be eligible for state or federal programs that can help cover your up-front contractor costs.
(And these costs can be significant. According to figures collected by Angie’s List, homeowners can expect to
pay between $6 and $16 per square foot, not including tax and labor, for a radiant heating system.) Consult
the U.S. Department of Energy’s Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) to see if there
are rebates, loans or tax deductions available for the installation of a more efficient in-floor heating system
where you live.
In-floor heating systems can come with certain health benefits. The hotter the
air, the drier it becomes. On
those days when you just can’t seem to warm up and find you need to turn up your thermostat, your furnace
can suck all the humidity out of your home and leave your sinuses throbbing. Because they heat surfaces
and not the air itself, in-floor heating systems are not prone to this issue. Moreover, since they do not rely
upon fans, ducts, registers and returns to distribute hot air, in-floor heating systems can reduce the amount
of dust and seasonal allergens in your home.
In-floor heating systems are scalable, too. Homeowners can create custom
solutions to meet their floor
heating needs. If you do not wish to install heated floors throughout your entire home, you can instead
modularize, choosing
only to heat one or several rooms from the ground up.
However, the news isn’t all good when it comes to
in-floor heating. In fact, research indicates that some
of the most apparent “pros” associated with radiant floor heating might actually be “cons.”
當(dāng)?shù)匕宀膳到y(tǒng)是舒適的完美解決方案
有了地板采暖系統(tǒng)，熱力學(xué)定律就在你身邊。也許了解地板內(nèi)加熱如何有助于加熱整個(gè)房間的最佳方法
是考慮大多數(shù)基于爐子的加熱和冷卻系統(tǒng)的運(yùn)行方式?？諝獗患訜崛缓笸ㄟ^(guò)管道被推動(dòng)（通過(guò)風(fēng)扇吹送），
管道通過(guò)通風(fēng)口和阻尼器排入家中的各個(gè)房間。因?yàn)榭諝獗仨氃谡麄€(gè)家庭中移動(dòng)或循環(huán)，否則一定量的
熱量損失是不可避免的。這種損失可以在家庭和個(gè)別房間中復(fù)雜化，其中通風(fēng)口位于天花板附近而不是
地板上。請(qǐng)記住，熱空氣上升，只有在失去能量時(shí)才會(huì)下降，也被稱(chēng)為“熱量”。
相比之下，根據(jù)科學(xué)美國(guó)公司的Roddy Scheer和Doug Moss的說(shuō)法，地板整個(gè)表面均勻的熱量分布加熱
了房間的下半部分，使居民在較低的整體溫度下保持溫暖 - 在某些情況下高達(dá)5度華氏溫度比傳統(tǒng)加熱
系統(tǒng)更冷?！皳Q句話說(shuō)，地板內(nèi)加熱系統(tǒng)提供不同的模式和舒適度。而且，由于各種公眾意識(shí)活動(dòng)早已
提醒我們，我們感覺(jué)越舒適，我們就越傾向于輕推我們的恒溫器，從而降低我們的能源支出。
當(dāng)然，舒適是一種感知問(wèn)題。更可量化的是地板內(nèi)加熱系統(tǒng)的循環(huán)特性?？偟膩?lái)說(shuō)，輻射加熱系統(tǒng)比傳
統(tǒng)的強(qiáng)制通風(fēng)HVAC系統(tǒng)更少地打開(kāi)和關(guān)閉。較少的開(kāi)啟和關(guān)閉以及較少的重置和從“冷啟動(dòng)”開(kāi)始增加等
于減少能量使用。
此外，房主在為地板采暖系統(tǒng)供電時(shí)有多種選擇可供選擇。輻射系統(tǒng)與電氣，天然氣，太陽(yáng)能甚至地?zé)?/span>
能源兼容。由于許多房主都非常清楚，傳統(tǒng)的爐系統(tǒng)通常僅限于在單一能源上運(yùn)行，例如加熱油。如果
該能源的市場(chǎng)變得不穩(wěn)定，價(jià)格可能會(huì)波動(dòng)，價(jià)格會(huì)飆升，而且無(wú)論您設(shè)置的恒溫器有多低，您最終都
需要支付更多費(fèi)用來(lái)加熱您的房屋。
最后，如果您確定了一個(gè)特別節(jié)能的地板采暖系統(tǒng)并選擇將其安裝在您的家中，您可能有資格獲得可以
幫助支付您的前期承包商成本的州或聯(lián)邦計(jì)劃。（這些成本可能很大。根據(jù)收集的數(shù)據(jù)安吉的名單，房
主可以支付每平方英尺6至16美元，不包括稅收和勞動(dòng)力，用于輻射供暖系統(tǒng)。）咨詢(xún)美國(guó)能源部的可
再生能源國(guó)家激勵(lì)數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)（DSIRE），看看是否有可以在您居住的地方安裝更高效的地板采暖系統(tǒng)的折
扣，貸款或稅收減免。
地板采暖系統(tǒng)可帶來(lái)一定的健康益處?？諝庠綗幔驮礁稍?。在那些你似乎無(wú)法熱身并且發(fā)現(xiàn)你需要
打開(kāi)溫控器的那些日子里，你的爐子可以吸走你家里的所有濕氣并讓你的鼻竇悸動(dòng)。因?yàn)樗鼈兗訜岜砻?/span>
而不是空氣本身，所以地板內(nèi)加熱系統(tǒng)不容易出現(xiàn)這個(gè)問(wèn)題。此外，由于它們不依賴(lài)于風(fēng)扇，管道，寄
存器和返回來(lái)分配熱空氣，因此地板內(nèi)加熱系統(tǒng)可以減少家中的灰塵和季節(jié)性過(guò)敏原。
地板采暖系統(tǒng)也是可擴(kuò)展的。房主可以創(chuàng)建定制解決方案以滿足他們的地板采暖需求。如果您不希望在
整個(gè)家中安裝加熱地板，您可以改為模塊化，只選擇從地面加熱一個(gè)或多個(gè)房間。
然而，當(dāng)涉及到地板采暖時(shí)，這個(gè)消息并不是很好。事實(shí)上，研究表明，與輻射地板采暖相關(guān)的一些最
明顯的“專(zhuān)業(yè)人員”實(shí)際上可能是“缺點(diǎn)”。
When in-floor heating may not be worth it
If you have a large home, a home with high ceilings, a home with many windows or a home with
insufficient insulation, heating your floors rather than the air may not be enough to reach the level
of comfort to which you are accustomed. Homeowners would be well advised to perform a home
energy audit to assess where improvements may be made to increase the efficiency of an existing
HVAC system. These changes could actually add up and possibly reduce your perceived need for
in-floor heating.
Remember the theory that in-floor heating systems equal lower thermostat settings? Research
conducted by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporationsuggests the exact opposite. In
examining the usage patterns of 50 homeowners in Nova Scotia, the CMHC determined that these
individuals “[did] not set their thermostats significantly lower than homeowners with other types
of heating systems.”
If your main rationale for installing an in-floor heating system is that doing
so will produce long-term
savings by reducing your utility bills, other solutions—such assystem zoning or solar panels—may
actually be more cost-effective. And remember, an in-floor heating system contributes nothing to the
cooling of your home in the
summertime.
Homeowners may also assume that because a radiant floor heating system can be
viewed (and
financed) as a home improvement, its installation will immediately raise their home’s value. No evidence
exists suggesting that in-floor heating either positively or negatively affects property values. In-floor
heating is not even tracked in the annualCost vs. Value Report issued by Hanley Wood Media, publishers
of Remodeling Magazine. Perhaps Realtors must consider too many variables to definitively state what
a radiant heating system might add to, or subtract from, any given asking price. That said, homebuyers
looking to “go green,” who prioritize energy savings, or who absolutely want an in-floor heating system
will be willing to
pay a premium for a home that features one.
Homeowners should also be aware of the difficulties and costs associated with
repairing in-floor heating
systems. Flooring, as well as sub-flooring, may have to be removed simply to assess, much less address,
issues with the system. And because the majority of radiant floor heating systems are hydronic, in which
the system’s radiant elements are not electrical but consist of low-profile PEX Tubing through which hot
water is pumped, this means additional plumbing and additional potential for broken pipes and leaks.
Moisture under your home can damage your foundation, create inviting conditions for termites and other
destructive pests, ruin carpeting and warp hardwood floors.
在地板采暖可能不值得
如果你有一個(gè)大房子，一個(gè)高天花板的家，一個(gè)有許多窗戶(hù)的家或絕緣不足的家，加熱你的地板而
不是空氣可能不足以達(dá)到你習(xí)慣的舒適度。建議房主進(jìn)行家庭能源審計(jì)，以評(píng)估可以在哪些方面進(jìn)
行改進(jìn)以提高現(xiàn)有HVAC系統(tǒng)的效率。這些變化實(shí)際上可能會(huì)增加并可能減少您對(duì)地板采暖的感知
需求。
在某些情況下，地板內(nèi)加熱可能比通用解決方案更具互補(bǔ)性。還記得樓下供暖系統(tǒng)等同于較低溫控
器設(shè)置的理論嗎？加拿大抵押和住房公司進(jìn)行的研究表明恰恰相反。在檢查新斯科舍省50個(gè)房主的
使用模式時(shí)，CMHC確定這些人“[沒(méi)有設(shè)置他們的恒溫器明顯低于其他類(lèi)型的供暖系統(tǒng)的房主。”
如果你的主要理由安裝地板采暖系統(tǒng)這樣做可以通過(guò)減少水電費(fèi)來(lái)實(shí)現(xiàn)長(zhǎng)期節(jié)約，其他解決方案 -
例如系統(tǒng)分區(qū)或太陽(yáng)能電池板 - 實(shí)際上可能更具成本效益。請(qǐng)記住，在夏季，地板采暖系統(tǒng)對(duì)您家
的冷卻沒(méi)有任何幫助。
房主也可能會(huì)認(rèn)為，因?yàn)檩椛涞匕宀膳到y(tǒng)可以作為家居裝修來(lái)觀察（和資助），其安裝將立即提
高其房屋的價(jià)值。沒(méi)有證據(jù)表明地板內(nèi)供暖會(huì)對(duì)房產(chǎn)價(jià)值產(chǎn)生正面或負(fù)面影響。在Remodeling雜志
的出版商Hanley Wood Media發(fā)布的年度成本與價(jià)值報(bào)告中甚至沒(méi)有跟蹤地板采暖。也許房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)
紀(jì)人必須考慮太多變量來(lái)明確說(shuō)明輻射供暖系統(tǒng)可能會(huì)增加或減去任何給定的要價(jià)。也就是說(shuō)，尋
求“綠色環(huán)?！保瑑?yōu)先考慮節(jié)能的購(gòu)房者，或者絕對(duì)需要地板采暖系統(tǒng)的購(gòu)房者愿意為擁有房屋供暖
系統(tǒng)的房屋支付額外費(fèi)用。
房主也應(yīng)該意識(shí)到修復(fù)地板采暖系統(tǒng)所面臨的困難和成本?？赡鼙仨毢?jiǎn)單地移除地板以及底層地板，
以便評(píng)估系統(tǒng)的問(wèn)題，更不用說(shuō)地址問(wèn)題了。并且因?yàn)榇蠖鄶?shù)輻射地板采暖系統(tǒng)是水力的，其中系
統(tǒng)的輻射元件不是電氣的，而是由低溫PEX管道組成，通過(guò)該管道泵送熱水，這意味著額外的管道
和管道破裂和泄漏的額外可能性。家中的水分會(huì)損壞您的地基，為白蟻和其他破壞性害蟲(chóng)創(chuàng)造誘人
的條件，破壞地毯和經(jīng)線硬木地板。
So, what's the verdict?
All in all, no matter how much you hate the feeling of a frigid floor first thing in the morning,
an in-floor heating system may not make sense as a stand-alone retrofitting project. But,
depending upon your priorities and your budget, in-floor heating may be ideal as a component
of major remodel or if you are planning new construction.
那么，判決是什么？
總而言之，無(wú)論你早上多么討厭寒冷地板的感覺(jué)，地板采暖系統(tǒng)作為一個(gè)獨(dú)立的改造項(xiàng)目可能沒(méi)有
意義。但是，根據(jù)您的優(yōu)先級(jí)和預(yù)算，地板采暖可能是重大改造的一個(gè)組成部分，或者如果您正在
計(jì)劃新建筑。