Pros and Cons of Radiant Heat
Heating your home during the cold months is a real energy burner. But who wants to shiver around the house wrapped in a blanket, tip of nose and ears like ice cubes?
Radiant heat is simple: Warm water is circulated through pipes in the
floor, walls, ceiling or other surface to heat the building. It will add somewhat to your remodeling budget, but here are some of the pluses:
- Clean: no dust blown through the house.
- Quiet: no blowing air or sound.
- Healthy: no allergens
or pollen blowing.
- Invisible: no
registers, grates, grills, ducts.
- Flexible: Macro/micro
zoning & scheduling.
- Saves $ on your monthly energy bill.
Here are the cons:
- Long response time when first turned on; may take a whole day to heat up.
- Initial cost to install is high.
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Can you afford a remodel? Many homeowners call a remodeling contractor and hope to hear a price before deciding on their own budget. Establishing your own budget makes it much easier to begin your remodeling project. Ask yourself the following questions to guide your budget:
How long do I plan to live in this house?
The length of time you intend to stay in a home should be factored into your budget. If you are going to stay in the home for
more than ten years, you should spend as much as you are able to create the home
of your dreams. However, if you are planning on moving in the near future, you
should take care not to over-build for your neighborhood.
How much debt do I have now?
You should
include any debts you pay on a monthly basis, such as mortgages, car loans,
credit cards, and any other items with a fixed monthly payment.
What is my gross monthly income?
Include all sources of income that you would list on a loan
application.
Now you can determine the financing you can afford for your remodeling project. Go to www.nari.org/ homeowners and you will find a formula to plug your numbers into, under "Calculations 101".
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