Anyone who’s lived in a house that relies on forced air heating equipment knows too well about the challenges of managing indoor humidity levels. Not only is it hard to find a unit that keeps your home comfortable, but you might also be faced with issues like mold growth. Managing humidity levels inside the house can especially prove difficult, which is why some homeowners opt to invest in a humidifier.
How Does Humidity Affect Your Heating System?
Although indoor humidity is a widespread issue, most people don’t really understand how it affects heating systems. Modern HVAC units are usually more efficient in cooling/heating air than in managing its humidity levels. So when the humidity levels inside your home are too high, it’s practically impossible to achieve optimal indoor comfort. This issue is further complicated when the equipment lacks sufficient cooling capacity; it’s forced to work harder as the levels rise. If your equipment is unable to keep up with extreme humidity, it means your home will never feel truly comfortable. But what can you do to address this problem?
There’s A Better Option
According to experts, the comfortable range of indoor humidity during winter is between 25% and 50%. While keeping your home’s indoor air in this range may prove difficult, it may come as a delightful surprise that a better solution is now within your reach. Hydronic heating is a new, advanced home heating mechanism that has become increasingly popular among households seeking enhanced comfort and control.
Also known as radiant heating, hydronic heating systems relies on a hot liquid circulated throughout a building using loops of plastic tubing. These tubes are usually installed underneath the floor, from where they facilitate the even transfer of heat across the entire surface. Other components of the mechanism include a boiler, where the liquid is heated before flowing into the pipe network. There are also pumps that allow the transfer newly-heated and cooler liquid into and out of the boiler respectively.
While enhanced efficiency is part of what you can expect from hydronic heating in Melbourne, the biggest benefit comes in the form of improved indoor humidity. Since the systems don’t wring moisture from the air in the process of heating it, there’s usually enough humidity that you don’t really need a humidifier. Furthermore, the system generally operates at a much lower temperature compared to a furnace, resulting in long, gentle cycles. The absence of a blower also means the heated air is never forced outdoors.
While radiant heating has rapidly grown in popularity over the recent past, a large number of homeowners still don’t understand the health benefits it has to offer. Hydronic heating systems generally outscore their conventional counterparts, especially when it comes to comfort and cleanliness. Recent innovations have further made it possible to retrofit the equipment into existing homes. For further insight into what you stand to gain from investing in the systems, talk to an expert within your area.
