Alternative Radiant Floor Heating: When Zmesh Is Your Best Option By Michael Singer At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

A large number of Americans are turning to very popular alternative form of home heating called radiant floor heat. Some choose to use it in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements as supplemental heating and to take the chill off of cold floors. Others use it to heat their entire home. When home owners research these products they typically find several options including hot water tubes, electric cables and mats, and a newer product called Zmesh.

Zmesh is a bronze woven screen door like material that comes in rolls of nine inch or twelve inch widths and various lengths. The height of the mesh is nearly the same as your window screen. Resistant heat is created by the Zmesh when a low voltage current is passes through it at 32 volts or less. The Zmesh system can produce up to 40 BTU’s per sq. ft and has many advantages both in installation and operation.

Installation advantages are many. Due to the low profile nature of the Zmesh it can be installed directly on wood or concrete sub floors and then the floor covering of your choice can be installed directly over it with out any floor build up. For example, if you are remodeling your basement and wanted to add radiant heat you would pull up your carpet, roll out the Zmesh and replace your carpet pad and carpet directly over it. The same process is also used for hardwood, tile, laminate and most other floor coverings.

The Zmesh is designed for longevity. Gentle low voltage that passes through the Zmesh does not cause wear and tear like most electric radiant systems. The bronze make up of the Zmesh also eliminates potential corrosion caused by water damage. The engineering of the screen allows you to do something you wouldn’t think of with radiant heating products. The Zmesh can actually be nailed or stapled through as long as the nail or staple does not come in contact with other metal objects. This eliminates concerns of breaking pipes or cables while installing floor coverings over radiant heat.

The durability of the Zmesh aids in easing the install process for radiant heat. Zmesh is stapled down to a wood sub floor or glued to a concrete slab. It rolls out in 9 or12 inch widths and at the end of the room it folds over itself and runs back the other direction with a 2” spacing between runs. The two ends of the roll of Zmesh terminate at the cold leads in the wall that run back to a low voltage transformer that would be installed in a utility room.

Zmesh radiant heating systems are usually controlled by a programmable floor sensing thermostat to add to the cost effective operation of radiant heat. Other benefits to a Zmesh radiant heat system include quiet operation, even distribution of heat, no vents required, clean, and very comfortable.

Zmesh is used for remodeling applications as much as new construction. Adding heat to sunroom, home addition, or adding radiant to any existing building is much easier with a product that does not induce floor build up. Zmesh is also used on roofs because it can be installed under shingles. This prevents ice dams and ice cycles without ugly cables hanging off your roof.

The installation of Zmesh is simple. There are many individuals who install the system themselves, but you may be able to find a professional who is willing to perform the installation for you. Should you make the decision to save money on the installation, and do it yourself, you are provided with detailed directions. Zmesh comes with a full installation guide. It is important to note that although you can install the system yourself, you will need an electrician to help you get the heating system up and running so you can enjoy the comfort of warm floors for year to come.

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