Hello all, I have a client who is interested in an alternative heating for their home soon to be remodeled. They would prefer not to have a forced air system (due to the dryness of the air) nor radiant heating (due to the cost). Are there space heaters that can be integrated with the architecture? Energy expenditure minimal? Any other suggestions? thanks much!
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"They would prefer not to have a forced air system (due to the dryness of the air)"
Forced air heating DOES NOT DRY THE AIR. Any method that causes the air to become warmer has the same affect of reducing the RELATIVE humidity in the air. The absolute moisture level does not change.
Note any source of energy that burns fuel and is not seal combustion (that is have isolated source for combustion air) will cause the internal air to house air to be burned and exhausted. That inturn causes unconditioned air to be dawn into the house. That air has less mositure in it and thus the air ends up being drier.
That happens regardless of the method of deliver the heat to the rooms (force WA, gravity WA, steam, hot water baseboard, radiant) and regardless of the fuel (coal, wood, gas, oil).
Modern house that used high eff sealed combustion energy sources and low infiltration rates often have the oposite problem. Too much moisture for the occupants.
Other ways of heating include hot water baseboard heaters and electrical baseboard heaters and electric inwall heaters.