QUESTION: I stayed in a hotel that had warm water radiant floor heating and it was very comfortable. Is it possible to install this type of heating in my own home and is it as energy efficient as a furnace?ANSWER: Radiant floor heating is one of the most comfortable forms of heat for almost any structure, including your home. The heat is steady and radiates upward from the floor to your body. Your feet will always be comfortably warm and this often makes your entire body feel toasty warm.Radiant floor heating also happens to be one of the most energy-efficient methods to heat a home for several reasons. Radiant heating, similar to standing in the sun on a cold winter day, warms your body and objects in your home, not just the room air as a forced-air furnace does.This allows you to keep the room air temperature somewhat lower, yet still feel comfortable. By keeping the indoor air temperature lower, there is less heat lost to the outdoors through the walls and windows. If less heat is lost outdoors, your heating system consumes less fuel.Figure on a savings of 1 to 2 percent for each degree you lower the thermostat.The plastic tubing, which the water flows through, ranges in size from just 3/8 to an inch in diameter. Typically, the tubing is laid on the floor in a serpentine pattern and then it is covered with a thin layer of cement. A tile or similar flooring material is often used to finish the floor, but hardwood or carpeting can also be used over it.Another installation option is placing specially designed spacer boards over the floor. These have grooves in them to recess the tubing. They also have horizontal aluminum fins to distribute the heat more evenly across the floor. If you have access to the joists beneath the floor, the tubing can be attached there.To simplify installation remote control (wireless) thermostats are available.The heating source for the hot water which flows through the piping in the floor is usually a standard gas or oil boiler for whole-house heating.If you are planning to heat just a room or two, such as the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, some high-efficiency, tank-type water heaters work well. Mini-duct or mini-split central air conditioning can be installed for summertime cooling if your house does not have central ducting.Because the temperature of the water flowing through the floor piping is not extremely hot, special solar panels can be used to heat the water.Another option is a water-to-water geothermal heat pump. This is efficient because it draws its heat from deep in the ground where the soil stays reasonably warm year-round.The following companies offer warm-water floor heating systems: Maxxon, (800) 356-7887, www.maxxon.com; Radiantec, (800) 451-7593, www.radiantec.com; Uponor, (800) 321-4739, www.uponor-usa.com; Warmboard, (877) 338-5493 www.warmboard.com; and Watts Radiant, (800) 276-2419, www.wattsradiant.com.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Butler Eagle, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.QUESTION: I have been getting quotations on having replacement windows installed. I am trying to decide whether to get the cheapest glass or the most efficient, which is most expensive. What should I get?ANSWER: The best type of glass depends upon your climate. In most climates, the least quality you should consider is low-emissivity (low-e) glass with argon gas in the gap.Have contractors do payback analyses for you.In very cold climates, you might find super-efficient triple- or quad-pane glass is your best choice. In hot climates, tinted or reflective glass may be best. The location of the low-e coating also depends upon your climate.