With all of the advancements that have been made in radiant ceiling heating, it is easy to see why people would want to have the system in their homes. Having radiant ceiling heat is an efficient home improvement option that keeps you cozy during the winter months. It also reduces energy costs by keeping your home at a constant temperature.
But when your radiant ceiling heat is not working properly, it can be a major hassle. If you have outdated or malfunctioning radiant ceiling heat, you might consider disconnecting it.
You can disconnect radiant ceiling heat by turning off the radiator, shutting off the power to the system at the thermostat, then turning off the main water valve, which is usually located near the water heater.
Most radiant ceiling heating systems warm the room evenly by using a series of pipes that are connected to a central boiler and are positioned in the ceiling of the room.
You can control the system by adjusting the thermostat of the central boiler.
In this article, I have prepared steps that will help you disconnect radiant ceiling heating. Here we go.
Ways of disconnecting radiant ceiling heat
If you live in an older home, you’ve probably been made aware that your radiant ceiling heat needs to be serviced on a regular basis—but if you’re not familiar with what that means, you might be confused by what your heating contractor is telling you.
Fortunately, I’ve a simple explanation.
It has to do with the broken thermostat or grease and grime that builds up on your heating coils over time, which inhibits the spread of heat throughout your home.
Radiant ceiling heat uses tubing in your home’s ceiling to provide heat.
The heat is either electric or hot water that is pumped through the tubing and into your home.
Installing radiant ceiling heat is a big job, and you should leave it to the pros.
If you want to remove the radiant ceiling heat, however, you can do it yourself.
Step 1: Shut off all the power to the radiant ceiling heating system.
Step 2: Turn the circuit breaker off or unscrew the fuse for the system at your main electrical panel.
Step 3: Next, remove the ceiling tiles.
Step 4: Find the metal box on the ceiling that contains the thermostat and the wires leading from the radiant ceiling heating system.
Step 5: Unscrew the screws holding the cover in place, then remove the cover to reveal the radiant heat unit
Step 6: Disconnect the radiator
Step 7: Remove the thermostat
Step 8: Then, turn off the main water valve
How long does radiant ceiling heat last
If you live in a home with radiant ceiling heat, you know how nice it is on those cold winter days.
Radiant ceiling heat warms your home quickly and evenly to give you a comfortable, cozy feeling.
But even with that pleasant advantage, you may be wondering how long radiant ceiling heat lasts.
Depending on the size and materials used in the room, heat can last anywhere from eight to ten hours.
In order to determine how long will the heat last, you must understand the concept of heat loss. Heat loss plays a huge role in how long the heat will last on your radiant ceiling heat.
Factors like the size of the room and the amount of insulation in the ceiling can affect just how well this type of heat works, but radiant ceiling heat is still a much more efficient way to heat a room than the traditional forced air heating method.
When installing a radiant ceiling heating system, I’d say the most important aspect is the quality of the components used. A good quality radiant ceiling heating system will last between 15 to 30 years if they are properly maintained.
How to reduce radiant ceiling heating energy consumption
Before you begin tweaking your system, I think it’s important to understand that the goal is to make the radiant ceiling heating more effective while decreasing its energy consumption.
In order to achieve this, you need to adjust the temperature of the thermostat that controls the heating.
In addition to this, you will need to add a simple timer that will allow you to heat the house for longer periods (6-8 hours) a day, but at a lower temperature.
For example, you can set the timer to turn on the heating at 3 pm and off at 9 pm when going to bed. If you have a smart thermostat, you can use its timer function.
If you do this, the radiator will remain off when you don’t need it.
Why you may want to consider disconnecting radiant ceiling heating
It’s easy to get caught up in the radiant ceiling heating trend.
After all, radiant heating systems allow you to control the temperature of each room independently, which is especially nice in a home where everyone has different preferences.
But when you install radiant ceiling heating in every room in your home, consider this: ceiling heat can make you feel too warm if you’re sitting and standing still.
In order to maintain a comfortable temperature in a room, the heat in a radiant ceiling heating system is usually controlled by a thermostat that can be set at the desired temperature of the room.
However, in some homes, I see radiant ceiling heating systems installed without thermostats, or the thermostat not set correctly for the comfort of the occupants.
If this is the case, the heating system may be running continuously, wasting energy and costing the homeowner money.
You may also want to turn off the controls that will shut off the heating system when you are away for extended periods of time.
Disconnecting your radiant ceiling heating system is a great way to save money. By rerouting your pipes to deactivate the system, you can save close to $50 per month.
There are some instances where radiant systems may not be recommended. For example, if you have a home with high ceilings and a low roof pitch, I don’t think radiant heating will be the best option since warm air is less dense and will float higher up the room.
Also, the radiant may not work well if the home is not insulated. In addition, radiant ceiling heating is not recommended if you do not have an even, level floor plan.
