Comfort Cove Infrared Radiant Heater FAQs
Many of our readers are aware that there are a variety of ways to address problem comfort areas in your home. Depending on the home, these solutions could include expanding heating and/or cooling distribution from an existing central system, or adding an independent system such as a mini-split heat pump or an infrared radiant heater – both of which are electrically efficient and are considered to be “green” home comfort options.
In this post, we’re going to revisit the Comfort Cove infrared radiant heaters, from Radiant Systems Inc., that are a growing heating solution and which are suited to many different rooms in a home. Our focus this time will be on the most common questions we hear from potential customers about these versatile heating products.
What Is an Infrared Radiant Cove Heater?
Unlike many traditional central heating systems, which either blow warm air or distribute heat thru baseboard heaters or radiant floor systems, the warmth provided by infrared radiant heaters is similar to standing in direct sunlight or in front of a burning wood stove, but without the light or flame aspect. You can feel the heat directly warming your skin, without the need for circulating warm air or hot water, fans or pumps.
What’s the ‘Cove’ All About?
The “cove” part of the name refers to the location of the heater. Cove heaters are very compact and are typically installed lengthwise along the upper part of a wall, in what’s known as the cove area, where the wall meets the ceiling. Above is a nice side view color drawing of how these heaters provide both radiant and convective heating.
What Are the Benefits of Comfort Cove Radiant Cove Heaters?
There are plenty of reasons why these products are becoming popular with homeowners in the Denver/Boulder area and North Metro region. Here’s some highlights of the most attractive benefits that Comfort Cove radiant heaters provide:
- Heating boost for existing systems: Comfort Cove heaters are a great compliment to existing heating systems, providing a welcome comfort boost, where and when it’s needed. You can even heat an entire home with them
- Effective, responsive heating: Infrared radiant cove heaters directly heat objects and people in the room. Quick response and effective heating, without the lag time that some types of systems require
- Electrically efficient: Their effective, responsive design, combined with their lower operating costs compared to other electric heaters, make Comfort Cove heaters a smart alternative for homeowners who prefer an electric-based heating approach. Please note: If the room also has cooling needs, ask us about mini-split heat pumps, which provide both heating and AC
- Zoning: Comfort Cove heaters are a zone-able heating solution that allows you to customize heating needs in individual rooms, allowing you to stay nice and comfortable in rooms that you’re using, while other rooms are turned cooler and energy consumption is minimized
- Whisper quiet: Comfort Cove radiant heaters operate virtually silently, which makes them a good fit for bedrooms, home offices, dining rooms, great rooms, and many other areas in your home
- Space-saving design: These heaters don’t take up any valuable floor space, with a sleek, unobtrusive appearance, located high on a wall, up and safely out of the way
- Low maintenance: Comfort Cove heaters are super low maintenance. No detailed, annual procedures requiring an industry professional are needed in most cases
Why Electric-Powered, as Opposed to Gas-Fired Infrared Heaters?
Electric radiant heaters like Comfort Cove heaters are becoming the go-to type of heater for the applications we’ve discussed above. Since they don’t burn any fossil fuels such as natural gas or propane, there’s no installation complications involving gas piping or venting, making them a much easier and aesthetically pleasing retrofit in existing homes. In addition, electric-powered radiant heaters have carved a niche in the “green” home comfort movement and should be an appropriate fit for anticipated building code revisions around the Denver metro area.
Are Comfort Cove Heaters A Potential Eyesore?
Most homeowners we’ve worked with feel that they are not a distraction or an eyesore. Comfort Cove radiant cove heaters are compact and unobtrusive, and take up zero floor space. They are only 4 inches tall, and extend out from the wall about 3 inches. Maintaining this sleek, compact profile, the units range between 3 feet and 10 feet in length, depending on the heating needs of the room and the preferences of the homeowner.
Are Radiant Cove Heaters Noisy?
As mentioned above, one of the features and benefits that many homeowners appreciate about these products is that they have virtually no operating sounds. A great fit for many different rooms in a home.
Are Comfort Cove Heaters Expensive to Have Installed?
The short answer to this question is that it really depends on the specific installation and the homeowner. There are so many variables, such as the number of units needed, their exact locations, electrical system requirements, and more, that there’s no simple rule-of-thumb answer.
Add to that the reality that one person’s definition of “expensive” may be very different than another’s. So, we’ll do our best to respectfully sidestep this question, until we can learn more about our prospective customer, their comfort goals, and their home.
Do Comfort Cove Heaters Need a New Electrical Circuit & Circuit Breaker?
Comfort Cove heaters are available in both 120 volt and 240 volt models. 240 volt models are more popular with our customers because of their higher efficiency, lower operating costs, and lower (i.e. safer) amperage ratings. As code and safety factors require in specific instances, most of these electric heaters are installed with their own dedicated electrical circuit, with a dedicated and labeled breaker switch in the home’s electrical panel.
Is There Room in the Electrical Panel?
Installing these heaters often does not require major modifications of the home’s electrical panel – this, assuming that there is room in the panel to accomodate any needed new breaker switches. Each home’s electrical system is closely inspected and the work specified when our we provide a free installation quote, eliminating any potential surprises before the installation is performed.
Are Comfort Cove Heaters Available in Designer Colors?
Yes! Currently, there are six different custom colors available, including white, off-white, light gray, almond, sandalwood, and walnut.
Are They Wi-Fi Compatible?
In addition to traditional zoned thermostat operation, Wi-Fi connectivity is available through proprietary smart thermostats that can be special ordered from the manufacturer.
What Are the Maintenance Requirements for Comfort Cove Heaters?
Outside of routine, basic exterior cleaning of the units and checking for proper operation from the thermostat, these units are virtually maintenance-free. No fancy internal elements or components to inspect, clean, or replace annually.
Expert Infrared Radiant Cove Heater Installation in Metro Denver/Boulder & North Metro Region
In the right application, infrared radiant cove heaters can be a great option for heating up chilly rooms in your home that need an assist. They can even be used to heat an entire home.
In the Denver metro area, serving homeowners from Highlands Ranch and Littleton, to Denver, Boulder, and the Loveland area, please reach out to our team at Save Home Heat Company for friendly, expert, low-pressure recommendations on heating solutions that make the most sense for you and your home.
Please keep our team at Save Home Heat in mind for all your home electrical needs.
