Radiant ceiling cable heat uses electrical resistance to heat a room.
Radiant ceiling cable heat is one variant of radiant electrical heating, a type of heating technology used for residential and commercial spaces. Radiant electrical heating uses electric heating elements embedded in the floor or ceiling to warm a room.
Construction
In the case of radiant ceiling cable heating, a long cable is run back and forth across the ceiling of a room while the building is under construction. It is connected to a thermostat and a supply of electricity, then covered over with drywall or plaster. It is thus not visible after the room is finished.
Principle
Electricity is run through the cable embedded in the ceiling. The resistance of the cable results in some of the electrical energy being converted into heat. That heat radiates into the room, warming it.
Drawbacks
There are several drawbacks to radiant ceiling cable heat which resulted in it falling out of favor as a heating solution in new homes and businesses. The location of the cable in the ceiling makes it less effective at heating a space because hot air rises, thus most of the heat never makes it down to the room it was intended to heat. Additionally, the cabling can make it difficult to apply drywall or plaster to the ceiling, and may even cause damage to such coverings over time.
Tags: cable heat, ceiling cable heat, ceiling cable, ceiling cable, drywall plaster,