Choose radiant heat in bathroom

Dear Jim: I plan to remodel and enlarge the bathroom in my older house. Comfort and decor are most important, but I also desire energy efficiency. My designer handled the decor. Do you have any efficiency tips? – Pat S.

Dear Pat: Bathrooms have become living spaces in today’s homes as opposed to just functional rooms for showering and other necessary activities. With all the hot water usage, heating, ventilation and intense lighting, spending a lot of time in a bathroom can push up your monthly energy and water bills.

By selecting the proper products during the design phase, you can make your new bathroom superefficient without sacrificing comfort or style. Often, the most energy-efficient bathroom products are also the upper-end models with all the comfort features and styling bells and whistles included.

The first item to consider is how you will heat the bathroom. Electric radiant heat panels are your best choice. They provide heat quickly without having to first warm all the air in the bathroom. Standing in front of a wall radiant panel feels similar to standing in radiant heat rays from the sun.

If you are redoing the floor, install electric radiant heating mats under the tile. Since this heats slower than a wall panel, control it with a clock thermostat so it starts several minutes before your morning alarm goes off. Even during the summer, people still like to step out on to a warm floor after showering. It can make your entire body feel warmer.

Installing a towel warmer will help efficiency and comfort. Just wrapping yourself in a warmed towel can often eliminate the need for any additional bathroom heat after showering.

Install a simple towel warmer that mounts on the door hinge. It is flat against the wall and takes up no floor space.

Install a low-flow showerhead with a shower water filter that has a KDF element to remove chlorine. The new designs reduce the hot-water usage by half while still providing a forceful shower spray. I use one in my own bathroom with an integral KDF chlorine filter. It also has a pulsating massage setting.

Natural lighting is best for applying makeup in a bathroom. Installing a tubular skylight that has a built-in vent fan will provide ample brightness for any bathroom. If you don’t have access to the roof for natural light, install compact fluorescent bulbs with a color rendition index above 90.

The quietness of a vent fan has an impact on the enjoyment and the efficiency of your bathroom. Wood-trimmed ones are stylish. Compare the sone rating on the packaging – lower is better – to get a quiet one. Select one with a built-in dim night light for electricity savings at night. Follow the sizing guidelines on the packaging – bigger is not necessarily better or more efficient.

Write for Update Bulletin No. 594, a buyer’s guide of 14 efficient-comfort bathroom products including heaters, vent fans, showerheads, unique showers, lighting, towel warmers, showers, whirlpools, toilets and ceramic tile. Include $3 and a business-size SASE. James Dulley, newspaper name, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244. Or instantly download the guide at www.dulley.com.

Dear Jim: Our neighbors recently had a clothes washer malfunction and the entire area was flooded before they realized what had happened. Are there any ways to guard against this to avoid all the damage? – Paula A.

Dear Paula: I do not know of any device that will shut off the water supply if a leak occurs. You may be able to rig up some type of solenoid valve on the water main and a floor sensor to trigger the solenoid.

Your best bet is to install a simple water-sensor alarm. These can detect the water when it is less than ? inch deep. Two manufacturers of these sensors are Sonin, (800) 223-7511, and Zircon (800) 245-9265.