Great Finds

Jeff Glassman

Jeff Glassman, Pinnacle Custom, Millburn, N.J.

Building homes in a cold-weather climate, custom builder Jeff Glassman has learned that using radiant heat systems under floors creates a more comfortable room. He mostly incorporates the systems into kitchens and master baths where “it takes the chill out of the floor and gives a very comfortable, cozy feel,” he says. He favors Nuheat’s radiant mats because of their ease of installation. Nuheat’s electrical resistance wires are evenly spaced and bonded between two sheets of material, allowing the tile setter or flooring installer to lay materials over the mat without worrying about displacing the wires. “You just roll it out and it’s ready to install,” Glassman says.

Nuheat also offers more than 60 different standard sizes, making it easier to fit most rooms. The company can also provide custom mats to fit curves, angles, and protruding fixtures. A programmable thermostat allows homeowners to set floor temperatures and program specific days and times of use.

Nuheat. 800.778.9276. www.nuheat.com

Jon Rufty

Rufty Custom Built Homes, Cary, N.C.

In the Southeast, humidity can cause many indoor comfort issues. Custom builder Jon Rufty wanted to find a way to bring fresh outdoor air into his homes without introducing high levels of moisture and without creating negative pressure in the structures. Rufty found his solution in Therma-Stor’s ducted and stand-alone dehumidification systems, and now uses one or the other of these systems in 75 percent of his projects. “We saw this as a solution that would help us address all those issues,” he says.

The ducted Ultra-Aire 150H provides fresh-air ventilation, air filtration, and high-capacity dehumidification, creating positive pressure in the structure and preventing infiltration of humid outdoor air and pollutants. The system can remove up to 140 pints of water per day. For cool, high-moisture basement and crawlspace applications, Rufty prefers to use the Energy-Star-qualified Santa Fe stand-alone dehumidifiers, sometimes coupled with the home’s HVAC system to bring in fresh outdoor air and send it to different areas of the home. The Santa Fe system operates effectively in temperatures as low as 53 degrees F, according to the manufacturer.

Therma-Stor. 800.533.7533. www.thermastor.com