When you sit near a Tulikivi fireplace, you experience a pleasant feeling of warmth. This penetrating yet comfortable radiant heat is the same heat that travels to us from the sun as infra red light (infra red radiation). This sunshine from a Tulikivi is not dependant on the air temperature to make its effects felt. On a bright sunny day one can feel quite warm from the radiant heat of the sun even though the air temperatures are quite cold. Likewise one will feel comfortable at relatively cooler room air temperatures in a radiantly heated home.
Tulikivi fireplaces radiate a penetrating warmth. This warmth is strongest the nearer you position yourself to the fireplace.
Forced air heating system and traditional wood stoves depend on the movement of air to circulate their heat. The room air is constantly in motion, stirring up dust and other impurities, which then travel into the lungs with every inhalation. In a radiantly heated room air movement, while not eliminated, is much calmer. Drafty conditions are reduced insuring a healthier and more comfortable living area.
Unlike radiant heat, the air in a room heated by convection dries out because the humidity within the room condenses inside the walls and passes out of the house.
In a room with forced air system or traditional wood stove, heated air comes in contact with relatively cold walls through the natural convection of the hot air generated by these heating systems. When this happens moisture from the home condenses inside the walls and passes out of the home. The radiant heat from a Tulikivi heats the walls directly, which in turn stabilize the air temperature in the room. Walls and air temperature are the same. There is no condensation in the walls, consequently no loss of humidity and no dry air. Humidity trapped in the walls can serve as a breeding ground for microorganisms such a dust mites and microbes, which cause irritation to the respiratory system.
Engineers speak of kilowatts and BTUs when they describe heating capacity. These measurements however, say nothing about the quality of the heat generated. They tell us nothing about the relaxing effect radiant heat has on tired and cold muscles, nor of the stress relief it provides. They cannot communicate the calming effect and relief from stress that relaxing in front of a fire can have. No one falls in love with a radiator, but people do fall in love with their Tulikivi’s.
Radiant heat feels similar to the warmth of the spring sun on your face. The feeling is enjoyable, but what causes it?
Radiant heat from soapstone penetrates the outer layer of the epidermis. The heat is absorbed into the blood stream.
Warm air is unable to penetrate the outer layer of the epidermis, which acts as an insulator.
The pleasant feeling caused by radiant heat from a stone fireplace is further enhanced by the fact that radiant heat can penetrate the outer layer of the skin’s epidermis and be absorbed directly by the blood stream. The closer you are to the radiant heat source the stronger this effect is felt. If you lean against a Tulikivi or sit on a heated soapstone bench you get the full effect of this remarkable benefit.
An older person more likely to suffer from the cold and a younger person bursting with energy can both find their own spot in the same room, a spot where they feel most comfortable.
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