Korean Job Discussion Forums

[coffeeman]

By now most of you probably have encountered the heated floor system which is found in many Korean buildings. Weird at first for foreigners like me, but logical I think since heat rises.

I am still trying to come to terms with this kind of heating system. I am not used to the feeling of having heat under my feet. Kinda like it, but something instinctual (like the natural fear of fire) makes me dislike it.

It is also sometimes a nuisance because you can't leave anything heat-sensitive on the floor like a bag of groceries or else there will be problems (I once had a box of chocolate sticks - pepero on the floor. You can guess what happened).

Anyway, what do you think? Like it or don't like it?

[sadsac]

I like it, but when it breaks it's a serious problem and a costly one to fix.

[ilovebdt]

I love it.!!! I am most comfortable on the floor anyway.

Only downfall is remembering not to leave choc etc on the floor if the ondol is on overnight.

[justagirl]

Absolutely love it. If I ever design my own home, I'll be installing ondol heating.

[kermo]

Love it. Convenient, quick and helpful with my chilly toes.

(I felt a little ripped off when I realized this wasn't a real poll. I like those things.)

[peppermint]

I used to LOVE it, but given the fact that the repairs in my place have been going on for 3 weeks now, with no end in sight. . Welll lets just say, I won't be installing it in a home in the west.

[ajgeddes]

The floor heating is becoming relatively common on Canada now, as well. My friends new house back in 1998 had it. I don't think it will ever take off that much though because it can really only be used on the bottom floor of a house, but not many people have that big of a need to have floor heating in their basement.

[Privateer]

[numazawa]

It gives me a warm feeling.


Just think, you can pee the bed and not have to wake up to that cold, clammy feeling anymore. It might even be half-dry by morning.

[Newbie]

I am not the biggest fan.

It keeps my feet warm, but doesn't give me that sense of all around warmth I am used to. Could be cuz my apart is poorly insulated (the walls are very cold to touch) I actually walked by a construction site, and they do in fact just use some thin, styrofoam insullation. They got to get the pink stuff!

Also, I would like heated floors best in my bathroom (as they do in Canada with a lot of new projects), but no such luck.

[Homer]

At first...did not like it.

Now...I love it.

It is true however that if it breaks, roll out the won to fix it!

[Wangja]

Brilliant. If I build a new home at home, and can afford to, I will install it there.

[cypher]

At first, I loved it. Toasty toes on a cold winter morn and all.

Now, not so much. My feet are frying but I have chills through the rest of my body.

[desultude]

I LOVE ondol, for all of the reasons people mentioned.

When I build a home again (I built one in the 70's- actually built, from the ground up) it will have ondol. I would think that in a house, with proper design for access for repairs, it would not be such a problem. I suspect the real problem is when it is built in apt. buildings.

Any new home I have will also have an Asian style bathroom. I want it to be larger, but with a big deep tub, like I have now, and a drain in the floor. I love being able to hose down the whole thing! In fact, I want to design that quality into the kitchen, also.

[weatherman]

Ondol is generally great, but the more I sleep on the floor more I don't like the feeling of heat rising up. I feel like I am being cooked slowly. Sleeping on a cold floor sucks too. Finding that happy middle, is hard especially as your body's mood (chemistry?) changes a bit overnight.