Radiant Heat-Electric-Hydronic
Radiant Heat-Electric-Hydronic?
Electric or Hydronic floor heating, what's best for you?
When Should You Go with Hydronic?
For sole source heating of the complete house, 90% of the time hydronic radiant heating is a better option for you than electric. However, even if you plan a whole house, the electric system will be a better choice in climates where you often need to heat only a few hours in the morning and a few hours at night.
When Should You Go with Electric?
For both spot warming or sole source heating, it has been found that in 90% of cases electric radiant is better for you than hydronic.
You should expect to spend $400 to $800 to install an electric system for warming a small bathroom. An equivalent hydronic system would run $4,000 to $5,000.Hydronic systems have high start-up costs because you have to buy a boiler. As a result, electric radiant heat is more cost-effective on 1 to 5 rooms projects.
Radiant Heat-Electric-Hydronic?
What are the advantages of electric over hydronic floor heating?
1. One difference is the floor elevation involved. The hydronic floor heating system elevates the floor by a couple of inches, which can be a problem in many remodeling jobs. Thin electric systems will elevate the floor by only 1/8".
2. Time Spent to Heat Up
Hydronic systems are placed 1.5" or 2" into a cement slab. This is so deep into the floor that it usually takes 4 to 7 hours to heat up when they are first turned ON. Therefore, they are left ON for many hours and consume energy during a longer period of time.
3. Energy Savings
The electric heating mats are placed above the sub-floor, just under the flooring material. They will heat the floor in 30 to 60 minutes under tile They are controlled by a timer and a thermostat and in most cases, the homeowners will preset ON-OFF cycles to provide heat only WHEN they need it and WHERE they need it (selecting rooms and heating from your feet up).
In remodeling jobs or in select rooms of a new construction hydronic systems will cost more to install. In very large jobs (complete home in new constructions), the hydronic radiant floor heating systems will often be less expensive to install.
5.Maintenance and Repairs
Hydronic systems need to circulate water continuously and they use valves and manifolds, which are prone to sedimentation, mechanical problems and maintenance issues. Electric heating systems have no moving parts and require no maintenance. If a hydronic installation is faulty, it is difficult to find a leak and the system is difficult to repair. With electric systems an underground fault detector can find the exact location of the break and after breaking just one or two tiles it is easier to splice the electric cable and replace the few tiles removed.
5. Operating Costs
The cost of electricity in America varies between 3 cents/kWh up to 18 cents per kWh, therefore, the cost of generating 1,000 BTU with a hydronic system may sometimes be lower than the cost of generating 1,000 BTU with an electric system. However, the real comparison needs to consider the different ways these two systems are used. The hydronic system will be ON for many hours, while the electric system will be ON-&-OFF several times a day according to the ON-OFF settings of each room thermostat. Moreover, during each ON period, the electric system will only use electricity continuously for the initial period of temperature build-up. After that, it will cycle between ON and OFF and will only draw electricity during 25% to 33% of the time remaining during the ON period.
A well designed hydronic radiant system with a 96% efficient condensing boiler, stainless steel indirect water heater, Pex tubing, brass manifolds, thermostats and all necessary equipment to install it will normally cost about $3.00 per Sq. Ft., less than $2.00 for a slab on grade. The larger the home the less the cost of equipment per Sq. Ft. A 5,000 Sq. Ft home will cost about $2.00 per Sq. Ft. even using the very best equipment. A radiant floor heating system, if designed and installed properly will be the most comfortable, efficient and can often be installed for less than a forced air system.
Can radiant floor heating be installed in new or existing homes ? Yes. Radiant heating systems can be easily designed and installed in new construction, however homeowners wishing to renovate may incorporate hydronic radiant floor heating throughout the home, given certain conditions exist:
1. The building structure ceiling heights and extra weight are sufficient for the additional sleepers and sub flooring, or the underside of the sub floor is accessible, or if being added to the basement, there is enough height for a concrete over pour above the insulation. (If the concrete floor is already insulated below, additional insulation is not necessary.)
True Or False?
Can Electric underfloor heating be my Sole Source of heat?
Most people would answer no to this question. Claiming only a hydronic radiant heating system can be used for a whole house application.
However, a hydronic system in a cold state area (Nebraska, Illinois, etc.) will generally be designed at 18 BTU/hr/sq.ft. under tile and 30 BTU/hr/sq.ft. under carpet. So, if we translate this heating capacity in electrical watts it corresponds to 5.3-watt/sq.ft. under tile and 8.8-watt/sq.ft. under carpet.
So the answer to the question is yes. An electric underfloor heating system can be used for sole source heating.
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