
Graham noted that the incremental additional cost of a hydronic system is fairly small in a new home but probably larger for a remodel. Installation:** A hydronic floor heating system can cost anywhere from $2 to $15 per square foot.
#RADIANT FLOOR HEATING COST TO OPERATE HYDRO VS ELECTRIC INSTALL#
If you’d like to install radiant floor heating in your home, here are the potential costs: Radiant floor heating costs depend on a handful of variables. “It’s more expensive to heat (your home) with electricity than most fossil fuels,” said Graham, “but if used in a limited area, such as a bathroom, it can be very effective.” While electric heating systems are costlier per square foot, Graham said, they don’t require a central boiler. A hydronic system uses a thermostat for each zone. Usually, electric floor heating uses a thermostat for each room. Electric floor heating, on the other hand, uses embedded resistance wires to heat the floor. “This allows for very precise control of the heating,” Graham said. These loops can be focused on a small part of your home, such as a shower. These zones are usually a group of rooms, which can be further subdivided into loops. This central boiler can provide warm water to several different areas of your house, which can be divided into zones. Tubing that’s embedded in the floor circulates warm water that is heated using a central boiler. What’s the difference between hydronic radiant floor heating and electric? In a general sense, hydronic radiant heating uses water to generate heat from your flooring, said Jim Graham, president of Sun & Earth Construction, LLC. Coupled with the fact that the raw materials are pretty inexpensive, electric floor heating is often an attractive choice for small DIY projects, primarily in bathroom floors and short hallways. Installing electric floor heating is relatively easier to install than a hydronic system. The thermostat controls the heat according to the temperature of the floor measured by a sensor. These systems have three major parts: a heat cable, a thermostat and a temperature sensor. (Photo credit: Dmitry Melnikov/Shutterstock)Įlectric floor heating generates heat through electricity running through resistance cables. It’s known to be a cost-effective route to take. Hydronic radiant floor heating is popular in parts of the country where temperatures dip in the winter. Depending on the system, the flow of hot water is controlled by either pumps and thermostats or zoning valves. Department of Energy, works by pumping heated water from a boiler through tubing laid under the floor. Otherwise known as liquid systems, hydronic radiant floor heating, as defined by the U.S.

The mechanisms behind radiant floor heating systems depend on whether you have a hydronic floor heating system or an electric one. Radiant floor heating relies on heat naturally circulating within a room as heat from the floor rises. How do radiant floor heating systems work? There are two main types of radiant floor heating: hydronic, which uses water, and electric.

While they might seem like the same thing, radiant floor heating systems and radiant heating systems that work through ceilings or walls are different.

Radiant floor heating relies on warm air naturally climbing. With radiant floor heating, heat comes from a hot surface below the floors and rises into the room using infrared radiation. Department of Energy compares radiant heating systems to the experience of standing near a stovetop in your kitchen. If you’re considering radiant floor heating to provide some extra heat in your home, you may want to evaluate some pros and cons and potential costs to help you figure out if this type of heating system Radiant floor heating, which uses convection to warm rooms from the floor up, is increasingly popular, especially in newer homes.
