| If you've decide warm floors would be nice and | | | | Smaller areas are more suited to electric radiant |
| you are thinking of installing a radiant heat | | | | heat. |
| system, you already know it's not quite that | | | | Electric radiant heat is quite often called a line |
| simple. If you've typed radiant heat into Google | | | | voltage system and they are really gaining in |
| you may become quickly confused at all of the | | | | popularity recently and it is perfect for areas up |
| options. Which is best? Electric radiant heat or | | | | to 300 square feet like kitchens, sunrooms, and |
| hydronic radiant heat. The answer depends on | | | | bathrooms. The system is made up of heating |
| what type of project you are doing. | | | | cable and a thermostat. These systems are |
| Each system has a type of installation that it's | | | | considerably less expensive and the way they are |
| best suited for. So let's have look at both electric | | | | installed allows you to lay the install out just how |
| radiant heat and hydronic radiant heat. | | | | you like it. You can even cover every inch of the |
| Hydronic radiant heat is actually the oldest of the | | | | floor if you like. |
| radiant floor heating systems and it still remains | | | | All cable systems have the same effectiveness, |
| the most popular. The system is made up of a | | | | which leaves you with examining other elements |
| boiler or hot water heater, manifolds, pumps, | | | | before you make your choice. Consider warranty |
| thermostat, pex tubing, and either gypcrete or | | | | as well as how easy the installation process is, and |
| wood panels. | | | | of course price. |
| Although hydronic radiant heat is the most popular | | | | One last system, which we'll briefly mention, is the |
| it is also the most complex system requiring | | | | low voltage radiant heat, which is perfect for |
| professionals to both design and install the | | | | areas ranging from 300 to 3000 square feet. This |
| system. Hydronics can be installed under any | | | | is a very low profile system. It's beginning to |
| flooring type. But the biggest challenge has always | | | | catch on and one reason it's appealing is the size |
| been getting the hot water tubing installed in the | | | | range it can be used on. It uses a 12" wide wire |
| light concrete bed and sometimes the floor height | | | | mesh that looks like the material used in a screen |
| must be adjusted. Recently there have been | | | | door. The appeal is because it's so thin that it |
| some new products that are both lightweight and | | | | means there is no big problem with having enough |
| allow the tubes to be fitted into pre-cut wood | | | | clearance or having to install into concrete. Rather |
| panels that make the entire installation much | | | | the mesh installs directly to the tile, carpet, or |
| easier. | | | | hardwood. |
| If you want to heat a small area like a kitchen or | | | | Now that you have a lot more information on |
| bath, then hydronic radiant heat is not always the | | | | electric radiant heat and hydronic radiant heat, you |
| best choice. This is a cost and complex system | | | | are in a much better position to decide what's |
| that has long-term maintenance and thus is much | | | | right for you. |
| more suited to installation into a larger area. | | | | |