| If you're looking at building a new house, or adding | | | | initial cost than hydronic systems do. This is |
| an addition, you'll need to consider how you're | | | | because a hydronic system requires the |
| going to handle heating and cooling. You've | | | | installation of a boiler and plumbing, whereas on |
| probably looked at your typical forced air | | | | electric system just uses the wire you already |
| systems, but you heard about something called in | | | | have hooked up. This make electric systems ideal |
| floor radiant heating, and are intrigued. You can | | | | for smaller areas, such as bathrooms and |
| get warm, even heating, without having to deal | | | | additions, where the cost of installing and hooking |
| with allergen carrying ducts. You're pretty | | | | up a boiler would prove quite expensive. |
| interested in the idea, but you may still be worried | | | | However, these electric systems are far less |
| about the cost. | | | | efficient, meaning you'll pay more in electricity as |
| How do you determine the cost of radiant floor | | | | time goes on than you would with the more |
| heating? As it turns out, it depends on a lot of | | | | efficient hydronic system. This makes hydronic |
| different factors that you need to be considering. | | | | systems ideal when you need to heat your entire |
| In this article, we'll cover these factors, and | | | | house, since you will save a lot of money in the |
| explain how you can decide if radiant floor heating | | | | long run over most electric systems. |
| fits into your price range. | | | | Another confounding factor is the installation. |
| First of all, let's talk about the two most common | | | | Installing these types of systems isn't easy, so |
| radiant heating systems out there, electric and | | | | most opt for professional installation. However, if |
| hydronic. Electric systems place what is essentially | | | | you're a die hard do it yourselfer, its fair to say |
| a large electric blanket underneath your floor, | | | | that an electric system will be much easier to |
| which provides the heat. Hydronic systems | | | | install than a hydronic system. Something to take |
| employ a boiler to heat water which is then pump | | | | into account, for sure. |
| through a thin network of pipes underneath the | | | | So, you can see that there are many factors |
| floor. | | | | that go into pricing a radiant floor heating system. |
| These systems have two types of cost, the initial | | | | Of course, the best way is to find a company |
| cost, and the ongoing cost. the initial cost is what | | | | that specialize in in floor radiant heating, and get a |
| you have to pay when you get the system | | | | quote from them. This should give you a good |
| installed. The ongoing cost is how much it takes to | | | | start, though, and help you understand how these |
| keep running the system. | | | | things are priced. |
| Simply put, electric systems have a much lower | | | | |