| If you are looking to warm your floors with a | | | | feet) like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. |
| radiant heat system, and have typed "radiant | | | | These systems are comprised of a thermostat |
| heat system" into a search engine, you might find | | | | and a heating cable. On some systems, the cable |
| yourself scratching your head at this point. There | | | | will be shipped to you as a large spool of cable. |
| are dozens of products available to purchase, and | | | | These systems are often times less expensive, |
| there are even more companies telling you that | | | | and give you the ability to space the cable how |
| their product is the best. | | | | you want and customize a layout that will heat |
| So which product is the best? Should you install a | | | | every square inch of your floor. Other systems |
| hydronic heating system that pumps hot water | | | | have the cable attached to a plastic mesh or tape |
| through your floors, an electric cable heating | | | | to create a mat to maintain its proper spacing. |
| system, or a low voltage screen system? The | | | | Every available cable system is equally effective, |
| answer lies in the type of project you are doing. | | | | and so when determining which system to |
| Not every system is ideal for every project, but | | | | purchase, you should look at the warranty of the |
| there is an ideal system for every project. | | | | product, along with the ease of installation. Some |
| Hydronic Heating Systems | | | | cables must be embedded in a separate layer of |
| Hydronic floor heating is the oldest and most | | | | concrete or mortar, whereas other systems can |
| popular type of radiant floor heating. These | | | | simply be installed in the thin set. Most cable |
| systems are comprised of a boiler or hot water | | | | systems can only be installed under tile. However, |
| heater, pumps, manifolds, pex tubing, thermostat, | | | | on others, if the cable is embedded in mortar or |
| and either gypcrete (a concrete-like material) or | | | | concrete, any flooring can be installed on top of |
| wood panels. Hydronic heating is the most | | | | the concrete. When heating smaller areas, it is |
| complex of all radiant heat systems. These | | | | nearly impossible to beat the simplicity and price |
| systems require trained professionals to design | | | | of an electric cable heating system. |
| and perform the installation. Your best economies | | | | Low-Voltage Screen |
| of scale are achieved for hydronic systems in | | | | Finally, there are low-voltage radiant heat |
| large areas or entire homes because of their | | | | systems. These systems are ideal for mid-size to |
| expensive components and operational costs. | | | | larger areas (300-3000 square feet) and are |
| Hydronic systems can be installed under any type | | | | comprised of a control box, transformer, heating |
| of flooring. Most hydronic systems require hot | | | | screen or cable, and thermostat. The main |
| water tubing to be installed in a 2 to 4 inch bed of | | | | advantage to a low-voltage screen (Zmesh) |
| light concrete and are best installed during the | | | | system is the extremely low profile of the |
| initial construction because of its weight load | | | | heating element. Zmesh is a 12 inch wide |
| demands and adjustments to floor height. Recent | | | | bronze-wired mesh that resembles screen door |
| low-mass products have been developed to avoid | | | | material. This mesh is practically paper thin and |
| these challenges by fitting the tubing into pre-cut | | | | does not buildup floors during the installation. |
| wood panels making hydronic systems more | | | | Zmesh can be installed directly under any type of |
| convenient and possible for most major | | | | flooring including hardwood, tile, and carpet. |
| remodeling projects. | | | | Whereas most cable systems must be installed |
| If you want to heat smaller areas like a bathroom | | | | on top of the concrete board when installing tile, |
| or kitchen, a hydronic floor heating system may | | | | Zmesh can be installed underneath it. These |
| not be the best value for your project. The | | | | systems are easy to install and don't require |
| complexity and cost of installing the system, along | | | | maintenance like a hydronic system. |
| with the long-term maintenance and up-keep | | | | Radiant heat technology has made significant |
| required, is not worth the small amount you will | | | | advances over the years and is an excellent way |
| save in operational costs. | | | | to supplement your existing heating system or be |
| Electric Cable Heating | | | | your sole source of heat. One good way to be |
| Electric cable heating systems, often called line or | | | | assured that you're being sold the best system |
| high voltage systems, are gaining popularity and | | | | for your project is to buy from a company that |
| are ideal for heating smaller areas (10-300 square | | | | offers all of the available types of radiant heat. |