installing electric radiant floor heating

#Installing electric radiant floor heating install#
#Installing electric radiant floor heating professional#

Whether you choose hydronic or electric heating, radiant heat is a valuable addition to your space. In short, fixes to electric radiant heating can be extremely expensive and time-consuming. If the in-slab electric fails, you cannot make spot repairs - you’ll likely have to replace the entire electric mat, including replacing the tile floors.

Repairs are near impossible: We can’t sugarcoat this one.

An alternative is to heat only a few rooms - such as bathrooms and entryways - that are prone to moisture or cold.

Higher operating cost: Due to the cost of electricity, heating an entire home or building with electric radiant heating can become expensive.

#Installing electric radiant floor heating install#

Lower maintenance: Once you install electric heating, the system requires little to no upkeep.Less expensive to install: The installation process is often much simpler than a hydronic heating system’s, requiring cheaper materials, less work, and less time.

The main drawback? The spike in your electrical bill. Electric heating is simple and easy to install. The thermostat connects to the power supply and responds to the readings from the temperature sensor, which connects to the heat cables in the floor. This method essentially requires just three parts: an electric mat, a thermostat, and a temperature sensor. In most cases, electric radiant heat is most effective as a floor warming application only it is not designed to heat an entire building or home.

#Installing electric radiant floor heating professional#

Typically it will require a professional for maintenance or repair.Įlectric radiant heating uses electric mats that lay just beneath your floor coverings, typically under tile flooring. Higher maintenance: Just like with any plumbing system, maintenance is required for proper efficient operation.Higher initial investment : The process and components for installing a hydronic heating system is much more involved than for conventional heating systems.

This makes hydronic heating a less expensive method for heating an entire building or home.

Lower operating cost: Hydronic radiant floor heat is approximately 30% more efficient than other conventional systems.

While the required materials - a boiler, a pump, and assorted hydronic accessories - can result in a higher upfront installation cost, you can save up to 30% more in operating costs compared to conventional heating systems. Hydronic radiant floor heating is one of the most effective and efficient means for heating your space.

Embed the system within your concrete floor (slab).

On top of the subfloor with a light weight concrete or gypcrete overpour (thin slab).

(This piping is also known as PEX or crossed-linked polyethylene.) Heated water, generated by your boiler system, circulates through piping installed in the floor throughout a building or home. Put simply, hydronic radiant floor heating uses hot water to warm the floor. We’ll give you our professional takes on both. Each requires its own method of installation, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. There are two common types of radiant floor heat: hydronic and electric mat. As a result, radiant floor heating is an incredibly comfortable way to stay warm. (If you’ve never walked on heated flooring in bare feet, find a heated floor, take off your socks, and thank us later.) Heated flooring provides an even heat that reaches every part of your space, eliminating the cool spots and drafts that are typical of conventional forced air systems.

What is radiant floor heat?Ī radiant floor heating system is simple in concept: the heat radiates upward from the floor to warm the rooms of a home or building. We’ll explain how it works, the differences between hydronic radiant heat and electric radiant heat systems, and the most effective ways to install both. If you aren’t familiar with radiant heat, don’t sweat it. By installing your heat source in the floor rather than relying on hot water, electric baseboard, or conventional forced air heating, you can expect comfortable, well-balanced warmth throughout your home or building.

Radiant floor heating is an advanced and increasingly popular method for heating both commercial and residential properties - especially in Montana cities like Bozeman and Billings. Looking for an innovative way to warm your space? Try radiant floor heating.