Radiant Heating Options

Electric Radiant Floors

• An electric radiant floor system often consists of electrical cables built into the floor. Another installation method features mats composed of electrically conductive plastic or with cables installed between the materials. Installers attach the mat to a subfloor. Electric radiant heating systems installed in a superior thermal mass, such as concrete, and operated during off-peak hours offer greater efficiency. A thermal mass can store heat and maintain the comfort level for eight to ten hours. Electric radiant floor heat systems are easily installed by do-it-yourself homeowners. This heating option works best as a supplementary heating source or for heating room additions.

Hydronic Radiant Floors

• Hydronic radiant floor heat has a pump that circulates warm water from a storage tank through tubes. The tubes connect to a heat exchanger, such as a baseboard or radiator, which disperses heat into the space. Some hydronic systems may use antifreeze mixes or other liquids instead of water. The boiler is the most important part of the hydronic radiant floor heating system. Homeowners can choose from tankless hydronic water heaters, combined hot water and heating boilers, solar water heaters and geothermal heat pumps. The hydronic design includes zoning valves and thermostats that control the temperature in each room.

  Tankless hydronic water heaters produce hot water on demand, which makes this unit very efficient. Originally designed for commercial application, combined hydronic hot water and heating system boilers now come in residential tank or tankless models. Typically, solar water heaters serve as back-up heating sources. Geothermal heat pumps draw warm water from below the earth's surface, which reduces the reliance on other fuel to heat the liquid that flows through the system. Owners can choose from multiple fuel sources, such as oil, propane, electricity and natural gas.

Installation

• The process for installing electric cables or tubing falls under two categories: wet or dry installations. The wet installation method consists of installing radiant floor tubing in a concrete slab or in lightweight concrete applied over a plywood subfloor. The dry installation technique requires the installer to mount tubing between layers of plywood or under the subfloor or finish flooring. Installers can select from a variety of coverings to finish the floor, including hardwood, carpet, ceramic tile or stone.

Walls and Ceilings

• This type of radiant heat installation works the same as for installing a radiant floor, buy uses aluminum panels to mount the system to the wall or ceiling. Although some property owners select hydronic tubing, most wall or ceiling projects employ the electric radiant heating method because a hydronic heating system could eventually cause moisture problems. Many property owners install wall or ceiling radiant heat because it complements their hydronic radiant heat systems.