Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating Systems: Is It Worth It?

If you have done some reading and researching on installing radiant floor heating and you are convinced that this is the way to go, then you must answer the question of which type of radiant heat system to get. Radiant floor heating comes in a couple of flavors. There is the hydronic variety (water) and the electric option. But which one is more practical for you?

Before we get into that, let's briefly discuss that radiant heat flooring actually is. Radiant heat flooring is simply a source of heat that is installed beneath your flooring. The heat from the system radiates upward through the floor and into the room (since heat rises) and gives you a consistent heat throughout your living areas.

The best system for energy saving and comfort is the hydronic radiant floor heating. In this instance a series of tubes are run underneath of your flooring. Through these tubes will run hot water that is heated by a boiler system. A circulating pump will keep the water constantly moving. Water is a great conductor of heat and works very well. You will be amazed at the difference in energy savings and comfort in your home. There are two major drawbacks however: the cost of the system and hassle of remodeling.

A hydronic radiant heat system requires (as mentioned above) a boiler. These can be quite expensive and require a professional to install it. On top of that it means major remodeling to your home in many instances to get the boiler in place.

If you are building a new home then I think it would be well worth your money to invest in such a system. However, if you are in an existing home the cost of remodeling can be quite prohibitive and not make the project worth it. Also, be aware that the only thing that you get from this system is heat. It will not provide cooling. So if you don't live in a colder climate then it is very likely not worth the extra expense to install a radiant floor heating system.

You can choose and electric version of radiant floor heating if you so desire. The electric systems most often come in mats that can be rolled out onto your sub-floor. You will need to pull up you existing floor covering to install the mats but they can be installed under most surfaces from carpet to tile to laminate floor. There is a heating element that runs throughout the mat that will warm your floor. You will also have the ability to control how warm the floor gets through a thermostat. On average you can expect to spend about $10 per square foot to install an electric radiant floor heating system.

The type of flooring that you install the electric radiant heat system under will go a long way to determining if it is cost effective. If you are serious about this I would contact a dealer and ask some very pointed questions about the electric usage that the radiant floor heating will use compared to your standard forced air heating system. There is definitely a comfort difference but there may not be enough of a savings to justify the expense of having it installed.