electric radiant floor heating vs forced air

Electric radiant floor heating vs forced air install#

A warm floor allows you to more comfortably walk around barefoot. One of the largest selling points is comfort. Here’s a short list of advantages and disadvantages of radiant floor heating: Pros This is ideal for homes that already use a water heater.Īt New Avenue, we’ve incorporated radiant floor heating in many of our projects. Manifold setup allows varied heating of different zones. Hydronic radiant floors – The most popular and cost-effective type of radiant heating, hydronic radiant floor systems pump water heated from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern under the floor. This is common in bathrooms but can be ideal for a smaller home or for occasional use. This option is frequently used to retrofit a single room or to add a little luxury.

Electric radiant floor heating vs forced air install#

Electric systems are cheaper to install than hydronic systems, but In the long run it would likely be less expensive to use a different fuel source and go with a hydronic system, which is powered by gas.

It is cost-effective when used with flooring of significant thermal mass. They are not cost-effective for residential use.Įlectric radiant floors – This type of heating uses electric cables or electrically conductive plastic mats installed beneath the floor covering. There are three types of radiant floor heating:Īir-heated radiant floors – Air cannot hold a large amount of heat, so this type of system is rarely installed. Other options to heat a home include forced-air heating, baseboard heating, gas burners, electric heating elements, space heaters, and passive solar design. This floor can be “charged” during off-peak hours, when electricity is cheaper, and, if the thermal mass is large enough, it can keep a home comfortable all day without further electrical input. The floor becomes a heated surface that directly warms the home.

Radiant floor heating turns your floor into a large-area radiator.