Underfloor heating Hydraulic or electric

Looking for an innovative way to insulate your space? Try underfloor heating. Radiant underfloor heating is an advanced and increasingly popular method of heating both commercial and residential homes, By installing a heat source in the floor, rather than relying on hot water, an electric plinth or conventional air heating, you can count on comfortable, balanced heat throughout the home or building. If you’re not familiar with radiant heat, don’t worry. We will explain how this works, the differences between radiant water heat systems and electrical radiant heat systems, as well as the most efficient ways to install them.

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WHAT IS RADIANT FLOOR HEATING?

The radiant underfloor heating system is simple in concept: heat is radiated upwards from the floor to heat the rooms of the house or building. Underfloor heating provides uniform heat that reaches every part of your room, eliminating the cool spots and drafts that are typical of conventional forced air systems. As a result, a radiant heated floor is an incredibly convenient way to keep warm. (If you’ve never walked on a heated floor barefoot, find a heated floor.)

There are two common types of radiant floors: water and electric. Each requires its own installation method, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. We will give you a professional assessment of both.

HYDRAULIC HEATING
Simply put, heated water radiant floors use hot water. The hot water generated by your boiler system circulates through pipes installed in the floor throughout the building or house. (This pipeline is also known as PEX or polyethylene with cross-links.)

You can install it in several ways:

Under the black floor (bracket up)
On top of the subfloor with pouring of light concrete or drywall (thin slab)
Insert the system into a concrete floor (slab)

Hydraulic radiant underfloor heating is one of the most effective and efficient means of heating your room. The necessary materials – boiler, pump and various hydraulic accessories – can lead to increased pre-installation costs, but you can save up to 30% on operating costs compared to conventional heating systems.

Pros
Reduced operating costs: Hydraulic radiant floor heating is about 30% more efficient than other traditional systems. This makes water heating a less expensive method of heating an entire building or home.

Cons
Higher initial investment: The process and components for installing a water heating system are much more complex than for conventional heating systems.

Higher Maintenance: As with any other plumbing system, maintenance is necessary for proper efficient operation. Usually, a professional is required for maintenance or repair.

ELECTRIC HEATING

For electric radiant heating, electric mats are used that lie directly under the flooring, usually under the tile floor. In most cases, electric radiant heat is most effective only for floor heating; it is not designed to heat an entire building or home. Essentially, this method requires only three parts: an electric mat, a thermostat, and a temperature sensor. The thermostat is connected to a power source and responds to the readings of the temperature sensor, which is connected to the heat cables in the floor. The electric heater is simple and easy to install. The main drawback? A sharp increase in your electricity bills.

Pros
Less expensive to install: The installation process is often much simpler than that of a water heating system, requires cheaper materials, less work, and less time.

Minimal maintenance costs: Once electric heating is installed, the system requires virtually no maintenance.

Cons
Higher operating costs: Due to the cost of electricity, heating an entire home or building with electric radiant heating can become expensive. An alternative is to heat only a few rooms, such as bathrooms and porches, that are exposed to moisture or cold.

Repairs are almost impossible: We can’t embellish it. If the electric mat fails, you won’t be able to make spot repairs — you’ll likely have to replace the entire electric mat, including replacing the tile floors. In short, repairing electric radiant heating can be extremely expensive and time-consuming.

CONCLUSION

Whether you choose water or electric heating, radiant heat will be a valuable addition to your space. However, while installing these systems may be a project in its own right, there are many factors to consider. Contact us if you plan to install a radiant heating system.

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