Which Type of Radiant Floor Heating is Best For Me?
By Troy Butcher
If you are looking to warm your floors with a radiant heat system, and
have typed “radiant heat system” into a search engine, you might find
yourself scratching your head at this point. There are dozens of
products available to purchase, and there are even more companies
telling you that their product is the best.
So which product is the best? Should you install a hydronic heating
system that pumps hot water through your floors, an electric cable
heating system, or a low voltage screen system? The answer lies in the
type of project you are doing. Not every system is ideal for every
project, but there is an ideal system for every project.
Hydronic Heating Systems
Hydronic floor heating is the oldest and most popular type of radiant
floor heating. These systems are comprised of a boiler or hot water
heater, pumps, manifolds, pex tubing, thermostat, and either gypcrete (a
concrete-like material) or wood panels. Hydronic heating is the most
complex of all radiant heat systems. These systems require trained
professionals to design and perform the installation. Your best
economies of scale are achieved for hydronic systems in large areas or
entire homes because of their expensive components and operational
costs.
Hydronic systems can be installed under any type of flooring. Most
hydronic systems require hot water tubing to be installed in a 2 to 4
inch bed of light concrete and are best installed during the initial
construction because of its weight load demands and adjustments to floor
height. Recent low-mass products have been developed to avoid these
challenges by fitting the tubing into pre-cut wood panels making
hydronic systems more convenient and possible for most major remodeling
projects.
If you want to heat smaller areas like a bathroom or kitchen, a hydronic
floor heating system may not be the best value for your project. The
complexity and cost of installing the system, along with the long-term
maintenance and up-keep required, is not worth the small amount you will
save in operational costs.
Electric Cable Heating
Electric cable heating systems, often called line or high voltage
systems, are gaining popularity and are ideal for heating smaller areas
(10-300 square feet) like bathrooms, kitchens, and sun rooms. These
systems are comprised of a thermostat and a heating cable. On some
systems, the cable will be shipped to you as a large spool of cable.
These systems are often times less expensive, and give you the ability
to space the cable how you want and customize a layout that will heat
every square inch of your floor. Other systems have the cable attached
to a plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to maintain its proper
spacing.
Every available cable system is equally effective, and so when
determining which system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of
the product, along with the ease of installation. Some cables must be
embedded in a separate layer of concrete or mortar, whereas other
systems can simply be installed in the thin set. Most cable systems can
only be installed under tile. However, on others, if the cable is
embedded in mortar or concrete, any flooring can be installed on top of
the concrete. When heating smaller areas, it is nearly impossible to
beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system.
Low-Voltage Screen
Finally, there are low-voltage radiant heat systems. These systems are
ideal for mid-size to larger areas (300-3000 square feet) and are
comprised of a control box, transformer, heating screen or cable, and
thermostat. The main advantage to a low-voltage screen (Zmesh) system is
the extremely low profile of the heating element. Zmesh is a 12 inch
wide bronze-wired mesh that resembles screen door material. This mesh is
practically paper thin and does not buildup floors during the
installation. Zmesh can be installed directly under any type of flooring
including hardwood, tile, and carpet. Whereas most cable systems must be
installed on top of the concrete board when installing tile, Zmesh can
be installed underneath it. These systems are easy to install and don’t
require maintenance like a hydronic system.
Radiant heat technology has made significant advances over the years and
is an excellent way to supplement your existing heating system or be
your sole source of heat. One good way to be assured that you’re being
sold the best system for your project is to buy from a company that
offers all of the available types of radiant heat.
Warmzone, Inc. is one company who carries various types of radiant
systems and is dedicated to specifying the product that makes the most
sense for each individual job. Without a bias towards one system they
have become a consumer advocate in the radiant industry and will save
you time and money. Warmzone has already done the research and has
selected to only work with the best products on the market. Because they
are a large nation-wide wholesaler, they can offer you the best pricing
by selling to you direct. You can receive a free estimate for your
project by submitting a request at www.warmzone.com or calling them at
1-888-488-WARM.
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