electric radiant floor heating cost to operate calculator

ELECTRIC RADIANT FLOOR HEATING COST TO OPERATE CALCULATOR INSTALL

This type of system can be cost-effective when electricity rates are low and heating is used for only a few months each year, but this is not the case for New York. No central boiler or heating unit is required: electric current is carried by wiring, and heat is generated locally. This system configuration is characterized by a simple and cheap installation, but also a very high operating cost.

ELECTRIC RADIANT FLOOR HEATING COST TO OPERATE CALCULATOR INSTALL

For instance, solar collectors are not viable if your rooftop has shading issues, and gas boilers can be very expensive to install if your property lacks a chimney or service entrance of enough capacity.Īnother advantage of hydronic heating systems is that a central heating unit can be used for both water and space heating, consolidating two building systems and reducing their total cost. Solar collectors can achieve excellent results when hydronic piping is embedded in a concrete slab, since it essentially allows energy from the sun to be stored thermally for nighttime heating.Īn engineering consultant or design firm can help you determine the best option for your home, depending on your needs and site conditions. If the available solar radiation is not enough to meet the heating load completely, the system can be complemented with a boiler or heat pump. Solar Collectors: Water heated by a solar collector can be used directly in a hydronic radiant heating system.In many cases, heat pumps can compete with gas boilers due to their superior efficiency. Although they also run with electricity, which is expensive in New York, but can match the output of an equivalent resistance heater with just a fraction of the energy input. Heat Pumps: They are a cost-effective alternative to electric resistance boilers.Electric resistance boilers can also be used, but their high operating cost negates the efficiency benefit of radiant heating. Boilers: These can be fired by natural gas, propane, oil or biomass, allowing their owners to choose the cheapest option at their location.Homeowners with hydronic radiant heating can choose from a wide variety of energy sources: Hydronic Radiant Floor HeatingĪs previously stated, the main advantages of this configuration are versatility and energy efficiency. Electric radiant heating systems are much more limited, since their design only allows resistance-based heating. Hydronic radiant heating is the most versatile option because any energy source capable of heating water is viable the system can run with electricity, natural gas, oil, propane, biomass or solar radiation. The heat sources available depend on the type of heating system. On the other hand, an embedded hydronic system is likely to have the highest upfront cost but also the lowest operating cost. Table 02-'Wet' VS 'Dry' System Constructionįor example, an electric radiant heating system of dry construction will generally be the cheapest but least efficient option. Air gaps around wiring or piping limit heat transfer and reduce efficiency The floor slab can be preheated effectively Table 01-Hydronic VS Electric Radiant Heating The following are general guidelines for selecting system characteristics: Heating Medium In dry installations, on the other hand, piping and cables are installed in an empty space between floor layers or below the floor, but are not embedded.ĭeciding which heat source and system construction to use is a matter of cost and benefit.It is important to note that “wet installation” is not a literal term: the hot water stays inside hydronic piping, releasing only its heat. In wet installations, hydronic piping or electrical wiring is embedded directly in a concrete floor, or any other solid mass than can hold and emit large amounts of heat.Radiant floor heating systems can also be classified based on their construction: Air-heated installations also exist, but they suffer from a very low efficiency without offering any significant advantages. Most radiant floor heating systems are either hydronic, which rely on hot water piping or electric, which use wiring or conductive mats under the floor. Classification of Radiant Floor Heating Systems Therefore, any improvements to heating performance and efficiency can yield an attractive return on investment. However, but this is compensated by improved comfort and energy efficiency.Īccording to the US Department of Energy, space heating is the highest energy expense in American households, and represents around 45% of energy bills on average. The upfront cost of radiant floor heating is generally higher than that of other systems, since it is necessary to install hot water piping or electrical wiring under the floor.

Radiant floor heating consists on delivering heat through the existing floor surface, as opposed to using air ducts or baseboard heaters.

Electric radiant floor heating cost to operate calculator