electric radiant heating

Electric radiant heating has large similarities with hydronic radiant heating, offering enhanced comfort and similar uses...

Electric radiant heating is simpler and cheaper to install, but it involves higher operative costs (due to the higher cost of electricity) and doesn't make sense except for small and sporadic heating needs.

Wet and dry electric radiant installation

Electric radiant floors involves basically a set of electric cables installed into the floor. The system is rather similar to that of hot-water-hydronic radiant heating, just much simpler.

Like hydronic radiant heating, it also involves a dry and a wet installation. See: Hydronic Radiant Heating: Dry and Wet installations.

Cables and Mats

Electric radiant heating systems deal with two different types of cables:

- cables coated with electrical insulation
- cables woven into fabric mats, similar to an electric blanket.

The last option is a more recent, and provides a quicker and cheaper installation than the former one.

Installation costs

Since electric radiant heating doesn’t involve a boiler/hot water heater, pumps and several of the complex control elements of hydronic radiant heating, electric radiant installation is cheaper (as well as the investment).

Electricity costs

Because of the (high) relative costs of electricity, electric radiant floors involve higher operative costs than common hydronic radiant heating.

Comparing with Hydronic radiant floor heating

Hydronic floor heating demands a too large investment to small room applications, or episodic heating needs. Installing the boiler (if it is not available) and the other components would be too costly for small uses. And it is in these cases that electric radiant floor systems make sense and are economical.