Electric radiant heating has large similarities
with hydronic radiant heating: it also offers enhanced comfort
and the types of floors and installation are largely similar...
The big difference is in the energy sources, in
the costs of electricity and in the
implications of that. Electric radiant systems are simpler and
cheaper to install, but their uses are
usually circumscribed to small house divisions due to the high
cost of electricity .
Environmentally, unless linked to
Photovoltaic Solar
Systems, electric radiant floor heating isn't a sound
option.
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 one, and provides a quicker and
cheaper installation than insulated cables.
Wet and dry electric radiant
installation & Types of floors
Electric radiant floors involves basically a set
of electric cables installed into the floor, and the system do
not differ much of hot-water-hydronic radiant heating
installations.
The several wet and dry systems present in
hydronic radiant floor installation are largely applicable to
electric radiant systems. See: Hydronic Radiant
Heating:
Dry and
Wet installations
Installation costs
Since electric radiant heating doesn’t involve a
boiler/hot water heater, pumps and several of complex control
elements of the hydronic radiant heating, its installation is
usually much cheaper.
Electricity
costs
Because of the (high) costs of electricity,
electric radiant floors aren’t usually competitive enough in
most applications.
A strategy to turn the system more cost-effective
is…
1- to use a floor with a high thermal mass,
capable of storing a large amount of energy. A thick concrete
floor, for instance, can keep the house comfortable for 8-10
hours at the floor level.
2 - to bet on time-of-use electric rates offered by many
electric utility companies.
The goal of this combination is evident: charging
the concrete floor with heat during off-peak hours using
time-of-use rates, in order to use the stored heat in the
subsequent period. Obviously, it all depends on the offer or
electric utility companies.
Anyway, it’s just a partial and marginal measure,
that doesn’t solve the question of the operable costs of the
system. The high costs of electricity determine most of the uses
of the radiant electric heating.
Uses of
electric radiant floor heating
A hydronic floor heating system is not the best
option when to project involves just a small room: installing a
boiler and several other controls required by hydronic radiant
heating is too costly comparatively to the small amount of
operational savings.
And it is in those cases that
electric radiant floor systems may be used: to
heat small areas like a bathroom or a kitchen (when we don’t
want to install a wider system all over the house) and a water
boiler is not available.
Hydronic radiant heating system is usually a
better choice when the goal is to heat a large area or the
entire house. And it is a much better environmental option, when
the system is linked to solar energy.
For more information, see:
Basics on Radiant Heating Systems
Hydronic Radiant Under Floor
Heating
Radiant Panels Heating
Radiant heating floor coverings
Radiant Systems Prices and Costs
Radiant Heating Systems and
Environment
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