Hydraulic vs. Electric - Summit County, Colorado

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Hydraulic vs. Electric The two most common radiant floor warming systems are either hydraulic (circulating hot water in tubes in the floor) or electric (heating cables in the floor). The hydraulic floor system requires pumps, valves, and modulators and can be more expensive to install than electric, however in the long run will save on electricity. Especially for a whole house heating solution, hydraulics is a great choice. It can be too costly, too limited or just too difficult to install. And, just as important to many, it can’t incorporate air conditioning as a forced-air heating system can. Because the heat originates at your feet, and the comfort of our lower extremities has a lot to do with overall comfort, temperatures can be set lower, typically 65 F to 68 F instead of 70 F to 72 F. Radiant systems also produce less air stratification than baseboard or forced air systems - the heat doesn’t end up on the ceiling, well above the comfort zone. Radiant heat does not greatly affect the moisture content of the air and reduces the dust circulation associated with forced air. Then too, the absence of forced-air diffusers or baseboard heaters means greater flexibility in decorating. Electric on the other hand is simple enough for do-it-yourselfers and inexpensive enough for one room in your home. The difference is that electric will heat much faster than hydraulic since hydraulic works best when it is at a constant temperature. The benefit of hydraulic to electric or duct heating is that it saves money and energy in the long term. An electric radiant system consists of thin heating cables, like the wires in an electric blanket, installed under ceramic tile. Because the cables are so thin they don't raise the level of the flooring much; this makes them great for remodeling. They are installed where warm floors are appreciated: bathrooms, mudrooms, and kitchens. Controlled by a separate thermostat, these systems do not replace your main heating unit — they enhance it! The electric radiant floor heating system is easy to install. All you will need is a room that needs new tile floor and a dedicated 15 to 20 amp GFCI protected circuit to power the system. The cost is minimal at $400 to $700 including the new tile and the system will consume about the same amount of electricity as three 100W light bulbs. Zoning is fairly easy with hydraulic systems, so you can have separate thermostats in each room. Special mixing valves also let you use a single boiler to supply different devices: warm tile floors in the bathroom, and less expensive, finned-tube baseboards in the rest of the house. You can even add a towel warmer to the master bath, a glove drying rack, or a ski boot warming system to the entry hall with both hydraulic and electric systems.

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