If you’re looking to heat your floors with a radiant heat system and you’ve typed “radiant heat system” into a search engine, you may be scratching your head at this point. There are dozens of products available to buy, 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 underfloor heating is the oldest and most popular type of underfloor heating. These systems are made up of a boiler or water heater, pumps, manifolds, pex tubing, thermostat, and plaster (a material similar to concrete) or wood paneling. Hydronic heating is the most complex of all radiant heat systems. These systems require trained professionals to design and install. Their best economies of scale are achieved for large area or entire house hydronic systems due to their expensive components and operating costs.
Hydronic systems can be installed under any type of soil. Most hydronic systems require hot water piping to be installed in a 2- to 4-inch lightweight concrete bed and are best installed during initial construction due to their weight bearing demands and floor height adjustments. Recent low-mass products have been developed to avoid these challenges by laying the pipe in pre-cut wood panels, making hydronic systems more convenient and possible for most major retrofit 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 maintenance required, do not outweigh the small amount you will save in operating costs.
electric cable heating
Electric cable heating systems, often called line or high-voltage systems, are gaining in popularity and are ideal for heating smaller areas (10 to 300 square feet) like bathrooms, kitchens, and sunrooms. These systems are made up 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 less expensive and give you the ability to space the cable however you like and customize a design that will warm every square inch of your floor. Other systems have the cable attached to a plastic mesh or tape to create a mat to keep your space proper.
All available cable systems are equally effective, so when determining which system to buy, you should consider the product’s warranty, along with ease of installation. Some cables must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or mortar, while other systems can simply be installed in a thin layer. Most cable systems can only be installed under shingles. However, in 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’s almost impossible to beat the simplicity and price of an electric cable heating system.
low voltage display
Finally, there are low voltage radiant heat systems. These systems are ideal for medium to large areas (300-3000 square feet) and are comprised of a control box, transformer, screen or heating cable, and thermostat. The main advantage of a low voltage (Zmesh) screen system is the extremely low profile of the heating element. Zmesh is a 12-inch wide bronze wire mesh that resembles the material of a screen door. This mesh is virtually paper thin and does not collect soil during installation. Zmesh can be installed directly under any type of flooring, including hardwood, tile, and carpet flooring. While most cable systems must be installed above the concrete deck when installing tile, Zmesh can be installed below. These systems are easy to install and require no maintenance like a hydronic system.
Radiant heat technology has made significant advances over the years and is a great way to supplement your existing heating system or be your sole source of heat. A good way to be sure you are being sold the best system for your project is to buy from a company that offers all types of radiant heat available.
Warmzone, Inc. is a company that offers 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 a system, they have become consumer advocates in the radiant industry and will save you time and money. Warmzone has already done the research and selected to work only with the best products on the market. Because they are a large nationwide wholesaler, they are able to offer you the best price by selling direct to you. You can receive a free estimate for your project by submitting a request at www.warmzone.com or by calling them at 1-888-488-WARM.