How does “Electric” Floor Heating Compare to “Hydronic” Radiant Floors?
“Hydronic” systems use a boiler to heat up hot water and a pump to circulate the hot water in plastic pipes installed in a concrete slab. “Electric” systems use an electric resistance cable, sometimes assembled into a mat or a roll (conceptually similar to an electric blanket) to heat up a thin layer of concrete in the floor structure. 1. One difference is the floor elevation involved. The hydronic system elevates the floor by a couple of inches, which can be a problem in many remodeling jobs. Thin electric systems will elevate the floor by only 1/8″. 2. Time to heat up: Hydronic systems are placed 1.5″ or 2″ into a concrete slab. This is so deep into the floor that it usually takes 4 to 7 hours to heat up when they are first turned ON. Therefore, they are left ON for many months and consume energy during a longer period of time. 3. Energy Saving: The thin electric mats are placed above the sub-floor, just under the flooring material. They will heat the floor in 30 to 60 minutes under
