Whats the difference between electric and hydronic radiant heat?
Electric floor warming is sometimes used in bathrooms for the sole purpose of warming your feet when you get out of the shower. Resistive wires or mats are embedded into the setting materials under the tile. This method is rarely a home’s primary heat source. Hydronic heating uses tubes with warm water running through them and is simply another way to say radiant-floor heating. Q: We often hear about the efficiency of radiant-floor heating, but how much energy can really be saved by these systems? A: One recent study, released by Kansas State University in conjunction with the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), showed that radiant heat saves 25 percent over a conventional forced-air system. We’ve seen savings of up to 40 percent. Geographic location, heat loads, fuel sources and water temperatures determine a system’s overall efficiency. Q: Which flooring material conducts heat most effectively? A: With the best systems on the market, flo
