The market for radiant floor heating has enjoyed steady growth across the country in the last twenty years despite a rocky start back in the 1950s. Unfortunately, most of the discussion surrounding this heating system focuses on the hydronic method of using a boiler to heat water which is then sent through tubing in the floor. But just like there's more than one way to skin a cat, water isn't the only way to provide radiant heat from the floor. There's also electric radiant floor heating for driveways, patios, individual kitchens and baths, or even the whole house if your electricity source is cheap enough.
In principle, the science behind both electric and hydronic systems is the same. Heat is delivered to the floor from underneath, which in turn warms the people and objects in the room. It's much more efficient and comfortable than heating the air which does not retain that heat for very long.
Where hydronic and electric radiant floor heat differ is in heat source, installation, and cost. The heat source being obvious, electric heating is beneficial if your house currently uses a forced-air system and you're only installing the radiant in a single room or two. On average, the cost to install electric radiant floor heating in a typical bathroom would be about $500 as compared to thousands for a hydronic system.
Installation for an electric system is also extremely simple by comparison. The heating elements are either embedded in a fabric mat that is simply laid on the sub-floor, or they are electric cables coated with insulation that get laid down like tubing would. Electric systems can be installed on a mortar bed or gypsum board with only a thin layer of cement between it and the floor tile.
Manufacturers of electric radiant floor heating like to cite the relatively fast response times their systems have compared to hydronic systems, especially when using the floor mats. This is due to the fact that the floor is heated directly rather than receiving heat from a concrete sub-floor. The downside is that the heat is not retained as well. Concrete's thermal mass properties can continue to heat up a room for up to twelve hours after the thermostat is turned back where flooring tiles lose their heat muck more quickly.
Although electric radiant floor heating can be installed in a concrete slab, most of the times that you’re dealing with pouring concrete you’re also talking about new construction work. And with new construction the majority builders believe you're better off with a hydronic system.
Electric radiant floor heating is not suitable for every application. In order to know if it's right for you consider the cost of electricity in your area, your average temperature, how much space you need to heat, and for how many hours during the day it will be heated. If the numbers work out to your benefit, an electric system may be just what you need.