Replies

1. 
   Scott_Mazur | Jan 20, 2000 12:11am | #1

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   If electric heat is the method of choice where you live then I don't see why electric radiant would be any more costly to run. It's been claimed that radiant floor heating is more efficient (and less costly to run) than other systems. I don't see why the same shouldn't hold true for electric heat, but that's just a guess on my part.

   Installing electric in-floor should be a snap. No complex plumbing systems and circulating pumps to deal with. No moving parts to wear out. It should be as economical to put a thermostat in every room as it is to reglate a single floor. Flip through the magazine for electric heat adds and start browsing web sites from there.

   If it's a new house maybe you have other options for heating that your neighbors didn't. The cost of bringing in a gas service (or some other heating fuel) may be cheaper in the long run. Or maybe not.

   For most of us electricty is just to expensive to use for heating.

1. 
   Steve_Zerby | Jan 20, 2000 07:56pm | #2

   *Dan,I have run a couple of rooms with electric infloor radiant, but not with the intention of it being the primary heat source. I've used it in two bathrooms with tile floors and a sunroom with bluestone floors. The purpose was simply to have warm floors. Installation is pretty easy, and it is indeed simple to have a thermostat in each room. I don't know how well it would function as the primary heat source. It just depends on your house and the btu requirements of where you live. The brand I used (I think it was Infloor) rated the cable in watts, which is convertible to Btu's to compare with your heat loss calculations. All the regular radiant floor caveats apply. It works better in masonry than under wood. You have to take into account insulative floor coverings such as wood or rugs. Slow response time, etc.Good luck.Steve

1. 
   jjmcgough | Jan 21, 2000 03:10am | #3

   *I think Scott and Steve are telling it like it is.I have done a dozen or so full homes and countless additions here in Central Ohio with a couple different types of electric radiant infloor. Our outdoor design temperature is between -5F and +5F. In a few cases I have had to supplement the floor with radiant ceilings to get the output required.The cable is more expensive than hydronic tube and takes longer to install. The difference is made up in the lack of boiler room labor. The long term operational costs in this area factoring initial cost, maintenance and $$energy consumption make gas or oil hydronic the clear choice over the long term for residential. Not necessarily the same for commercial buildings where we can use heat sinks and take advantage of off-peak power rates approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of peak rates. This works great for warehouses, welding shops, manufacturing operations where you can coast thru the peak periods.Electric infloor/ceiling is less expensive to run than electric baseboard due to the Mean Radiant Temperature element and the lower thermostat setpoint required.Check out this link to photosof a 3 season addition that actually performs well at -5F as long as the client rolls up the throw rug. She has no problem mintaining a 70F setpoint at -5F but it will only maintain 65F @ -10F. The final floor covering was granite over a drypack mortar bed. Full underslab and edge insulation with the only supplemental coming from the heat spilled from the open french doors of the main structure.Cable was Kabel Alctel from Norway and if I remember correctly we placed it on 3 inch centers. I don't have the file handy or I would give the BTUHSF, surface temperature at design and projected fuel usage comparison between oil/gas/LP and electric.Jeffps: Believe it or not, we have folks in this area who still want electric snowmelt for 1000-2000 SF driveways. Trust me when I tell you that I have seen the lights dim in an entire neighborhood when these puppies start up. Make sure the power company has an adequate transformer in place!

2. 
   dan_smith | Jan 21, 2000 03:10am | #4

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   We are considering installing electric heat in a slab in a new house in an area which does not have gas....this would be heat for the entire first floor..in the Pacific NW the electric rates are reasonable..I think..we cant seem to find any clear information about this type of heat other than it seems to be more costly to run...we could use some help here..thanks