The size of the job can play an equally important role in your recommendation of radiant heating solutions. In remodeling jobs or in select rooms of a new construction project, hydronic systems will cost more to install. In very large jobs (complete home in new constructions), hydronic radiant floor heating systems will often be less expensive to install. Generally speaking, the upfront investment for equipment, labor and floor height issues make hydronic systems cost prohibitive in small to medium sized areas. In larger areas that invoke the benefit of economies of scale to work, hydronic systems make sense if oil or compatible fuel costs are low enough to offset the upfront and residual maintenance costs. So, if you are retrofitting a residential driveway or heating smaller rooms as a part of a home improvement project, choosing electric radiant heat will save your customer several thousand dollars.

Installing radiant heat cable (HeatShield Panels) for an electric heated floor system.

Let’s say you are asked to install radiant heat as part of a bathroom remodel. The $300 to $400 required to install an electric radiant heated floor will cost $4,000 to $5,000 dollars for hydronic radiant heat. That’s because hydronic systems require a boiler, which will eats up a big chunk of that installation budget. Unlike electric radiant heated floor mats, hydronic floor heating systems also elevate the floor by a couple of inches, a significant difference that can cause big problems for you during your bathroom remodeling job. Radiant heated flooring installed will elevate the floor by only ⅛ of an inch. The installation costs, plus complications associated with the difference in floor elevation, could mean the difference between a satisfied customer and a logistical nightmare.

	The floor heating mat features pre-spaced heat cable woven into a durable mat that is just ⅛-inch thick and has a single-point connection.

Because they are maintenance free, electric radiant heat solutions are still a viable choice for projects, both large and small. Hydronic systems are prone to sedimentation, mechanical problems and maintenance issues that are hard to detect, and costly to fix. Electric radiant heat systems include fault detectors, allowing you to quickly pinpoint a cable break and repair it in a minimally evasive manner. Consider energy saving cycle times, low installation costs and installation flexibility, electric radiant heat is one sure way to add value to any project and win repeat business.