Radiant Heat vs Hydronics
Both electric and hydronic radiant heat systems have certain advantages for specific applications. The following highlights the advantages Heatizon's low voltage radiant heat systems have:
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Only a 17"x12"x9" Control Unit is required to run a low voltage radiant heat system.
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A Boiler Room is required to run a hydronic radiant heat system.
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The ZMesh heating element is installed directly under the floor surface without any floor buildup. The 12" wide ZMesh is rolled out over the area to be heated then nailed and/or stapled to the wood subfloor.
Gypsum or concrete slab is required for installing a hydronic system. It is estimated that it costs approx. $4.00 or more per square foot to install a hydronics in-floor heating system than it does to install Heatizon's in-floor heating system.
Evenly Distributed Heat
Electric radiant heat warms your floors evenly because it uses 100% of the system's enegery. A hydronic system, however, heats the floor less the further away the hot water gets from the boiler (see illustration below). Hydronic systems use only 65-85% of the system's energy.
Efficiency
At higher elevations, electric radiant heat still is 100% efficient, where as hydronic systems are even less effective than at sea level.
| Heating System Comparison | |||
| Efficiency | Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Floor Radiant |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Baseboard |
| Efficiency at 100% of capacity | 100% | 65-85% | 65-85% |
| Efficiency at 50% of capacity | 100% | 35-65% | 35-65% |
| Efficient - relative thermal | 100% | 100% | 50-75% |
| 100% of energy is delivered to heat element |
YES | NO | NO |
| Proper sized capacity of "Off Peak" conditions | YES | NO | NO |
| Maintenance | Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Floor Radiant |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Baseboard |
| Annual Maintenance Required - filters to clean or change | NO | YES | YES |
| Easy to repair | YES | NO | NO |
| Controls - simple and reliable | YES | NO | NO |
| Cost Savings | Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Floor Radiant |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Baseboard |
| Expandable - easily and econimcally | YES | NO | NO |
| Floor covering - Compatible with all |
YES | NO | YES |
| Floor space required for installation (mechanical room) | NO | YES | YES |
| Decorating limitations for furnishings, wall coverings, etc. (no registers, grills, radiators) | NO | NO | YES |
| Installation and Operation - simple | YES | NO | NO |
| Structural building cost increases required to accommodate | NO | YES | NO |
| Venting required to outside and combustion air required | NO | YES | YES |
| Concrete required - regular or lightweight | NO | YES | NO |
| Remodeling | Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Floor Radiant |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Baseboard |
| Retrofitability - in existing concrete or ashpalt | YES | NO | NO |
| Retrofit into joist space effectively | YES | NO | NO |
| Simple modification for remodeling | YES | NO | NO |
| Easy and effective for large or small areas | YES | NO | NO |
| Minimal floor section height increase (1/8" or less) | YES | NO | YES |
| Health & Safety | Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Floor Radiant |
Hydronic (Hot Water) Baseboard |
| Health & Medical (doesn't distribute dust, pollen, allergyns through the air) | YES | YES | YES |
| Environmentally-friendly (Greenhouse, glycol, etc.) | YES | NO | NO |
| Safety (no high-voltage, no hot surfaces, no combustible gases) | YES | NO | NO |