Hydronic radiant floor heating cost install#

The materials themselves can also vary widely in cost. Labor costs can be vastly different around the country, increasing the price considerably. The biggest percentage of radiant flooring cost is labor, which makes up about $8 to $12 per square foot, while the cost of materials is only about $1.50 to $2 per square foot. However, when it comes to operating costs, the hydronic system costs less to run because water retains heat for an extended period.

Hydronic radiant floor heating cost install#

The ability to install the electric system as mats contributes to its lower cost. Electric systems cost between $8 and $15 per square foot installed, while hydronic systems average between $6 and $20 per square foot. There are two basic types of radiant floor heating: electric and hydronic. When contracting a project priced by the square foot, you can expect the price to be higher for more square footage. Marble is at the top end, costing $12 to $60 per square foot. Concrete is also relatively inexpensive, at $4 to $6 per square foot. For example, vinyl is the least expensive, averaging $2 to $15 per square foot. For concrete slabs-on-grade, there's also the potential for heat loss into the ground without adequate insulation under the slab, such as 2 inches or more of high-density expanded polystyrene.While radiant floor heating can be used with most types of floors, it will cost more to install the system under certain kinds of floors. Most experts recommend maintaining a constant temperature. Because of this, you are limited in how long you can set back or turn off the system to save operating costs. It's important to note that while thick concrete slabs have a high heat storage capacity, they also have a slow thermal response time, which means they can take many hours to heat up if the floor is allowed to cool down. The retained heat can keep your house comfortable for hours. Once a concrete floor warms up, it will retain the heat and release it gradually, even if you shut off the system or the power goes out. Here's how: Heat up your concrete floor during off-peak hours (typically at night) and then turn the heat off during the day. With an electric radiant floor system, you can save operating costs by taking advantage of lower rates for off-peak usage, if your electric utility company offers them.

This lets you direct more heat to typically chilly rooms or high-use areas, such as bathrooms, bedrooms, basements and entryways, while lowering the thermostat in rooms with less traffic, such as a formal dining room. To optimize energy-efficiency, radiant heating systems can work in zones, allowing you to heat different areas of a home at different temperatures.To equal the amount of heat that could be carried by water running through 1-inch-diameter hydronic tubing, you would need a 10 x 18-inch duct for forced-air heat.Īre you concerned that your concrete floors will be too cold in the winter? Harris explains how embedding a radiant heating system within the floor slab can save energy costs and provide other benefits, such as eliminating the circulation of dust or dirt throughout your home-a drawback of forced-air heat.

This means you can operate a hydronic radiant system at a lower thermostat setting than a forced-air system, resulting in lower energy bills.

According to the Hydronic Heating Association, a given volume of water can hold almost 3,500 times as much heat as the same volume of air for the same temperature rise.

Homes and buildings with high ceilings will save even more in heating costs as heat generated by forced air systems quickly rises to the top of these structures, where it is of little use. 10-30% is the often quoted range of savings. Check with the local area utility in your area on how much a 2-4° lower thermostat setting would save in heating cost on an annual basis. This can allow you to set your thermostat 2-4° lower and still be comfortable-thus lower heating bills. Radiant floor heating concentrates the heat in the lower half of the room where the human body needs it most. You lose more heat with forced air heating systems since the heat concentrates in the top half of the room.

Heat loss is greatest in the top half of rooms.

Studies conducted by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) indicate that with radiant heating systems people can be comfortable at temperatures 6 to 8 degrees F lower than with convective systems that use air as the primary heat-transfer medium, such as forced-air and baseboard heat.

Other ways concrete in-floor radiant heating saves energy: Watch an overview of the benefits of installing a radiant floor heating system in concrete floors.