Radiant Floor Heating is a Hot Niche

"Electric radiant floor heating is still in the early stage," says Bob Light, owner of Applied Radiant Technologies (ART) in West Chester , Pa. , a distributor of radiant heating products. ART has been involved with the products since the 1980s. "But it's a growing market."

Can't Beat the (Radiant) Heat
A radiant heat system concentrates the heat source—either tubes carrying heated water or electric coils—at the floor's subsurface, heating the room from the bottom up. This warms the feet and body first and provides even warming because there is no one localized heat source in the room.

Radiant heat also eliminates draft or dust problems that can result from forced-air heating. It's also quieter than other systems. And, because it requires no radiators, baseboards or vents, it creates design flexibility by allowing furniture to be placed anywhere in the room.

Radiant heat systems also can save on fuel bills by allowing thermostats to be set lower, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Because the heating system heats the floor to approximately body temperature, occupants feel warm even when the room temperature is lower. "Radiant floor heating proponents claim that an energy cost savings of 15 to 20 percent over forced-air systems is possible," the DOE's consumer information fact sheet states.

As these benefits infiltrated consumer consciousness, water-based products grew quickly. Homes have been heated with water systems for many decades, so equipment was in place and installers and homeowners were familiar with the concepts. "Because of declining electric baseboard sales, electricians moved on to other markets, leaving the electric heating products behind," Light says. But that is changing.

The Electric Advantage
Electric systems offer distinct advantages depending on the application. Electric systems easily can be installed by a professional electrician and they can cost less than hydronic systems, as piping, valves and fittings are not needed, and the boiler doesn't have to be upgraded or replaced to handle the additional load.

Electric systems are especially beneficial in renovation projects where additional heating is needed, says Tony Ledford, engineering assistant in the sales and design division of Springfield, Mo.-based Sun Touch Floor Warming. "Many customers put them in hallways to heat this space alone, but they also are used in kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms as well as the hallways that connects them," he says. "They used to be more localized to some rooms, such as the master bath, but now they're expanding into other locations."

Three Systems
There are three key types of electric radiant heating systems available, and their use depends on the specific application, Light says.

• Cables—Electric heating cables are used for "wet-bed" applications, floor leveler substrate under a finished floor or they're installed directly into the concrete slab. This durable and heavy-duty approach can be used for whole-house heating or individual rooms.
• Heating foils—These can be used in floors or ceilings and typically are designed for renovation applications. The foil sheets are attached to joists below the floor.
• Mats—This product is the easiest to work with (except for irregular-shaped rooms) and consists of a wafer-thin electric blanket laid directly under the top flooring level. Mats tend to be used for spot-heating situations or to supplement an existing heating system.

The variety of products and the growing consumer interest in environmentally friendly products create great potential for electric radiant heating, Light says.

"Radiant heat systems definitely will grow in the future, but they are a specialized product. They can be difficult for the homeowner to install, so their future definitely lies with the contractor," he says. "These systems can create a new profit center for electricians because they it's an additional service they can offer their customers."