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:

ControlBoxWhiteBoilerRoom-1
Only a 17″x12″x9″ Control Unit is required to run a low voltage radiant heat system.A Boiler Room is required to run a hydronic radiant heat system.
Gypsum ZMesh

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-cable

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.

hydronics vs zmesh

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