Efficiency |
Low Voltage Radiant Heat System |
High Voltage Electric Baseboard |
High Voltage In-Floor Radiant Heat |
Efficiency at 100% of capacity | 100% | 60% | 100% |
Efficient - relative thermal | 100% | 50-75% | 100% |
100% of energy is delivered to heat element | YES | YES | YES |
Proper sized capacity of "Off Peak" conditions | YES | YES | NO |
Maintenance |
Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
High Voltage Electric Baseboard |
High Voltage In-Floor Radiant Heat |
Annual Maintenance Required - filters to clean or change | NO | YES | NO |
Easy to repair | YES | YES | NO |
Controls - simple and reliable | YES | YES | YES |
Cost Savings |
Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
High Voltage Electric Baseboard |
High Voltage In-Floor Radiant Heat |
Expandable - easily and economically | YES | YES | YES |
Floor covering - Compatibility without restructuring the design | YES | YES | NO |
Floor space required for installation (mechanical room) | NO | YES | NO |
Decorating limitations for furnishings, wall coverings, etc. (no registers, grills, radiators) | NO | YES | NO |
Installation and Operation - simple | YES | NO | YES |
Structural building cost increases required to accommodate | NO | NO | NO |
Venting required to outside and combustion air required | NO | NO | NO |
Concrete required - regular or lightweight | NO | NO | NO |
Remodeling |
Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
High Voltage Electric Baseboard |
High Voltage In-Floor Radiant Heat |
Retrofitability - in existing concrete | YES | NO | NO |
Retrofit into joist space effectively | YES | NO | NO |
Simple modification for remodeling | YES | NO | YES |
Easy and effective for large or small areas | YES | YES | YES |
Minimal floor section height increase (1/8" or less) | YES | YES | NO |
Health & Safety |
Low-Voltage Radiant Heat System |
High Voltage Electric Baseboard |
High Voltage In-Floor Radiant Heat |
Health & Medical (doesn't distribute dust, pollen, allergens through the air) |
YES | YES | YES |
Environmentally-friendly (Greenhouse, glycol, etc.) | YES | YES | YES |
Safety (no high-voltage, no hot surfaces, no combustible gases) |
YES | NO | NO |