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What is better for a small slab on grade foundation: water (glycol) or electrical radiant heat?
Mark Dixon
July 7, 2020Updated: Sept. 23, 2020
On a small footprint foundation (26 x 19 feet) what is better and/or more economical for radiant heat? I am hesitating between water with a micro boiler or electric (wires).
Also, do you think in a chalet this size with a mezzanine (70% of 1st floor) that I will need additional heating in the mezzanine bedrooms and small bathroom?
Thanks!
Mark.
The best radiant floor heat for any particular location depends on a few factors, namely the type of power in your region and the cost. If you are fed by affordable renewable energy in your area like some States and Canadian provinces (like Quebec for example) the best choice would be electric, whether than is electric wires or a liquid (hydronic) system with an electric boiler. See more here about why Heating with electricity is the cleanest heat source.
But, when electricity rates are very expensive and when the grid is fed with a dirtier fuel, hydronic with a gas boiler is often the better choice. So first I think you should decide on your fuel source, being electric or gas. Then get a few quotes from local installers.
Another option would be air heated radiant floors, which is provided by a company called Legalett that distributes engineered slab on grade raft kits all across North America.
As for heating the mezzanine, that depends on a few things – will it be very well insulated and airtight? Will you have good air circulation in the form of ceiling fans? And what climate zone are you building in?
Thanks for the response Mike.
The cottage will be close to Morin-Height, Quebec - so climate zone 6 I believe
I will look at the Legalett option. It would be interesting to learn the benefits of air heated vs. glycol or electric wires.
Re: the mezzanine heating - the cottage will a fairly traditional wall build of 2x6s. I wonder about adding vents in the floor of the mezzanine to allow the heat to more easily rise but am worried a bit about sound passing through the floor as well. We plan to have a ceiling fan in the high ceiling in front of mezzanine.
Cheers!
Hey Mark, For Quebec the answer is always pretty easy actually - go electric. And with that I don't mean just the electric wires, I mean no matter how you heat it - wires, hydronic or air, the cleanest and cheapest energy is electric. If the mezzanine is closed in (which I'm getting the impression it is if you are concerned about sound through vents) I'd just stick a baseboard heater up there and be done with it. They are super cheap to buy and there is no difference in operational cost from radiant floors to an electric baseboard radiator. It may or may not go on, but for the cost it's the simplest solution.