Radiant Floor Heating

The Floor Electric:
For an alternative to the cost and complication of a hydronic system, there's electric radiant heat. Its warmth comes from a loop of thin electric wire laid directly under the finish floor. No boiler, no water, no 1/2-inch-thick tubing to alter the floor's height. You'll need an electrician to connect the wiring to the panel, but the rest of the installation is no more difficult than laying tile. The catch lurks in your utility bill: the 6 to 10 watts per square foot the system uses per hour makes it prohibitively expensive to heat a whole house. It's best for spot heating, such as taking the chill off a tiled bathroom or stone countertop.