Fuel Comparison Information + Calculator
A crucial consideration in planning your radiant heating system is deciding which type of fuel you would like to use. The most common types of fuel used in radiant home heating include electricity, natural gas, oil, propane, and wood. However, all fuels are not available in every neighborhood, so be sure to check and see which fuels are available to you. Additionally, some fuels are more efficient than others, while some are cleaner and more environmentally friendly than others.
To compare different fuels and fuel efficiency, be sure to play around with our Fuel Efficiency Comparison Calculator!
ELECTRIC
Electric heat sources are very efficient, but are most often used in small homes or to heat a particular section of your home. This is because electricity is typically expensive when compared with other fuel types. If you have a small house, or only need to heat a couple rooms, then an electric radiant system is likely a good option for you. Consult with your radiant system designer, as they will be able to help you decide if electricity is right for your home.
NATURAL GAS
If it is available in your neighborhood, Natural Gas is very cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. It also costs less than most other fuel sources. Standard gas boilers and water heaters will achieve roughly 80% seasonal efficiency or less, however high efficiency water heaters and fully condensing boilers, which are more commonly used in radiant systems, will achieve 95%+ efficiency. If you are considering Natural Gas, be sure to talk with your radiant system designer so that they can help you to select the best gas boiler for your home.
OIL
If Natural Gas is not available in your neighborhood, then it is likely that oil fuel is. Oil has been used as a home heating fuel for decades. Oil is a good fuel source with radiant heating systems, and is relatively cost-effective. Oil-based boilers and water heaters typically achieve 70-85% efficiency. Your radiant system designer can help you select the best oil boiler for your home.
PROPANE
Propane is an excellent alternative to Natural Gas if it is not available in your area. It does tend to be more expensive than natural gas or oil, but many propane boilers and water heaters are highly efficient, resulting in less fuel consumption. Many propane boilers achieve more than 95% efficiency and work quite well with radiant heat systems.
WOOD
Wood fired boilers are not frequently used in radiant heating systems because they are generally less efficient and more cumbersome. However, if other fuel sources are not available, wood fired boilers can work quite well with a radiant system. If you live in an area where wood is consistently available, and other fuels aren’t so readily available, then a wood fired boiler may be a good option for you. Check out the Seton Wood Boiler if you want to go this route.
The Difference Between Price and Costs
Radiant heat systems are typically more efficient than any other type of heating system, which means they use much less fuel to warm your home and, in turn, cost much less to operate. In Europe, fuel costs are nearly triple what they are here in America. As such, more than half of all new home constructions in Europe include radiant heating systems in the construction. Radiant heat is so popular because it is remarkably economical and efficient, often costing 40-50% less than other types of heating systems.
A radiant heat system is generally more expensive to install than other common heating systems, however the costs of owning and operating a radiant system are significantly less than all other types of heating systems. Using a radiant system in your home will result in a lifetime of savings, resulting in a dramatically less total cost of ownership than any other type of heating system.