- Joined
- Jan 7, 2016
- Messages
- 3,278
Ddickey already has the tubes (hydronic) in his floor.
I would suggest the natural gas route for heating the water. The cost differential in the initial purchase cost (electric vs gas) will most likely be eroded by operating costs. However, there are advantages to electric, such as efficiency, ease of installation and (lack of) maintenance.
The natural gas will be, without question, cheaper to run over the long run. The question is how much cheaper, and that really depends on the heat load of the building (think insulation).
You could install the electric and see how it goes for a year and if the operating costs are too high then switch over to gas. Your initial cost of the electric is small and the water heater could be sold if you switch to gas.
The tube radiant heaters are a very nice route if your ceilings are tall enough, but since your tubes are already in, that probably doesn't make sense.
The "unit" heaters are, in my opinion, horrible. They are loud, move a lot of air around (thus the percieved comfort level is low) and, well, I just don't like them!
This is all from a guy that has tubes installed in my shop but not hooked up! I discovered that I have so much wood to burn on my 22 acres that I installed a wood stove. Seems like I have the small door open in my shop open a lot because it is too hot in there! Nap time then.
I would suggest the natural gas route for heating the water. The cost differential in the initial purchase cost (electric vs gas) will most likely be eroded by operating costs. However, there are advantages to electric, such as efficiency, ease of installation and (lack of) maintenance.
The natural gas will be, without question, cheaper to run over the long run. The question is how much cheaper, and that really depends on the heat load of the building (think insulation).
You could install the electric and see how it goes for a year and if the operating costs are too high then switch over to gas. Your initial cost of the electric is small and the water heater could be sold if you switch to gas.
The tube radiant heaters are a very nice route if your ceilings are tall enough, but since your tubes are already in, that probably doesn't make sense.
The "unit" heaters are, in my opinion, horrible. They are loud, move a lot of air around (thus the percieved comfort level is low) and, well, I just don't like them!
This is all from a guy that has tubes installed in my shop but not hooked up! I discovered that I have so much wood to burn on my 22 acres that I installed a wood stove. Seems like I have the small door open in my shop open a lot because it is too hot in there! Nap time then.