What you need to know before installing hydronic heating in your home

September 14, 2022

Did you know heating can be responsible for up to 50% of your energy bill?

With customers in South-East Queensland seeing an increase of nearly 13% this year, some customers in New South Wales having an increase of up to 18%, and some South Australians having an alarming 20% increase in their power bills, there is a need to be vigilant with your power usage.

With Brisbane having its coldest day in over 22 years this past Winter, there is still a requirement to keep those heaters running. Many people are looking at installing hydronic heating in their homes for their main heating source, but there are some things that you should know before making the call to install.

Three things that you should know before installing hydronic heating:

1. Underfloor access

You need to have underfloor access to be able to install hydronic heating.

This means that if you are retrofitting (modifying a home that has pre-constructed infrastructure) you might need to have your flooring pulled up or removed so that the installer can lay pipe and expose joists. This could be costly, both financially and sentimentally.

2. Cost

The initial price to set up hydronic heating often costs more than a typical split system. This is due to the need for having a radiator in each room of the house that you intend to heat. Rooms that are bigger, or of a more open-plan living style, might require numerous radiators to get an even disperse of heat.

Generally speaking, for the overall installation costs you would be looking for about $1,300 to $1,600 per radiator in a typical three-bedroom home. However, hydronic heating can be more cost-effective in the long-term since it uses around 35% less energy; it’s the initial installation that stings you.

3. Slow start-up times

If you are someone who gets up in the morning and runs to the heater faster than Usain Bolt can run 100 metres, then the hydronic heating might not be for you. You could be waiting 30 minutes to feel the benefit and an hour or more for the room to achieve appropriate temperatures.

Most hydronic heating systems require a considerable amount of time to start up and run for the water to boil and circulate.

Although hydronic heating can be effective in being the main source of heating in your house, many factors need to be taken into consideration.

The cost of installation is a huge factor, so you must be able to get a quote from your favourite hydronic heating professional in Sydney before you begin planning. If you are looking at retrofitting your existing property, then it is vital that you also ask for a quote that includes the cost of removing existing flooring.

Arguably, the biggest decider is if you could handle the longer than normal start-up times. But when you consider the rising costs of electricity bills, and hydronic heating reduced energy bills, there are still many pros to having radiant floor systems. At the end of the day, the best decision you can make is an informed decision.

Are you convinced about getting hydronic heating for your home? Consult an expert team like Norwest Gas. We are here to answer any questions you may have and to talk you through the best heating system for your home. Call us today on 1300 499 169.