Bathroom remodel - Electric or Hydronic heated floor & shower

Dave_KC · December 2

After 20 years, it's time to remodel/gut the bathroom. Currently have electric heat in tile floor, but would like to heat shower floor & walls as well. Located in midwest, so it gets cold in winter. Square footage to heat is as follows:
* Shower exterior wall - 45
* Shower interior wall - 63
* Shower floor - 35
* Bathroom floor - 147

We have hydronic heat (modcon boilers to fan coils) in the home already and 220V to the bathroom for the current floor heat (floor will be replaced). Should we:
* Tie into the current hydronic loop, lowering the temp with a diverter valve
* Do electric radiant heating
* I have a 10 gallon, 3000 W electric hot water heater lying around that could also heat the bathroom loop.
* Something else?

hot_rod · December 2

Pros and cons. I like a hydronic solution for longevity, and heat input options. It will present a small micro load to the boiler if you intend to run it in summer perhaps to maintain warm floors? What size boiler? What is the lowest turndown?

I assume the current floor electric system adequately heated the room?

My go to was electric hydronic as you mentioned, a small electric water heater for the bath hydronics. Generally used in homes with forced air, but you have a boiler ready to go.

Electric cable or mat is a simple install, easy to control as a small stand along zone. Maybe not as easy to repair should it get nailed.

If it is something you intend to tackle, do you like to work with pex or wires? :)

Dave_KC · December 2

Our main loop runs hot water in the winter and cold water in the summer, so it could not be used for heating the bathroom during the summer months. I'm not sure that's an issue though - do people use heated floors when it's 75+ outside?

2 UFT-100's, with 30 gallon buffer tank. I think the turn down is 10:1, they run the Central Heat and the Domestic Hot Water.

I've 'read' that electric is more expensive, but frankly, the current electric floor has worked flawlessly since the day it was installed. I would prefer a solution that has minimal maintenance.

hot_rod · December 3

There are people out there, maybe on this list that run AC at 72.

A 72° degree tile floor when you step out of a cold shower feels like an iceberg.

So yes people with money to spend or warm toes desires run their radiant bath floors while the AC is cooling the room.

Bathroom remodel - Electric or Hydronic heated floor & shower

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