Well, thank you all for your insights. My home is oil/baseboard hot
water heating and my kitchen is very small, so the contractor believes
removing the large radiator will save us space for cabinets, seating,
etc. There are basically two options available to me:
1. Baseboard toe-kick heating, whereby a small fan moves the heated air
from behind the cabinets to small vents located at the front (at your
toes). Sounds like a lot of wasted energy heating the bottom of my
cabinets.
2. Radiant heat under the tile within the new mud floor job. They
would install a new heating zone just for the kitchen and place the
thermostat in a good location.
He claims that the radiant heat is a better option because it's more
efficient in this application, and more comfortable, and since either
way the zone would have to be drained and the pipe cut, I might as well
just do it. He claims the plastic piping is fine for the temperature
the oil burner will dish out. He also says he wouldn't place piping
under the fridge or cabinets because that's a waste, but there would be
more near the door. I don't know about cost-efficiency... the house is
very tight and new. I'm not sure about the thermostat location either,
or how low I will be able to let it go while maintaining a reasonable
recovery time.
Does anyone have any thoughts about what this guy has told me? Is he
nuts about the temperature or comfort level?
Thanks again...

William Deans wrote:
Greetings,

a) I would prefer radiant heat because it keeps your feet warm and
doesn't
look ugly.
b) Your contractor is probably wrong about it being "more efficient"
if it
is gas.
c) ... unless he means "more efficient" but it will cost you 2-4
times as
much because it is electric.

Hope this helps,
William

PS: Don't let your contractor scam you with false promises of
efficiency.
As him for TCO (total cost of ownership) numbers. I bet you
baseboard is
cheaper per BTU.


wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm getting my kitchen torn out and remodeled, even a new floor.
Since
it's a mud-job, the contractor told me to go with radiant floor
heating... he said it's much better and more efficient than
baseboard
heating. I have baseboard in there now, but it would be removed in
order to make room for a bench, etc. He claims -- why put in more
baseboard or toe-kick baseboard heat when you could install radiant
heat since the floor is up.
So, is it better? What are your thoughts?
Thanks!