My wife and I are building a new house. We more than likely will go with in floor electric radiant heat. And we'll more than likely go with a multiuse tankless water heater or point of use electric water heaters. We figure that since we'll go with electric radiant, we don't see the point in getting natural gas just for hot water. Although we may change our minds, depending on gas fireplaces, gas stove, dryer etc. But having said that, if we went all electric water and main heat (no fireplace, and electric cooking and drying too), with the usual other electrical needs for a house of about 1500 square feet, would 200 amp be enough? We are also in Canada, which might play a part.

EDIT: Also, I forgot, we'll have central air conditioning too... oh and eventually maybe a hot tub? Maybe not...

O-M-G! Especially since you are in Canada, WHY in the world would you go with electric heat since you have nat gas available?? Is hydro THAT cheap?


And no, considering electric heat AND tankless water heaters, I do not thing 200A would be enough.

Yes actually. I'm from the province of Manitoba, where we have our public utility which is a net exporter of energy to other provinces and especially the US. We have THE lowest electricity rates in all of North America, according the Manitoba Hydro. Once I find a bill, I'll post the rate. Anyway, the installation of electric in floor radiant is so much easier than gas hydronic. But I'm up for options and opinions, so please let me know what you think.

Well, I am so used to discouraging most any kind of electric heat I don't know what to think. :o

My opinion still stands about the service size though.

I found a bill. I'm being charged $0.06 per kWh. I used 427 kWh last month, and my bill was $25.96. Is that cheap? I don't know, as I have no comparison.

But, since you mention it and after speaking with my wife, we might want a fireplace now. And she'd really love to cook over gas. So although I'm still leaning towards electric in floor, the dryer, stove and hot water can now be gas.

I heard about the electric prices, so I understand.

I would definitely consider electric hydronic. The hydronic system will be much more reliable in the long run. I'd hate to tear up a floor because of a broken electric heater. The PEX water pipes almost never go bad.

Hmm. Well my father in law is a plumber so he could help. But he doesn't get along great with my wife :(. So its somewhat touchy. I'd absolutely love to have hydronic, but I want to install it myself. And although I've done a lot of home improvement projects, in floor hydronic might be too much for me?

After further discussion now, my wife wants a gas cook top. But an electric wall oven. And since we're looking now at a gas fireplace, we'll have gas. So we'll more than likely have a gas dryer too. And since we're doing that, we might as well do gas water heat. So, with this updated info, would 200 amp be okay for in floor electric heat (I still haven't abandoned hydronic gas or otherwise but we'll see) and the oven with the normal usual house electrical. Taking into consideration future needs of the service etc?

Your not putting in electric radiant heat because I said so. Sorry!

I'm giving you a hard time for your own good.

It can be installed below the floor or in the floor.

No no, I hear what your saying. You're not giving me a hard time. I like opinions of the pros, because otherwise I only have the sales people. And I'm sure that's skewed. Anyway, we're still looking at electric radiant. But we don't want to go to bigger than 200 amps if we can avoid it, because its included with the home package etc. So if we do go with gas for cook top only (electric stove), gas dryer and gas hot water, is 200 amps enough still? Or am I still going to have to go with higher amps? Because if that's the case, then we'll lean towards gas fired boiler with hydronic.

Mmm:

Electric radient hydronic -electric, fluid
Gas Radient Hydronic - Gas, fluid
Electric Hydronic - Electric, No fluid

Is electric stove = electric oven?

Probably OK. Got to have a the numbers to be sure. Have builder to a calculation.

A hot tub might skew things a bit.

Yes sorry, by stove I mean oven. So gas cook top but with electric oven. Apparently, according to my wife, cooking in an electric oven is better than gas. But what do I know.

What is your honest opinion on electric radiant (non hydronic)? Is there a real good chance of wire breakage under the floor? Because its incased in self leveling cement, so its not something that could really be repaired? That scares me a little now that I think about it...

Exactly! PEX has almost nothing to wear out.

Okay, well we have some thinking to do... still... Thanks everyone again for your insight! Have a great Christmas!