Many people are under the impression that hydronic heating services are more expensive than other forms of heating, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Whilst the up front costs of installation do tend to be a little higher than those of more traditional systems, hydronic services are quite economic and often prove to be cheaper to run. This can make it a far more economical choice in the long run.
Installation Costs
A hydronic system tends to cost between $2500 and $3000 to purchase, but this doesn’t include installation.
It is estimated that it takes around 12 hours to install a hydronic radiator service with the costs varying between $695 and $875. This brings the total to between $3470 and $4200. Keep in mind that this is for a new build – retrofitting a system may cost more due to the extra labour involved. When retrofitting, you should expect to pay around $1300 to $1600 per radiator including installation.
Slab heating costs around $103m2. In an average sized home (of around 60m2), the cost would be well over $10,000 – and this price often includes both the system and the installation, but not the boiler. The reason for such a steep price is the extra labour and different components involved –the pipes are laid and then concrete is poured over the top.
Running Costs
According to some experts, hydronic heating is up to 35% more cost effective to run than ducted systems. Sustainability Victoria conducted a study that found the running costs of a medium sized home (of around 160m2) may be:
Please keep in mind that these are average costs and that they don’t reflect the amount of time that the heater is used. A hydronic service can be left on all day and the running costs should always be lower than a ducted or reverse cycle one.
If you are hoping to save money when it comes to hydronic heating services, understanding how much these systems generally cost (both in terms of installation and running) will go a long way to getting you there. At the end of the day, you have to work out how much you will spend on the service over the years versus another type of heater. Do the pros outweigh the cons?