If you have a boiler, the heat reaches your rooms through either radiators / baseboards or in-floor PEX tubing. Both deliver hydronic comfort with very different installation profiles and performance characteristics.
Quick answer
For new construction or major reno: in-floor (radiant). Best comfort, most even temperature, no visible heating. For existing radiator homes: keep the radiators and upgrade only the boiler. Ripping out radiators to install in-floor in an existing home rarely makes financial sense.
Radiators (and baseboard)
Hot water at 140-180°F flows through finned radiators mounted on walls or under windows. Heat radiates and convects into the room. Common in Vancouver heritage homes and many mid-century builds.
Advantages:
- Fast response — rooms warm up within 15-30 minutes from cold
- Lower install cost than in-floor (retrofit-friendly)
- Easy to add per-room zoning via TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves)
- Self-balancing — convection naturally distributes heat throughout the room
- Long-life — cast-iron radiators commonly 50+ years; modern panel radiators 30+
Disadvantages:
- Visible — takes wall space, affects furniture placement
- Temperature gradient — warmer near radiator, cooler at far wall
- Surface gets hot (children/pet safety concern with old-style cast-iron)
- Requires higher boiler output temperature (less efficient if outdoor reset not optimised)
In-floor radiant
PEX tubing embedded in concrete slab or stapled under wood subfloor. Warm water (80-110°F) circulates through the tubing; the entire floor becomes a low-temperature radiator.
Advantages:
- Best comfort: Even temperature floor-to-ceiling, no cold spots, warm feet
- Invisible: No radiators on walls, no vents — completely concealed
- Maximum boiler efficiency: Low-temperature operation means full condensing year-round
- Silent (no convection currents, no fan)
- Safe — floor surface typically 75-85°F, never hot enough to burn
Disadvantages:
- Slow response — concrete slab takes 4-8 hours to change temperature significantly
- High install cost in retrofits ($15-$25/sq ft for staple-up; $25-$45/sq ft for slab)
- Flooring constraints — works well with tile, engineered wood, some carpet; poorly with thick rugs or insulating flooring
- Repairs are difficult — leaks in slab tubing are expensive to access
Cost comparison (residential)
| System | New install | Retrofit |
|---|
| Radiators | $12–$18/sq ft | $10–$15/sq ft (existing radiators can stay) |
| In-floor radiant | $15–$25/sq ft (slab) / $10–$18 (staple-up) | $20–$45/sq ft (requires floor demolition) |
The best of both: hybrid systems
Many Metro Vancouver homes use a hybrid: in-floor in main living areas (kitchen, bathrooms) where the comfort advantage is most felt, and radiators/baseboard in less-frequented rooms or where retrofit is impossible. CANRO designs hybrid systems regularly.
Designing a new hydronic system?
Free consultation on radiator, in-floor, or hybrid system design for your Metro Vancouver project.
📞 (604) 359-1081 Request a quoteFrequently asked questions
Should I rip out my radiators and install in-floor?
Almost never. The retrofit cost typically exceeds $40,000 for a 2,000 sq ft home, with payback essentially never. Better to upgrade your boiler to high-efficiency and modernise the radiator system with TRVs and outdoor reset.
Will in-floor heating warm my bathroom tile floor?
Yes — that’s actually the most common in-floor application in Metro Vancouver. Many otherwise-radiator homes add electric or hydronic radiant in bathroom floors as a luxury comfort upgrade. Electric is simpler for single-room retrofits.
Can I use my boiler for both radiators AND in-floor?
Yes, with a mixing valve or low-loss header. Radiators need higher-temperature water (140-180°F) than in-floor (80-110°F). The mixing valve drops the temperature for the in-floor loop while supplying full temperature to the radiators.
What’s the most efficient hydronic setup for a Vancouver home?
In-floor radiant + condensing boiler + outdoor reset. The low operating temperature lets the boiler condense 100% of the time, maximizing AFUE. Real-world efficiency can exceed the rated 95% AFUE in this setup.
Does in-floor heating work with hardwood?
Yes, with engineered hardwood (more dimensionally stable than solid). Solid hardwood can be used with careful temperature control (max 80°F floor surface) but engineered is preferred. CANRO works with flooring contractors regularly on these specifications.
How long does PEX tubing last?
Modern oxygen-barrier PEX (PEX-A or PEX-AL-PEX) is rated for 50+ years. The tubing typically outlasts the boiler 2-3 times over. Connections and manifolds are the more common failure points.
CANRO Heating & Cooling — TSBC Class-A gas-fitting licence · Red Seal HVAC certified · WorkSafeBC and liability insured · 4.9★ from 85+ Google reviews · Serving Metro Vancouver since 1999.
