Floor heating systems today generally come in one of two types: electric and radiant or tube.

Electric floor heating systems use a layer of material embedded with wire mesh or other conducting material. Electricity passes through the mesh and that heat is slowly conducted up to the surface where it keeps your feet and, to a degree, the room warm.

At first blush it doesn't sound very safe, especially in areas like the bathroom or kitchen where liquid on the floor is a common occurrence. In fact, electric floor heating systems are as safe, or safer, than an electric blanket. The mesh is well insulated and the floor material itself - whether wood, ceramic, vinyl or other - adds an even larger safety factor.

Electric floor heating systems cost a few hundred dollars to install in the average bathroom, but they typically operate on a few cents per day worth of electricity. Depending on the size and model, they can add considerable heating ability to the bathroom. Kitchens tend to be more open and they'll do well on the floor and provide some area heating.

Radiant floor heating systems have the same goal - to warm the floor and room. But they operate very differently. Whether they circulate air or water (both are technically fluids), they radiate warmth through a series of tubes. Those tubes can be installed either above floor or below floor.

Above floor systems are not literally above the floor. You don't walk on the heating system. Rather, they are installed above the sub-floor such as the plywood over a concrete floor but below the actual walking surface.

Below floor systems reside below or, more usually, in the sub-floor. Embedded in a series of panels or grooves, the tubes snake throughout the entire area a few inches apart. Sometimes the tubes are laid at the same time as the wet concrete. Reflective material is usually installed underneath the tubes, to direct the heat upwards.

In all systems, the effect is to take advantage of two things: (1) heat rises, (2) cold through the feet tends to make the whole body feel colder.

Heat from the mesh or tubes heats the surrounding material. Also, as warm air rises, it has to start at the floor. So, the floor is kept warm, which is a universally pleasant feeling on the feet. Nobody likes stepping out onto a cold bathroom or kitchen floor. It continues upward where, depending on the system, it warms the room from a few degrees to any temperature desired. Many radiant heating systems will keep an entire large area very comfortable without any supplemental heating from another home heating system.

Among the advantages of both are the absence of any air flow from the outdoors that has to be heated, as is the case with many forced air systems. They're also unseen. There are no heat registers or vents. That gives the room a very clean look and makes possible heating in the kitchen where it can be difficult to locate vents.

Which is best depends on local factors of cost, quality of installation and so forth. Radiant heating can be quieter, since electric systems can sometimes generate a low hum. But fluid moving through a radiant system can be heard, too, if the system isn't of good quality.

Shop around and you'll quickly find a dealer that can offer just the floor heating system you want.