Radiant Electric Floor Heating Systems: Is Installation Worth It?

Category likeness to » Heated Flooring Systems. Added to Authentic Society 2 years ago.

A few words about electric radiant heat systems

Radiant electric flooring heat systems can be compared to a giant foot warmer that is stretched across the perimeter of the entire floor in a single family home. They can be just as effectively used outside, in the open air, integrated within the concrete floor construction of your drive way. At the heart of the heat system, is a solid construction consisting of wooden joints, insulation and flexible tube-like water pipes that are placed across the area which is desired to be upgraded. The pipes are controlled by a thermostat, like the rest of the things in your house that have anything to do with water-based heat generation.

Technology innovation has allowed the installation of heated flooring systems to become a relatively popular method of heating single-family homes, basements and corporate storage facilities. Heating systems are engineered for home owners who wish to heat up their tile-based, concrete, stone(such as granite) and hardwood or laminate floors and provide a comfortable temperature throughout the winter season.

Radiant heat systems are installed underneath the floor into the concrete base. The concrete is poured over red water tubes in order to secure them in place. Sometimes, such as in the case when heating systems are installed outside, thick layer of sand or certain types of clay can be used to secure the water cables. Even though radiant heat systems can be installed directly into the concrete, as in outside of your house in the drive-way, most home owners prefer using them in combination with hardwood floor layer that is installed on top of the heated concrete system. This concrete must fall within specifications defined by the manufacturer in order to maintain warranty services and avoid warranty nullification.

The approach to installing radiant floor heating varies between low-cost solutions and increased accessibility options. In other words, it will depend on finding the best solution for your particular floor plan and affordability of each specific installation method. The actual types of heating system methods are listed below:

1. in-floor concrete or lightweight gypsum slab
2. in specialized sub-floor decking
3. under the floor using tubing and aluminum heat transfer plates, and
4. under the floor using suspended tubing.

Which method is more suitable for your house should be discussed with the manufacturer or the company responsible for installing the heat system into your home, which are more than often one and the same company.

Heating system installation is not limited to the interior of your house. Heating wires can be laid underneath concrete driveways outside in the open air. This can prevent the ice forming on the surface of your driveway, making it safer for parking your car. These systems are ususally referred to as hydronic snow and ice melting systems.

Radiant heat floor systems are not uncommon for concrete and cement floors, however floor heating is even more frequently installed for hardwood floors. Heated floor systems are installed in bathrooms to provide warm air throughout the cold winter nights and can be regulated by programmable or non-programmable remote thermostat controls with advanced timer options.

In addition to installation on top of concrete floor base, radiant heat floor systems are covered with a layer of laminate, the type of floor consisting of more than one type of material. These heat systems are installed under the layer of the floor to heat the tiles or hardwood floors from beneath. This is acheived by using 120 volt mats or 240 volt mats, which is the most important part used in the installation of engineered wood floor heating systems. Electric floor warming mats come in many dimensions to ensure fitting in all types of places in your house, especially as far as custom construction is concerned.

Hardwood floor types suitable for use with engineered heat systems

United States and Canada grow almost twice as much wood as the amount that is being harvested on annual basis [source].

Some of the most commonly grown types of wood utilized in making floors for single-family homes include birch, maple, oak, poplar and alder. But hardwoord floors can also be made out of other types of wood such as ash, beech, walnut, cherry and hickory. Each of these types of wood have different properties and textures. Some types of wood are lighter than others, some are cheaper and more affordable. The costs associated with construction of cabinets or hardwood floors depends on unique qualities of each type of wood, its scarcity and availability. Even among the same type of wood, texture and colors can maintain different characteristics. For this reason it is important to make a careful choice of the right wood pattern that works with the design of your home and other details, such as the style of furniture and wall color.

Heated floor systems are laid underneath the hardwood panels and the amount of heat produced can be regulated with computerized thermostat controls.

Things you should know before installing ceramic tile systems

One common misconception that people often have when thinking about installing radiant heating systems into their homes is that the system is something that can be conveniently installed under just about any type of floor, including their own. However, while not completely impossible, it is still not recommended to try and save money by ordering and installing the heating system yourself. Make quick decisions should be avoided and a qualified and experienced specialist must be hired in order to properly install heat systems. If you are still planning on doing it yourself, remember that if your ceramic tile floor isn't installed as required by the specifications defined by the manufacturer, your warranty will become void.

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