As the weather outside starts to turn and the temperature starts to drop, my floors are beginning to feel cooler and I long for warmth under my feet! I have always thought that having radiant heat to warm my floors was a good idea but thought the process was probably more complicated than it was worth. Recently, a friend of mine who was working on a remodeling project called to ask my advice on what type of radiant heat to use. So, I figured now might be a good time to demystify this process and get my friend some answers.The first thing I found interesting was that radiant heat systems work not only with tile and stone floors but also with carpet, vinyl and hardwood! I am from the south where it doesn’t ever get too terribly cold. To me, it made sense to heat tile because tile is cold! But now that I know that I can heat other types of flooring, I ask you, why not have warm floors everywhere? As much as I love to go barefoot and have now relocated to Colorado, this is very appealing.
So here is basically what you need to know: There are 2 different ways to heat your floors. You can heat floors with electricity or with water. What’s great about these systems is the flexibility. You can heat an area as small as the flooring in front of your sink or areas as large as athletic fields, driveways and sidewalks! Electrical systems consist of a thin mat of warming wires that are installed between the sub floor or underlayment and the flooring, much like an electric blanket. Feeling cozy yet? These mats can be custom sized to fit the shape of any room. The wire mat is safe because the wires are encapsulated between 2 layers of insulation. The first layer is the standard plastic insulation that is required. The second layer is the outer braid that is made from stainless steel and protects the wires from being penetrated by sharp objects. It also serves as the ground wire in the event that there is damage.
The alternative to electricity is water or hydronic heating. Here’s how it works;
hot water is circulated through plastic pipes in the concrete sub floor. The system is a closed loop so the liquid re-circulates. Warm water is distributed to the individual circuits of tubing within each zone. Because the water is heated in the slab, the warming time to start up can be 4-7 hours. Because of this fact, these units are typically used in colder climates and are left on for months at a time. This type of heating is often used to heat whole homes where electric heating systems are good for warming small areas. Hydronic heating is controlled by a thermostat and is rated the most popular and most comfortable by homeowners with radiant heat.
So, after understanding the two different types of radiant heat I still had questions regarding safety, what to do if it breaks and practicality. As far as safety, I was wondering, was it possible for the floor to get too hot? Could it be too hot for kids or for my magazines I leave lying on the floor? The answer I found out was no. The floor temperature generally ranges from 80-90 degrees and can be controlled with a thermostat. So, my safety concerns were answered.
Now what if the system breaks? While it is unlikely for electrical systems to do so, repairs can be made easily but need to be done by a professional, especially if you are removing a piece of tile or stone. Keep in mind that because hydronic systems have moving parts that are subject to maintenance problems, these systems can be difficult to repair and therefore costly.
The last question I had was regarding luxury versus practicality. Is it worth it to have toasty toes if your electric bill goes through the roof? Good news, again. A 25 square foot area uses the equivalent of three 100 watt light bulbs. For an
average size bathroom, these units operate on less than 10 cents per day! Also, these systems run off 110V or 220V and the variable temperature controls have a built in GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.) Your initial costs for heating
your floors are more significant with hydronic heating because you have to buy a boiler. So, if you are looking to heat a small area or invest hundreds rather than thousands, electric heating is the way to go. In very large homes where you are
heating the whole house it can be more cost effective in the long run to use hydronic heating. For those of us in existing homes without heated floors, there’s more good news! We can have them, too. Radiant heating systems it can be installed
in the crawl space in an existing home without removing the existing flooring. There are some variables with each type of flooring such as the proper carpet padding and installation method for wood so check with your installation professional before making a purchase.
Radiant heat, in general, has the advantage of warming objects and not the air so you don’t lose heat when the door is open. It also doesn’t stir up dust so allergies are kept to a minimum. Studies show a 50-80% reduction in dust mites with use of these systems! Also, because radiant heat warms from the bottom up, when your feet are warm the rest of your body feels warm, too! So, knowing that the product is safe, effective and efficient I encourage you to see your local retailer for their favorite brands. Why not spoil yourself with warm floors this winter either in a small area or your whole house!
