Installing electric radiant floor heating12/30/2023 ![]() Due to size and complexity, most hydronic systems are installed by plumbers and/or HVAC contractors. Other components in a typical hydronic system include a boiler or water heater, a circulation pump, a manifold of valves to control water distribution, and a thermostat to control temperature. Hydronic radiant floors are heated by warm water pumped through plastic tubing. While these systems are compatible with any tile, there are certain thinsets that work better than others check with the cable supplier for specific recommendations. Once the cable is down and the wiring is hooked up, all that remains is the tile work. You’ll save energy by cutting heat during periods when the system is in use. Standard thermostats are available for each system, but you’re better off spending a few extra dollars for a setback model. The technical support staff can determine the optimum layout and quantity of cable you need. Send a copy of your floor plan to the cable supplier (see Where to Find It). You don’t want cable under or against cabinets, a tub, shower enclosure, and the like it should also be at least 6 inches from wax seals for toilets or bidets. The best way to get started with either system is to make a scale drawing of the floor plan and identify the “walking area” where the cable will run. This system has a real advantage when the installation needs to go around curves or extend into odd-shaped corners. The cable fits in slotted plastic channels fastened to the floor at right angles to cable runs. The heating cable for the Warm Tiles Electric Floor Warming System from EasyHeat is supplied in lengths determined by layout requirements. While the mats can be cut to extend the cable into odd-shaped areas, this system is easiest to use when your installation area is rectangular. The SunTouch system uses heating cable that’s woven into 1- or 2-foot-wide plastic mats. There are two types of cable systems on the market. The objective is to cover the subfloor with a continuous, closely spaced pattern of heating cable, connect it to a thermostat on the new circuit, and cover the cable with thinset and tile. We recommend that a licensed electrician hook up the new electrical circuit. While you can hire a pro to do a radiant-floor retrofit, it’s not a difficult job if you’re comfortable setting floor tiles. This electric floor heating system will consume about the same amount of electricity as three 100W lightbulbs. A bathroom-size warm-floor retrofit will cost $400 to $700 including the cost of the new tile. ![]() If you’re remodeling, it’s a good time to satisfy both requirements. If you’re installing radiant floor heat in an existing room, you’ll need a dedicated 15- to 20-amp GFCI-protected circuit to power the system, and an excuse to lay a new tile floor. Controlled by their own thermostat, these electric floor heating systems don’t replace your main heating unit-they augment it. They’re installed where warm floors are appreciated: bathrooms, mudrooms, and kitchens. ![]() Because the cables are so thin they don’t raise the level of the flooring much this makes them great for remodeling. System Basics An electric radiant system consists of thin heating cables, like the wires in an electric blanket, installed under ceramic tile. ![]() A simpler, less expensive alternative for just a single room is one of the electric systems discussed here. This makes hydronic systems expensive and complicated to install. They produce wonderful heat, but they require serpentine runs of plastic tubing, water heaters or boilers, pumps and manifolds. Most familiar are hydronic systems that heat your entire house. The principle is simple: The floor radiates heat to your feet, warming you all over. Radiant-floor heating has been around for centuries. And you can install it in your home with far less trouble and expense than you might expect. But what if we were able to shed our slippers and step barefoot onto tile that’s toasty warm? Radiant-floor heating makes that possible. It’s no wonder so many of us invest in extra-thick slippers and giant bath mats. Stepping onto ice-cold bathroom tile is a cruel way to wake up in the morning. ![]()
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