 |
|
Most electric floor-warming systems are supplied in rolls, like carpeting, and come with programmable thermostats. Photo courtesy of WarmlyYours.
|
By Anne Balogh
The growing trend of installing hard-surface flooring instead of wall-to-wall carpeting throughout the home is heating up the demand for electric floor-warming systems. These under-floor radiant heating mats make chilly floors feel like a sun-drenched beach, warming them to toasty temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with evenly distributed heat.
Bathroom flooring is the leading application for electric heating mats, say manufacturers, with an estimated 60 percent of industry sales. "If asked, most homeowners would prefer to step out of a shower or bath onto a soothing, prewarmed tile or stone floor first thing in the morning, so it makes sense for remodelers to suggest the upgrade," says Nicolas Mottet, marketing manager of WarmlyYours, which manufactures electric floor-warming systems. "It identifies their business as being truly homeowner-focused in terms of maximizing personal comfort and providing option packages that add to the resale value of the home."
When electric radiant-floor heating was first introduced for residential use, the systems were typically installed under tile or stone because they had to be embedded in a layer of thin-set cement. Today's systems, though, are better insulated and self-regulating, so they limit heat output to levels that are safe for use directly under most flooring materials including hardwood, engineered wood and laminate.
"Manufacturers of hardwood floors often stipulate an upper temperature limit beneath their products of around 82 degrees Fahrenheit, since hardwood is more insulating than stone and tile and the heat buildup beneath the floor will be higher," says Nicolas. "However, the temperatures attained by electric radiant-floor warming are not sufficiently high enough to cause any noticeable expansions or contraction of the wood," he adds.
Programmable thermostats help to ensure wood-friendly heating levels. For example, an electric floor-warming system from Nuheat is offered with a programmable thermostat specifically for use with wood and laminate, keeping temperatures of the mat at or below the floor manufacturers' recommendations of 82 degrees.
As more homeowners learn that electric radiant heating can be installed right along with their choice of floor covering, the systems have been moving beyond the bathroom into other rooms, especially kitchens and family rooms—the social hubs of the home. "We're also seeing a lot of the systems go into workout rooms, four-season porches and entryways," says Ray Schrader, vice president of marketing for Floor to Ceiling, a nationwide retailer of kitchen, bathroom and floor-covering products.
Economical option
In addition to providing inconspicuous barefoot comfort, these versatile heating mats can serve a more practical purpose in remodeling projects by providing supplemental heating to room additions, such as an above-garage add-on, or when the use of a room changes, such as converting basement space into a home office. "Electric heating mats literally cost pennies a day to run, making them an economical remodeling upgrade," says Ray.
Because they are ultra-thin (typically 1/8 to 1/4 inch), electric radiant heating mats retrofit easily into most homes and won't significantly raise existing floor heights. Many of the mats are supplied like carpeting in easy-to-install rolls composed of evenly spaced electric resistance wires that are bonded to or embedded in a durable fabric or mesh material. Some also include thin layers of insulation.
If you plan on incorporating electrically warmed floors into a remodeling project, here are some factors to consider:
- Electric radiant heating systems are used to warm floors in smaller areas or to provide supplemental heat. They are not intended for whole-house heating. For that purpose, consider hydronic, or water-based, in-floor heating. (See "Radiant Floor Heating.")
- Most manufacturers offer systems that will fit any room, regardless of shape. Nuheat, for example, carries more than 60 different mat sizes. Some manufacturers can also create custom layouts based on your floor drawings.
- Many different brands of electrical floor-warming systems are available, but not all are suitable for use with every flooring material. Check with the manufacturer for compatibility with the type of floor covering you will be installing.
- Wood floors transfer electric radiant heat differently than ceramic tile and will not feel as warm to the touch. Instead, the heat is radiated through the wood, and the area above the floor will feel warm.
- To provide homeowners with the greatest comfort, economy and safety, look for systems controlled by programmable thermostats with high-limit temperature sensors and built-in ground-fault protection. Most systems operate on 120- or 240-volt circuits, but a licensed electrician may be required to install the final power hookup.
- Manufacturers of electric floor-warming products usually sell their systems directly to building contractors and electricians or distribute them through tile and flooring contractors. However, large home-improvement centers are also beginning to carry them. For a list of manufacturers, visit the website of the Radiant Panel Association at
www.radiantpanelassociation.org.
| 
)
