Heated floors offer comfort, save energy costs and reduce dust build-up – but which type is the right one for your home?
Hot water “hydronic” systems use PEX tubing that runs beneath concrete slabs to heat the floors below, typically installed during construction but retrofittable into existing homes as well.
Hydronic
Hydronic floor heating uses underground pipes connected to a boiler system for evenly dispersed heat throughout a room without hot spots or drafts.
Electric subfloor heating works well with most types of flooring materials such as tile, stone and wood, making installation quick and easy in new construction or existing homes or buildings alike. Unfortunately, however, its installation requires professional expertise for optimal performance. The cost can be more than an electric system as well as hiring an installer with adequate experience to successfully complete its setup process.
Your budget doesn’t have to dictate which system you purchase; higher-end systems tend to be more energy efficient. Before making your selection, always review warranty details and installation support offered from a company before purchasing their systems. When searching online for options to buy, look for companies that list systems by floor type with downloadable manuals as well as contractor programs offering client referrals, discounts on large orders and promotional material for clients referred. An added perk would be one that offers no-fee phone support that operates during hours when you may require help for DIY installations.
Electric
Electric heating systems can be more cost-effective in terms of upfront expenses and installation; they’re easy to retrofit into existing rooms as well as being easier to retrofit into a brand new house. Electric systems typically utilize a heating mat made up of resistance wires zigzagging across its surface – typically copper or nichrome (an alloy composed of nickel and chromium), warmed by electricity.
The cable is protected with a waterproof membrane to reduce cracking caused by temperature variations of the concrete beneath floor covering, and covered by a mesh that allows it to be spaced more closely, providing faster response times and increased comfort.
Warmup’s TempZone, DCM-PRO and 6iE systems are embedded into thinset under tile floors while their FOIL system is designed for carpets, vinyl, laminate and floating wood flooring. All are UL listed and have passed extensive safety testing. Each works with a programmable thermostat which controls energy usage to save money and avoid unnecessary heating; learning your schedule and turning on/off at optimal times to avoid overheating or burning up the heaters.
Ductless
Ductless heating and cooling systems provide a more comprehensive way of heating and cooling your entire home than window units or baseboard heating alone. Acting similar to a split system, they connect an exterior compressor to an indoor air handler(s). They may either be wall- or ceiling-mounted depending on their model; ceiling mounted units require cutting a small hole for their refrigerant lines.
Floor-mounted mini-splits offer the easiest option for new construction homes and remodeling projects alike, requiring only a three-inch hole in the wall for equal lines of airflow.
As these units operate much more quietly than traditional systems, with outdoor units sounding similar to kitchen refrigerators, they can also be combined to form zoned cooling and heating solutions that help save on energy costs.
Other
Radiant heat works great under most types of flooring and installation is simple as part of home renovations. Furthermore, radiant heating systems are energy efficient as no energy is wasted by ducts that circulate warm air throughout a home; moreover, since coolest air resides nearer the ceiling than traditional furnaces or wall radiators do.
Hydronic systems use plastic tubing to circulate hot water through plastic pipes or electric systems consist of underfloor heating cables for more discreet heating solutions that don’t take up as much room to operate.
Radiant systems can often be installed without professional help and do not need to meet electrical code compliance, however they must match your home’s electrical capacity. Radiant heating systems can also be more challenging to repair should something go wrong; however, radiant heaters have been known to last longer and don’t need annual servicing checks like traditional furnaces do.