A Few Things To Know About Radiant Floor Heating
Radiant floor heating can keep you warmer during the long winter months, and it may even reduce your heating bill. Your entire floor acts as a heat source, so you'll have no more cold feet or cold spots in your house. You can install radiant flooring in your entire house or just in certain rooms where you need more heat. Here are a few of the choices you'll need to make when you install this type of heating in an existing home.
Install Under The Floor Or On Top
One of the first things you have to figure out is where you'll install the heating elements. If you have a crawl space or basement, it is easiest to install the heating system on the underside of the floor. Once the system is in place, you add insulation as a covering so the heat is forced up and into your house rather than leaking down to the basement.
If you can't get underneath your floor, you'll have to install the heating system on top of your current floor. To do this, you'll need to rip up your flooring and get down to the slab or subfloor. Then, the heating system is put down and a new layer of concrete or a subfloor is placed on top of it. Depending on the type of radiant heating system you install, the job could be as easy as unrolling mesh panels that hold wires or tubes and stapling them in place. You can even buy radiant heat flooring that has the heating elements combined with panels so you can create a new subfloor in a single step.
Choose Electric Or Hot Water Heating
There are two types of radiant floor heating. One type is electric and the other uses hot water. It costs more to operate the electric version, so it is more appropriate for use in single rooms or small spaces. An electric system could be a good solution for a bathroom that is always cold. A hot water system is more energy efficient. A boiler heats the water and forces it through a tubing system embedded in your flooring. This system can be used throughout your entire house and on upper levels as well.
Pick The Best Cover Flooring
The final step to installing radiant heating is to put down the new flooring on top of it. If you can install the heating system underneath your existing floor, then you may be able to avoid the expense of new flooring. However, if you need to install the tubes or wires on top of the slab, then you'll have to replace the flooring you tore up, which gives you the opportunity to pick the best match. Stone floors are an excellent choice because they transfer heat well. Laminate and vinyl are other options to consider. Laminate floors are floating floors, so they are ideal for covering a heating system. If you want to install vinyl flooring, you'll probably need to install panels first that make the surface flat and smooth.
Hardwood floors may not be a good choice if you go with radiant floor heating because the fluctuations in temperature and humidity might warp the floors. Also, carpeting might not be a good choice since it acts as insulation that can block the transfer of heat.
If you have home improvement skills, you might be able to do a lot of the work yourself when you're ready to install radiant heating. The flooring system usually comes in panels or rolls, so it is fairly easy to install. You may need a contractor to connect the electrical components or boiler to make sure it is done properly. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional to install your new heating system, once it's in place, you'll appreciate how much warmer and comfortable you, your family, and pets are during the cold days of winter.