The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) faced a critical challenge during the rehabilitation of the Kenmore Senior Apartments: ensuring the health and comfort of senior residents during harsh Midwestern winters. By installing WarmlyYours electric floor heating systems in the unit bathrooms, the CHA provided a safe, maintenance-free solution. This renovation transformed cold, tiled bathrooms into soothing sanctuaries, proving that radiant warmth is a matter of health, not just luxury.
Project Details
- Location: Chicago, IL (5040 N. Kenmore)
- Room Type: Bathroom (Senior Living)
- Floor Covering: Tile / Stone
- Heated Area: 77 sq. ft.
- System Specifications: 120V, 1,164 Watts, 9.7 Amps
- Operating Cost: ~$0.19 per hour (based on average Chicago electricity rates)
- Products Used: TempZone™ Flex Rolls, nJoy WiFi Thermostat
Transforming Senior Living with Radiant Comfort
The Challenge: Combatting the Chicago Chill For senior citizens, maintaining body temperature is vital for health. Even with standard HVAC systems warming the air, ceramic tile floors in bathrooms often remain dangerously cold. The CHA recognized that cold feet could lead to overall discomfort and susceptibility to illness for the residents of the Kenmore Senior Apartments. They needed a heating solution that was invisible, safe (no hot surfaces to touch), and energy-efficient for a large-scale public housing project.
The Solution: Adaptive Radiant Technology The rehabilitation team selected WarmlyYours TempZone™ Flex Rolls for the installation. These ultra-thin heating cables, attached to a mesh grid, were installed invisibly between the subfloor and the new tile. This "Adaptive Radiant Technology" mimics the sun's heat, warming objects and people directly rather than just blowing hot air. Veronica Gonzalez, development manager for the CHA, noted, "Installing WarmlyYours heated floors eliminated discomfort at a low cost... with no maintenance expenses at all."
The Outcome: Healthier Living Spaces The $16.8 million rehabilitation project successfully integrated modern comfort with safety. The radiant floor heating system utilizes in-floor sensors for precise temperature control, ensuring the floor never overheats but remains comfortably warm. This addition has turned the bathroom into a space of wellness, improving the emotional well-being of residents by removing the physical stress of the cold.
Featured Products
1. TempZone™ Flex Roll (120V)
The heroes of this renovation were the 1.5′ x 30′ and 1.5′ x 21′ Flex Rolls. Designed for easy installation, the cut-and-turn mesh allows installers to snake the heating element around fixtures and vanities easily. It delivers 15 watts per square foot, perfect for heating tile and stone.
2. nJoy WiFi Thermostat
To manage the system, the nJoy WiFi Thermostat was selected. It features a Class A GFCI for safety (crucial in wet environments like bathrooms) and includes a floor sensor to maintain the precise temperature desired by the resident.
