From Frigid to Favorite: A Maryland Family Room’s Radiant Warmth Transformation

A large, 325 sq. ft. family room in Mount Airy, MD, was too cold to enjoy, especially during harsh winters. The solution was a powerful TempZone™ electric floor heating system installed under new tile flooring. This in-floor heating system not only provided luxurious, even comfort but was powerful enough to become the room's primary heat source, eliminating the need for a separate propane heater and adding significant value and usability to the home.

Project Details

Location: Mount Airy, Maryland
Heated Space: Family Room
Square Footage: 325 sq. ft. (288 sq. ft. heated)
Flooring: Tile, Marble or Stone
Subfloor: Wood
System: 4319 Watts, 240 Volts, 18 Amps
Products: TempZone™ Flex Rolls, Power Modules, TH115-AF-12VDC Thermostat
Operating Cost: Approximately $0.76 per hour

A Heating System So Good, They Turned Off the Propane

The Challenge Doug from D and S Quality Home Improvement had a client with a classic problem: a large family room with cold tile floors that was impossible to keep warm. During frigid Maryland winters, the room was drafty and uncomfortable, forcing the family to avoid the space.

The Solution As an installer, Doug knew that standard heating options wouldn't provide the level of comfort the client needed. He specified a high-performance WarmlyYours TempZone™ floor warming system to be installed under the new tile. The system utilized two large 144 sq. ft. Flex Rolls, providing 288 sq. ft. of consistent, powerful radiant heat across the main living area. Because the system was large (18 amps), it was paired with power modules to safely manage the load.

The Outcome The results were immediate and dramatic. Doug reported that even when the outside temperature plummeted to -4°F, setting the floor thermostat to 88°F kept the entire family room at a comfortable 70°F.

The homeowners were so thrilled with the silent, even warmth that they "haven't used [their] propane heater since." The once-cold room is now the family's "favorite room in the house," demonstrating the true power of radiant floor heating.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can electric floor heating be the only heat source in a room?

Absolutely. As this project shows, in well-insulated spaces, a properly specified radiant floor heating system can often serve as the sole source of heat. It's especially effective in large rooms with cold flooring like tile, providing powerful, wall-to-wall comfort.

2. Is radiant floor heating energy efficient?

Radiant floor heating is a highly efficient way to heat a room. It heats objects and people directly (like sunlight) rather than just heating the air (which rises to the ceiling). This allows you to feel warmer at a lower thermostat setting. In this case, it was more efficient and comfortable than the existing propane heater.

3. What does it cost to run heated floors in a large family room in Maryland?

Operating cost depends on your local electricity rates and the system's wattage. This 288 sq. ft. system uses 4319 watts and costs about $0.76 per hour to run in Mount Airy, MD. While this is a powerful system, it's efficient enough to replace other, more expensive primary heat sources.

4. What flooring works best with TempZone™ heating system?

This project used tile, which is one of the best materials for in-floor heating because it conducts and holds heat exceptionally well. Other compatible floorings include stone, luxury vinyl (LVT), laminate, and engineered wood.