Benefits of Electric Floor Heating for the Home

Everybody, thank you for joining us. My name is Lynn, and I am a customer service representative here at WarmlyYours. Today, I am joined by Scott. Hi, everybody! We’re going to discuss some of the benefits of electric floor heating for the home. If you have any questions during today's webinar, please don't hesitate to ask. You can type them in the webinar chat, and we'll see them. If we don't respond right away, we will definitely address them by the end of the presentation.

Today, we will provide a brief introduction to electric floor heating, explaining what it is and how it works. We will also discuss the benefits of this system, including the comfort it provides, its energy efficiency, and how it contributes to a healthier home. Finally, we will touch on the simplicity and ease of installation. Floor heating systems can be either hydronic or electric, and everything we offer here at WarmlyYours is electric-based. Scott, could you explain the difference and how our systems work?

Certainly! Many people, when they hear about floor heating, automatically assume it's hot water, likely because of the systems used in the 1950s and 1960s. However, we utilize electricity to provide radiant heat. The electric cables buried in your floor emit radiant heat that warms objects and people in the room rather than just heating the air. While the air does eventually warm up, you will feel warm even if the room temperature is only 65 degrees, thanks to the floor heating warming you directly. This is particularly beneficial in basements, which often have cold floors. Electric floor heating eliminates that chill and generates warmth for you and your feet in a straightforward installation process.

It's important to note that if you're renovating your home and don't already have a boiler, electric floor heating is a better option. You won't need to install a boiler or add two or three inches of floor height to accommodate hot water tubes. Additionally, electric systems are more DIY-friendly and less complex than hydronic systems, which often require pumps and additional components. Electric floor heating warms the room and its occupants from the floor level, avoiding the issues associated with hot air systems.

You can really see the difference in how radiant heat works compared to forced air systems. With forced air, warm air is pushed into a room, creating a vortex that can leave your feet cold as the air rises and cools. In contrast, electric floor heating keeps the warmth where you need it most—at floor level—ensuring that you feel comfortable without the hot air rising to the ceiling. The electric floor heating cable radiates heat about an inch and a half from the cable itself, which is why most of our mats are spaced at three-inch intervals. This spacing allows for uniform heating under the floor, making it essential to avoid cold spots by ensuring that heating cables are laid out correctly.

As we mentioned earlier, the comfort provided by electric floor heating is significant. It delivers warmth where you feel it most—at your feet—rather than relying on heat that collects near the ceiling. This is especially important in rooms with high ceilings, where heat tends to rise and may not be accessible to you. Electric floor heating is an excellent solution for any space you want to warm, particularly those with high ceilings.

When considering installation, it's crucial to remember that heat loss can be a concern. Areas with many windows, exterior walls, skylights, or fireplaces can contribute to heat loss, so it's essential to account for these factors when planning your floor heating system. Additionally, you should never install floor heating under permanent fixtures or cabinets. However, you can place heating wires in the toe kick of a cabinet to ensure warmth where it matters most.

Basements, in particular, are known for being challenging to heat. Even finished basements can feel cold and humid, making them uncomfortable. Electric floor heating can significantly improve the comfort of these spaces year-round. It's not just for basements, though; this system is also beneficial for first floors. Forced air systems often struggle to keep the lower levels warm, as the hot air rises and leaves cold spots near the floor. Electric floor heating addresses this issue by providing warmth directly where you need it.

There is a common misconception that electric heating is expensive to operate. However, electric floor heating is generally very energy efficient and does not cost much to run daily. One of the advantages of electric floor heating is that you can set different temperatures for different rooms and have them turn on at various times. For instance, if you're spending time in the living room, you can heat just that area without needing to warm the entire house. By lowering the temperature in the rest of the house, you can save on overall heating costs while still enjoying warmth in the spaces you use most.

We have a free tool on our website that can help you estimate the operating costs of electric floor heating. You can find this tool under the resources tab on our website, warmlyyours.com, specifically in the running cost calculator section. This tool allows you to input your room size, energy rates based on your zip code, and daily usage to get an idea of your potential costs.

The calculator is straightforward to use and provides valuable insights. For example, you can choose the type of heating system you’re using, the room size, and adjust the daily usage slider to see how costs vary. This flexibility helps you understand the potential costs associated with running electric floor heating in different scenarios.

It's worth noting that most people do not run their electric floor heating systems continuously. Instead, they use programmable thermostats to control heating based on their schedule. This means you can set the system to heat only when you're home, further optimizing energy use and reducing costs.

Programmable controls are crucial for keeping operating costs low. If you’re not running the system constantly, you can significantly reduce expenses compared to traditional forced air systems. However, it’s essential to ensure that your flooring can accommodate a programmable thermostat, as some materials have specific temperature requirements that may limit your options.

Electric floor heating systems are also more responsive than hydronic systems. Hydronic systems can experience temperature overshooting and undershooting, making it challenging to maintain a consistent temperature. In contrast, electric systems provide precise control, ensuring that the floor reaches the desired temperature without fluctuations.

When scheduling heating events, the system starts warming up before the set time, so your space is comfortable when you need it. This feature eliminates the guesswork of when to turn on the heat, making it a convenient option for homeowners.

In addition to comfort, electric floor heating can contribute to a healthier home environment. It helps reduce allergens and dust that can circulate through forced air systems. By minimizing the movement of air, electric floor heating can create a more stable indoor environment, which is especially beneficial for those with allergies.

Relative humidity is another important factor to consider when using electric floor heating, particularly for flooring materials like LVT, laminate, and hardwood. These materials expand and contract with changes in humidity, and maintaining a consistent relative humidity level is crucial to their longevity. Electric floor heating does not dry out the air; rather, it is the forced air systems that can lead to fluctuations in humidity.

The installation of electric floor heating systems is generally straightforward. There are multiple methods to install floor heating, and not every job requires a membrane. For example, while some companies may recommend using a membrane for tile installations, it is not necessary for laminate or hardwood floors. This flexibility can save you money on installation costs.

For the quickest installation, using products like Environn is ideal. This system allows for easy installation without the need for thin set or self-leveling compounds. You can simply lay the ThermalSheet down and place the heating product on top, making it suitable for various flooring types.

For a more universal installation, utilizing TempZone systems embedded within self-leveling cement is recommended. This method creates a heated subfloor that can accommodate different flooring materials, providing versatility and ease of future renovations.

If you are considering installing electric floor heating on a concrete slab, there are two approaches: heating within the slab or heating on top of it. When pouring a new slab, the heating system can be placed inside to ensure even warmth throughout the concrete. Alternatively, for existing slabs, you can place the heating system on top, using a ThermalSheet to isolate the cable from the slab and allowing for quicker heating.

As we wrap up, I want to remind everyone that our next webinar will be on Thursday, May 9th, at 1:00 PM Central Time, focusing on a step-by-step guide to heated luxury vinyl floors. We also offer daily training sessions on various topics, and we encourage you to join us for those discussions.

Additionally, we are currently offering a promotion of 25% off select towel warmers for the month of April, so be sure to check our website for more details. After this webinar, we will send out an email requesting your feedback and suggestions for future topics. We appreciate your input and want to ensure we provide the information you need.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your project further, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always available to assist you, whether through our website, email, or phone. Thank you for joining us today, and until next time, stay warm and be radiant!