Environ Floor Heating Installation under Floating Wood Laminate

Hi, I'm Scott from WarmlyYours, and today we're going to be installing Environnn products under an engineered wood floor. As you look around the room right now, you can see that we've got the product here. We've also installed our Cerazorb, which is not attached to the floor but rather to itself. We've installed it in a staggered pattern to avoid having the seams aligned across the floor. This installation resembles brickwork, and the pieces are taped together, allowing it to float along with the engineered floor above.

We have already installed the Cerazorb and identified the location for our thermostat, which will be positioned on the wall over here. In the shipment, we have everything we need for the installation. If we take a look inside the box, we find our installation plan and the instructions necessary for installing the product. Additionally, the box contains a thermostat and a circuit check tool to ensure that the system remains undamaged during installation. Another component included is our Cut and Turn product, which we'll use to fill smaller spaces within the room. Our plan is to use the larger blanket-type product, the Easy Mats, to cover most of the area since it is very easy to install, and then we'll use the Cut and Turn product for the more intricate cuts and turns.

Before any product is installed, it is crucial to test it with a digital ohmmeter. You should never install a product that hasn't been tested first. To do this, locate the stickers on the product to find the correct ohm readings and ensure that your ohm meter matches the values indicated on the label. We will be testing all these rolls, and if they test well, we can proceed with the installation. It's important to note the cold leads of these products; the cold lead is the portion that does not heat up and runs across the floor to the thermostat. The only difference between the two products we have is that one features a braided ground while the other has a green ground. The red and black wires indicate a 240-volt system, as confirmed by the sticker on the product. Always ensure that all products are of the same voltage; never mix a 120-volt mat with a 240-volt system, as this can cause damage.

As we examine the differences between the Cut and Turn product and the larger Easy Mats, we find that the larger mats can be flipped either way during installation. This flexibility allows for the cold lead to have the shortest distance to the junction box or thermostat. However, the Cut and Turn product must be installed with one side facing up and the other side down, which requires careful planning. The installation plan provided to you will outline these specifications, so it is essential to follow the instructions and keep the designated side up during installation.

Now that we have our plan laid out, the crew is beginning to position the Easy Mats. These large mats can cover up to 60 square feet in about 30 seconds, which is one of the great advantages of this product. Currently, the Easy Mats are placed on the floor, and we will finalize their positioning shortly. We have also routed the cold leads to the desired areas, as we will need to cut out the Cerazorb to allow the cold leads to pass under the wood flooring without creating an uneven surface. Our immediate focus will be on the Cut and Turn product, where we will make the necessary cuts and turns.

When heating a room like this, it's important to avoid placing heat under stationary furniture, such as a bed, as it can trap heat. Instead, we will focus on heating the areas where people walk. Our Cut and Turn product will be installed in front of the bed, and we will also move the mats toward the center of the room, away from the edges of the walls, since people typically do not stand against the walls.

Looking at our installation plan, our first cut measures six feet and eight inches. The cable within the mat is spaced every two inches, so we will measure accordingly. It’s crucial to ensure that we are cutting in the right direction, as our directional turn will need to go this way. We will cut the mesh, being careful not to touch the wire, as cutting the wire can damage the installation. Instead, we will lift the edges of the mesh to allow for a clean cut.

Once we have made our cut, we can proceed with the turn. It’s advisable to stagger the rolls in tight spaces to prevent the tips of the wires from touching each other. With the mats placed in their desired locations, we will tape them down to secure them on the Cerazorb while the flooring is installed above.

Before we finalize the installation, we must address the area where the line cord enters. We need to create a trench in the Cerazorb to allow the wire to pass through without causing any instability. Additionally, we will trench the Cerazorb along the wall to accommodate the wire running to the baseboard, preventing any teeter-tottering.

In a large room like this, we will have multiple mats, which means several cold leads. Remember that these wires do not heat up; they merely carry electricity from the thermostat to the floor. You can trim these wires to the appropriate length. Since we have many wires, we will install a junction box where all six of them will connect before running power from the thermostat to this junction box.

Next, we will run our thermostat sensor wire between two heating wires, ensuring it is placed about six to eight inches into the mat for optimal performance. There’s no need to extend it all the way into the center of the floor.

Once the floor is installed and the baseboard is in place, we will need to manage the excess cold lead. We will make connections for all the mats in the junction box located at the lower part of the wall, allowing for a single pair of wires to run from the thermostat to meet the six mats in the junction box. As we cut the cold leads to comply with local code, we will ensure that the appropriate length remains outside the box for making connections.

After cutting the wires to the correct lengths, we will strip them back to expose the red, black, and ground wires. All the grounds will be terminated in the junction box, which provides a solid ground due to the piping throughout the house. We will tie all the red wires together, all the black wires together, and connect them to the wires coming down from the thermostat.

Once all connections are made, we will place everything back inside the junction box, which is a 4x4x4 square box that provides ample space for the wires. The final step will be to cover the box and then proceed with installing the thermostat.

With the walls painted and the connections made in the junction box, we will hook up the wires from the junction box to the thermostat. As you can see, the room looks fantastic, and the best addition is the underfloor heating. This room will remain warm and cozy during the winter months. We successfully installed our Environnn product beneath the click-together hardwood floor, and the thermostat is functioning perfectly. If you would like to learn more about installing this type of product in your home, feel free to visit us at WarmlyYours.com. We'll see you soon.