Luxury Warmth for a Sprawling Living Room in Hawthorn Woods, IL

The homeowners in Hawthorn Woods, IL, wanted to transform their large, 420 sq. ft. living room into a cozy, all-season haven. The challenge was finding an efficient in-floor heating system compatible with their engineered wood flooring that could effectively heat such a large space. WarmlyYours delivered with a high-performance Environ™ Flex Roll system, providing complete floor warming coverage, ultimate comfort, and a significant boost to the home's value and overall energy efficiency.

Project Details

Location: Hawthorn Woods, IL
Heated Space Type: Living Room (17' x 30')
Square Footage (Heated): 420 sq. ft.
Watts: 5,040 W (5.04 kW)
Volts, Amps: 240V, 22 Amps (requires two 15-Amp circuits/power modules)
Operating Cost Per Hour (Est.): $0.73 (Based on $0.1441/kWh)
- Per Day (8 hrs): approx \$5.81
- Per Month (30 days): approx \$174.30
Products Used: Environ™ Flex Rolls (for under engineered wood), nSpire Touch Thermostat, nJoin Power Module(s)

Transforming a Large Living Space

The primary challenge for this Hawthorn Woods homeowner was the size of the room and ensuring consistent, comfortable floor warming beneath their floating engineered wood floor. Due to the room's considerable dimensions (420 sq. ft.), conventional heating methods often result in uneven temperatures—leaving the floor cold and the upper air too hot. They chose electric radiant floor heating for its ability to deliver quiet, consistent heat directly to the floor surface.

The installation was simplified by using the specialized Environ™ Flex Roll system, which is ideal for floating floors like engineered wood and laminate. The rolls were quickly laid out across the entire heating area. Due to the high wattage required for full coverage, an nJoin Power Module was integrated with the main nSpire Touch Thermostat. This setup allows a single thermostat to control multiple heating circuits, making it simple to manage the full 420 sq. ft. system from one central control point. The outcome is a luxurious, warm living space that feels comfortable year-round, proving that radiant floor heating is a smart, energy-efficient upgrade for even the largest rooms.

Featured Products

Environ™ Flex Rolls:A specialized, low-profile in-floor heating solution designed specifically for installation under floating floors like engineered wood, laminate, and luxury vinyl. The rolls provide even, gentle warmth without risk to temperature-sensitive flooring.

nSpire Touch Thermostat: A sleek, programmable touchscreen thermostat with a built-in Class A GFCI for safety. It precisely controls the electric floor heating system, allowing for custom scheduling to maximize comfort and minimize operating cost.

nJoin Power Module:An essential component for large radiant heating projects. The nJoin module works with the nSpire Touch to safely extend the system’s capacity, allowing a single thermostat to control this large 420 sq. ft. system.

Quotes

These quotes are linked to this showcase and include the products used in this project or recommended for a similar-sized project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does it cost to run heated floors in a large living room like this?

A: The running cost depends on the size of the heated area and local electricity rates. This 420 sq. ft. radiant floor heating system in Hawthorn Woods, IL, costs approximately $0.73 per hour to run at maximum output. Through smart scheduling with a programmable thermostat, most homeowners limit the runtime to off-peak hours, resulting in efficient, focused heat only when and where it's needed.

Q: Can electric radiant floor heating replace the main heating system in a large living room?

A: Yes, in many cases. An electric floor heating system, when fully sized to the room's heat loss requirements (as this 420 sq. ft. system was), can often serve as the sole source of heat in a living room. It provides highly effective, primary heat, eliminating the need for other floor-level heat sources or supplements.

Q: What type of flooring works best with the Environ™ Flex Roll system?

A: The Environ™ Flex Roll system is specifically engineered to provide safe, gentle heat for temperature-sensitive floating floors, including engineered wood (as used here), laminate, and glue-down luxury vinyl tile/plank. It is a fantastic floor warming option that protects the integrity of the finish floor while delivering luxurious comfort.

Q: Is electric radiant floor heating energy efficient?

A: Yes, electric radiant floor heating is considered a highly energy efficient heating method. Unlike forced air, it heats people and objects directly from the floor up, not the air. This eliminates heat loss through ducts and allows you to set your air thermostat lower, resulting in significant energy savings and making it an excellent long-term investment.