Ask Us Anything - Everything You Want to Know About Floor Heating

Hello. Thank you so much for joining us today. It is our first webinar of 2023, and we're going over everything you want to know about floor heating. So, ask us anything that you have been wondering about, whether it's related to upcoming projects or our products. My name is Lynn, and I am a customer service representative here at WarmlyYours. I am joined by Scott. Thank you for joining us.

We are about to jump right in. If you have any questions during the presentation today, please feel free to ask either in the sidebar chat or at the bottom of the screen in the "Ask a Question" module. If we don't see your question right away, we'll definitely get to it by the end of the presentation. I see Carolyn already sent in a question asking if the standard mesh mats can be installed in the shower. Yes, essentially, we do have shower mats that are pre-sized for most average-sized laid-out showers. Any kind of TempZone product is rated for wet locations, so it would be perfectly fine.

We don't do custom mats very much anymore, but custom mats are not wet location listed. Therefore, any of our cut and turn products, including our heating cables, can all go in the shower. If you have a size that's not a normal size, then you would probably want to use cable or something similar, as that wire is wet location listed. Thank you for your question right off the bat; that's excellent and one that we know well.

Talking about TempZone, this is probably our most popular product that we offer for floor heating specifically because it's compatible with the majority of flooring types that we see people using, including tile, stone, hardwood, linoleum, and vinyl. Luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl planks tend to be compatible with TempZone. Additionally, we have shower floor and bench mats that are pre-sized for those specific locations. All of these products are wet location listed and are very thin.

Scott, can you tell us what they add to the floor height or other relevant details?

Oh, very little. They are included in the 3/8 to a half inch of self-leveling that is used for many jobs or the 3/8 to a half inch of thin-set. The cable actually goes in that 3/8 inch level layer, so it really doesn't add any height. The wire lives in that thin-set that you need to achieve the correct thickness. It doesn't raise the floor very much at all because it's very thin to begin with. Both products are very good.

The TempZone with LVT and linoleum works by being laid out on the subfloor and then covered with self-leveling material, which creates a heated subfloor that you can lay other flooring on top of. This is particularly handy when you're working with linoleum and LVT that requires a flat surface.

We also have loose cable for TempZone, which is essentially the same heating cable but in a loose format instead of being on mesh. There are different ways you can lay that out, either using fixing strips—those are the little red lines you can see that attach to the subfloor to help secure the cable as you run it back and forth—or we also have our Perdesso membrane. It's 732 of an inch thick, so it is pretty thin and won't add much height difference to your floor.

This membrane is a good option if you're using tile and want a little extra crack suppression. When using heating cable, if you're going to cover it with self-leveling material, there is no need for the Perdesso underlayment. The Perdesso underlayment is designed to isolate your floor from the subfloor to prevent tiles and grout lines from cracking. However, if you're using LVT or linoleum, there are no grout lines or tiles to crack, so you don't need to buy this membrane.

Some other companies may require a membrane for installation, but not every job necessitates it. If your project doesn't require a membrane, then why spend the extra money on it? Just use the cable fixing strips that come with the cable and proceed with your installation, saving yourself a lot of money.

If you ever have questions about which option is best for you, we're always happy to help. Environn is another floor heating product that is quite popular. It is designed to go under floating floors, making it great for carpet, laminate, and floating hardwood. It comes in both rolls and mats, with pre-sized small mats that are excellent for spot heating areas that are a little extra cold or that you want to take the chill out of.

Environn also has cut and turn mats available. This product is particularly beneficial for people with bedrooms over unheated garages, as it can go between your carpet pad and your carpet in the United States, allowing you to heat that room effectively. It is also great for basements, where you can install it under laminate or floating hardwood.

One common misconception we encounter is that just because LVT is a floating floor, it can be used with Environn. However, just because it floats doesn't mean it is compatible. Vinyl has a property called drape, meaning it can conform to what's below it over time. If there are heating wires underneath, the vinyl may eventually show a wavy floor pattern. Therefore, you need the TempZone product with self-leveling for the best installation, rather than Environn.

Environn is ideal for rigid materials like laminate, engineered wood, or flexible materials like carpet. Moving on to underlayment, we offer Cerazorb, which is a synthetic cork. This is a great option when going over a slab. Scott, can you explain why someone would want to use Cerazorb if they're heating over a slab?

When people buy a warm floor product, they want a floor that feels warm. If you don't use Cerazorb to isolate the heating wire from the slab, the heating wire will pull all the heat down into the slab, trying to heat it instead. This picture illustrates the difference in heating; insulated areas where the wire has been isolated from the slab can reach 79 degrees, while non-heated areas only get up to 75 degrees.

So, when someone asks if they really need Cerazorb for heating over a concrete slab, the answer depends on whether they want their floor to feel warm or just not cold. If you want a warm floor, you need to isolate the wire from the slab using Cerazorb. If you don't mind a floor that feels merely not cold, then you can skip it.

Cerazorb can also be used as underlayment for Environn because Environn should never be set on a hard subfloor. It needs to be over some sort of pad to allow the cable to sink into it, preventing abrasion of the wire. Using Cerazorb is a great choice because it will make your floor warmer. You can even use it for floating installations, making it easy to install and providing a nice warm feeling underfoot.

Cerazorb is particularly beneficial for basements because it is synthetic and doesn't have any natural components that could mold if it gets wet. We were one of the first companies to use this product, originally designed as a sound deadener for condos. It has a great R-value, which helps keep the heat from being absorbed by the concrete.

Moving on to comfort heating items, we have radiant panels available that can be hung in various places, such as on a stand, from the ceiling, or mounted on a wall. These Ember panels are a great option for adding extra warmth wherever needed. They can be plugged in or easily modified for a hardwired connection, allowing for thermostat control.

Tam asked if these panels can be inset into a wall. They cannot be mounted inside a wall but can be placed in a cove. However, they need space around them to allow convection heat to escape. The original mounting hardware must be used to maintain the necessary distance from the wall, ensuring safety and compliance with UL or TUV listings.

If you need more information about the radiant panels, feel free to contact our sales department for the sales sheet and installation manual. These panels can get very warm, similar to an iron, which is necessary for their function. When placed on the ceiling, they emit far infrared rays, providing warmth similar to sunlight.

If you stand in the sun, it feels hot, but if you move into the shade, you feel cooler. The same principle applies to these panels; they heat you rather than the air, eventually warming the room as well. You can control them with a thermostat, setting it by the doorway to maintain a comfortable ambient temperature.

If you're looking for additional warmth without redoing an entire floor, radiant panels are a great option. They are perfect for situations where heat was missed during the initial construction of a home, such as a cold sunroom.

We also have indoor slab heating, which is becoming more popular as finished concrete floors are used more in residential spaces. This option is ideal when the concrete slab will be the finished floor, as the heating mat or cable can be set into the concrete with a pour over the top.

If you're pouring a new concrete slab, this product is perfect. However, if your slab is already in place, you cannot use this product. It is essential to note that if you're using finished concrete as your final flooring surface, this is the right choice.

One of our significant advantages is our smart plans. If you provide us with a layout of the space, including dimensions and locations of cabinets, toilets, and showers, we can create a detailed plan for you. This plan will show you exactly which products to purchase and how to cut and turn them to fit your space, along with various specifications.

Many people are surprised to learn that our plans are free and typically completed within a day, unless there is a holiday. Our engineers have extensive experience and can provide valuable insights into your installation, ensuring you have the right amount of product and the correct layout.

Using a smart plan takes the guesswork out of your installation, allowing you to focus on cutting and turning the product as needed. You won't have to worry about ordering too much or too little wire, as we help you determine the exact requirements for your project.

Each smart plan will look different based on the room and the products used. For example, if you're using Perdesso underlayment, it will need to be installed under the entire tiling area, even where there is no heating. The red line on the plan represents the actual cable, and the red dot indicates the halfway mark, helping you monitor your cable usage during installation.

Loose cable is another option for installation, especially when working with nailed hardwood. Sleepers, which are about half an inch thick and two inches wide, are placed across the floor to create troughs for the cables. Once the cables are laid out, the troughs are filled with self-leveling material to create a flat surface for the hardwood to be nailed into.

When installing nailed hardwood, it’s essential to know the nail rate required by the flooring manufacturer. You also need to tell us the direction the wood will be laid, as this will affect the placement of the sleepers.

It's crucial to keep the fixing strips a specified distance from the wall to avoid running out of cable. The numbers in green on the plan indicate how far away from the wall the fixing strips should be located. If you change the spacing without informing us, you may run into issues with having too much or too little cable.

We also discussed shower heating, emphasizing the importance of having a separate heating system for the shower area. The thickness of the shower floor can impact heating time, and having a separate control allows for more flexibility in managing the temperature.

Your thermostat can accommodate multiple mats as long as the total does not exceed 15 amps. It's important to note that many people mistakenly believe that 240 volts are necessary for floor heating, but 120 volts is sufficient for most bathroom applications under 120 square feet.

This is particularly relevant for those with limited space in their breaker panel. Using 120 volts saves space and is more efficient for smaller areas.

We also offer an operating cost calculator to help you estimate the running costs of your system. By entering your system type, room size, and energy rates, you can get a clear idea of what to expect in terms of daily operating costs.

Most installations require common tools, including a digital ohm meter, which is now very affordable. You'll need to test your system before installation and use a circuit check while laying it out to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

If you encounter issues, our troubleshooting kit can help you locate problems without needing to rip up the entire floor. This kit includes tools to create a hot spot in the floor, allowing you to identify and repair any issues effectively.

We pride ourselves on being customer-focused, offering no restocking fees or return fees. Our tech support is available 24/7, and we are committed to providing assistance whenever you need it.

Our no-nonsense warranty covers any manufacturer defects, ensuring you won't be left in a difficult situation if something goes wrong. We are dedicated to supporting our customers and providing the best service possible.

If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to us. We are here to help you with your projects and ensure you have the best experience with our products.

Thank you for joining us today, and we hope to see you at our next webinar on installation tips for floor heating cable. Stay warm and be radiant!