How to Get an Instant Radiant Heating Quote

Hello everybody and welcome to our webinar, "How to Get an Instant Radiant Heating Quote." I'm Julie, the owner of the company. Scott, would you like to introduce yourself?

Hi, I'm Scott from WarmlyYours. What a convenient coincidence—I'm from WarmlyYours too! Scott handles everything related to tech support, so he's the brains of the business. Of course, I'm the beauty. We’ve got it right; we had to put that in there.

Let's go over a few things first to get them out of the way. If you have any questions during this session, please feel free to ask. That's why we do these live webinars; we really want to interact with you. Today’s topic is quite exciting as we will be discussing our online Instant Quote tool. I don’t think we’ve covered this topic before, have we?

I don’t think so either, so you guys are in for quite a treat! As we walk through this, I would love to hear your ideas on how to make this tool easier to use. You’ll have my contact information at the end, and I would love to hear from the folks who will actually be using this tool. So, Scott, why don’t you go over what we’re going to discuss today?

We will cover why you need a quote, why you should get one, and how to obtain that quote since it’s so important. We also want to show you the different options available for installation, as sometimes there’s more than one way to do it. These options can often vary by price, so if you have a specific budget to meet, this will work perfectly for you.

Now, before we dive into the formal presentation, let’s go live to our website. I want to show you where you can actually access the tool. The cool thing is that you can do this in the evenings or on weekends, and you can do it all on your own. We’ve made it easy to find this tool on our website. Right there in the middle, you’ll see “Get an Instant Quote.” We’ve made it bold and large, so it’s easy to spot.

Additionally, we always have that little quote icon in the top right corner that follows you everywhere on the website. We also have a “Get a Quote” option in the header. If you have suggestions on how to make that even better, please let us know. So, that’s us on the website; that’s where to find us. Now, let’s return to our presentation and start walking through it. Please feel free to ask questions as we go along.

I’m now taking control of the presentation. Oh, you like being in control! Hold on to your seats, everybody; it’s about to get crazy!

So, why do you need a quote? The most important reason is that we want your installation to be problem-free. The main way to keep your installation problem-free is to avoid altering your heating product. Isn’t that job security for you, Scott?

I would much rather lose my job—she’s my boss—than have everyone put their floors in incorrectly. The cables and rolls come in set lengths and are custom designed for your particular space. When we talk about a heating product like this, it’s crucial to ensure that the measurements are correct since you can’t alter it; you can’t make it longer or shorter.

It’s always better to err on the side of having a little too little than too much. Keep that in mind; it’s always better to say, “Oh, I need to move this over here to make sure that area is warm,” rather than, “Oh geez, I have too much. What am I going to do with this?”

Another thing to consider is that, since this is an electric product, you need to ensure that there is electricity available. While it is very energy efficient, sometimes it’s put on a single circuit or combined with other things on a circuit. Therefore, it’s essential to know exactly how many watts or amps this system will require to operate.

We could tell you to just put it in willy-nilly, and it might work, but we don’t want it to just “maybe” work. We want it to work and to work all the time. The more potential problems you can eliminate, the better your installation will be.

A quote also allows you to explore different options for the installation process. You may be considering different flooring types, such as wood or tile. By using this tool, you can understand the costs for each option. You might know what your floor is, but you could be on a budget and wondering, “What’s the least expensive way to do this?”

There are multiple ways to quote that product, from bare bones to bells and whistles, which will affect your price point. We’ve focused on tile flooring because that accounts for about 80% of what floor heating is installed under, making it the most popular application. However, as we work through the tool, you can customize it however you like.

As Scott mentioned, you can compare different coverage options against costs. Consider how much time you have available for installation. If you have a lot of time—perhaps you’re retired or between jobs—you can choose a product that takes a little longer to install but might cost less. Conversely, if you’re in a hurry, you can opt for something that can be installed all in one day.

Also, if you are a dealer or installer, think about the labor hours required for installing the product. That’s a good pro tip!

Now, let’s discuss tips for getting started. Always start at the beginning. We have the online tool, which is free to use. You can use it in a couple of ways: as a guest or as a pro. If you register and create an account, the benefit is that your pricing structure is already baked into the final cost. If you use it as a guest, you’ll receive the MSRP, or list price.

Some people prefer to use it as a guest until they feel more comfortable, and then they create an account. You can create an account whether you’re a pro or a homeowner; it doesn’t matter. One question we often receive is whether homeowners can install the product. Yes, occasionally, homeowners do install it. There’s no hard rule stating that it must be done by a pro. However, we do recommend that the electrical work be done by an electrician, and some states require this.

You should check your state’s regulations to see if an electrician is necessary. Very few states have that requirement, but it’s always good to verify. We’ve made it easy for you to create an account; you can use Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google.

Before you get started, make sure you have your dimensions. Always measure your room. It’s essential to know what’s on your floor that may prevent you from heating a particular area. For instance, we don’t heat under permanent fixtures.

If you have a 100-square-foot room, part of that square footage may be occupied by different fixtures, such as air vents. You can’t run a cable over an air vent, so it’s crucial to let us know where those air vents are located. Accurate measurements are vital, and you should specify which parts you want to be covered.

Also, consider your electrical limitations. If you only have a certain number of amps available, you’ll want to heat the most important areas. Think about where you and your pets will be spending the most time.

In terms of basic information, almost any flooring type can be found in the tool. We’ve also integrated the subfloor, which is very important. The way I like to explain this is by comparing it to making a sandwich. You’ll tell us what the top layer is—that’s your flooring—and what the subfloor is.

If you have a wood subfloor on a second story above a heated kitchen, that floor will automatically be warm. Conversely, if you have a concrete slab, that floor will be cold. When you input information into the tool, if we see a concrete slab as the subfloor, we’ll recommend insulation.

This insulation doesn’t mean digging up your foundation; we have a product that goes on top of the concrete slab to isolate it from the heating wire. This results in less energy usage, faster warm-up times, and higher temperatures—a triple win!

We also need to know whether the flooring will be floating on top, nailed down, or glued down. These details are essential, especially for nail-down hardwood floors, where we need to know how often the manufacturer requires nailing—every eight inches, every twelve inches, etc.

This information helps us design your room plan while keeping all necessary requirements in mind. Now, let’s move on to the actual tool itself. We’ve broken it down into standard information you want to enter right from the beginning to get a good feel for the rest of the tool.

Certain things will only populate when you ask for something specific, like the subfloor or if we know the flooring is going to be wood. So, let’s take a quick tour of the tool.

When you use the floor heating quote builder, you may eventually reach a point where you’re ordering by square footage. There are people who do that because they have all this knowledge. However, for those doing this for the first time, just provide your dimensions and tell us what it’s going to be, and we’ll figure out the rest.

We’ll tell you what size product you need, how many watts it will require, and how many amps. The questions in the tool are designed to replace a human being asking, “What kind of room is this going to be?”

For example, is it going to be a bathroom? We need to know that. We also need to know the subfloor, as we discussed earlier. Is it a second-story bathroom over a heated kitchen, or is it in a basement on a concrete slab? These are two completely different scenarios, which is why the subfloor is so important.

Once you provide that information, we can determine what goes in between the layers. You can also enter the square footage with the width and length if you’re going to do separate areas. This is more advanced, but after doing this a few times, you’ll see how it works.

Let’s say you have a 100-square-foot bathroom. In most cases, we’ll heat around 80% of that area, which would be about 80 square feet. This assumption is made here, but the room area can be edited separately if that doesn’t match.

At this point, we’re just keeping it simple. If you have a 100-square-foot bathroom, that’s a nice size!

As you proceed, you’ll see an option to upload a sketch or floor plan. This is a great way to indicate where the counters, air vents, and any posts in the middle of your floor are located. If in doubt, it’s always better to send us a sketch because we can use your measurements to design around those features.

Sometimes you might have a large contiguous space to heat, but other times you may have nooks, crannies, posts, air vents, and electrical outlets in the floor that you need to avoid. So, uploading a sketch or floor plan is very helpful.

Now, let’s get specific. Why do we need to be this detailed at this point? Let’s say you’re working on a gigantic basement with a bar area, a TV area, and a spa area. You want to maintain the same temperature throughout the basement, which we don’t often recommend.

However, if you have 3,000 square feet, you might want to break it up into four pieces. You can enter those individual lengths and widths to create separate spaces. This zoning capability is one of the benefits of radiant floor heating.

You can leave other parts off, so if you know you’ll have a dinner party in the bar area, there’s no need to turn on the other areas. Just turn on that specific zone and easily turn it off afterward.

As you’re entering the length and width for coverage, consider walking through the room. Think about where your feet will land. If you have a large room but plan to put a 3x3 mat in the middle, that will only heat that specific area. The heat does not spread out to fill the entire room; it only warms the area where the electric cable is located.

You’ll know where that area is because that’s where the dogs and cats tend to hang out!

If the room size changes—say you initially planned for a big tub but now have a smaller one—you might need more heating cable. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to adjust the square footage, just call Scott.

He’ll advise you to walk around the room and ensure that wherever you walk is heated. If you receive a design from us and wonder why there’s a gap from the wall, it’s because we want to ensure you’re not heating areas where no one stands, like right up against the wall.

Now, let’s discuss advanced options. Are you qualified?

Understanding system voltage is important. Many people think they need 240 volts to heat up faster or to be more energy efficient, but there’s no difference in heating speed between 120 and 240 volts. It’s a matter of what service amps you have available.

If you only have one space in your breaker box, you’ll need to go with 120 volts. The 240-volt system requires two breakers, a dual-pole breaker. It’s crucial to realize that you do not need 240 volts for faster heating.

If your area is less than 120 square feet, we will choose 120 volts for you because there’s no need for 240 volts. This is based on the number of amps the thermostat can handle. You can handle about 120 square feet with a single control on 120 volts or double that space with a single control on 240 volts.

From a technical support standpoint, we occasionally receive calls from folks who connect a 120-volt cable to a 240-volt circuit or vice versa. It’s essential to ensure that there is parity there.

When you receive your products, the end lead will indicate the voltage: yellow and black for 120 volts and red and black for 240 volts. This labeling helps eliminate confusion, as people used to mix up products of different voltages.

The thermostats do not convert 240 volts to 120 volts or vice versa, so it’s vital to ensure that the thermostat is fed the same voltage you’ve selected.

Next, you’ll want to check the box for “quote in stock items only.” If you’re in a rush, this is what you need to check. If you have more time, you can uncheck this box.

Regarding the uncoupling membrane, we offer two different types because the spacing on them is slightly different. This membrane is only used with our cable product. You can install the cable with fixing strips, which is the lowest cost option, or use a membrane like Prodeso, which has been around for a long time and has proven its reliability.

The spacing for the Prodeso membrane is different, so it’s essential to specify which product you’re using. The further apart the cables are, the less heat output you’ll have. In warmer climates, wider spacing may be acceptable, but in colder areas, you’ll want to keep the cables closer together for better heat distribution.

This tool allows you to run various scenarios to determine which option works best for you while keeping costs and power usage in mind.

At this point, we’ve covered a lot of ground. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss, Scott?

I think we’ve gone over everything necessary. Just to reiterate, we want to provide you with options and let you decide what works best for your specific situation.

As you explore different floor heating options, you’ll need a control system. These systems are essential for customizing your comfort level and ensuring energy efficiency.

The GFI is built into the thermostat, which is required by electrical code to protect your floor from electrical shock. Some people ask if they can just use a switch, but that’s not advisable. A switch would either leave the system on all the time or off, without any temperature control.

The new thermostats are user-friendly and easy to program. If you’re unsure which one to choose, we have comparison charts available to help you decide.

For just a little more than the basic programmable thermostat, you can get a touch screen version that’s easy to operate. The Wi-Fi programmable thermostat is a bit pricier and may be better suited for larger areas or vacation homes.

We also offer installation kits, which include everything you need for your project. This saves you multiple trips to the store, ensuring you have all the necessary tools and materials in one place.

Additionally, we provide electrical roughing kits to ensure compliance with local electrical codes. These kits contain everything your electrician needs to run the return power leads for the heating element.

It’s essential to have a circuit check to ensure everything is functioning correctly during installation. This device alerts you if there’s an issue with the heating wire, allowing you to fix it before it gets covered up.

We also recommend having a backup sensor, although the failure rate of thermistors is very low. Many people choose to install an extra sensor just in case.

As we approach the end of our presentation, remember to save your information and share it with your professional or client. You can save your quote, share it, and once you’ve put together the cost of the floor heating, controls, and accessories, you’ll have a bottom-line price.

You can add everything to your cart and proceed with the purchase. If you’re a pro, ensure you have an account to receive your trade discount.

Finally, we encourage you to request a plan. We don’t like to see any heating element go out the door without a plan, as it helps ensure everything is designed correctly.

You’ll need an account to save or share your information, so keep that in mind.

The floor plan is crucial as it shows the layout of your space, including the location of the thermostat and any fixtures. This information helps us design the heating system accurately.

Once you provide us with your floor plan, our engineering team will review it and create a custom design using in-stock products. We’ll also provide an electrical plan that details the size of the breaker, type of voltage, and amp requirements.

If you don’t request an installation plan, you won’t receive this valuable information, which can be essential for your electrician.

It’s important to keep this plan for future reference, especially if any changes occur in your space. Knowing where the heating element is installed can prevent damage during repairs.

Thank you all for joining us today. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out. We appreciate your time and hope you found this webinar informative. Until next time, stay warm and be radiant!