Ask Us Anything - About Hardwood Shrinkage, and more

Hello and thank you for joining us today for our monthly Ask Us Anything webinar. I'm your host, Scott Rosenbaum, and today our first focus is to follow up on the subject of our previous webinar in case you have any questions. A recorded version of our previous webinar, "How to Quote Your Floor Heating Project," can be found in our video library under the Learn tab of our homepage. While our Ask Us Anything webinars are structured around a general topic, we're still able to answer your questions about any other topic. Please submit a question at any point by clicking on the Questions and Answers button in the top left corner of your screen. You can see it circled there. Just click on it, and we will be glad to take your question.

We received a very interesting question from Chris about how to avoid shrinkage in hardwood floors. The primary cause of gapping in hardwood floors is a significant shift in the moisture content of the wood. The easiest way to avoid gaps is to ensure you're installing dry boards. For most applications, the optimal moisture content is 8%. In addition to that, it is crucial to maintain the relative humidity in the space within the recommended values specified by the flooring manufacturer. They will indicate the ideal humidity range, which could be between 30% and 60%, or 25% to 50%, for example. As the homeowner, it is your responsibility to keep the humidifier running in the winter to maintain that level and to use a dehumidifier in the summer to keep it within those parameters.

It’s important to note that shrinkage can occur with or without a floor heating system installed beneath the hardwood. This shrinkage is not directly caused by the presence of heat but is instead driven by the relative humidity in the air of that space. We also had another question from Pam regarding floor sensors. She asked whether we recommend installing a second sensor in case the first one fails. In the drawing displayed, you can see the little white-headed sensor positioned between two red cables. Once installed, this sensor will be out of reach from anything that could potentially damage it. I have never encountered a sensor that failed after being installed correctly, even after ten years. However, because they are relatively inexpensive, some people choose to install a second one as a precaution.

If you do decide to install a second sensor, please remember not to wire both sensors to the thermostat simultaneously, as this will prevent it from functioning correctly. Only one sensor should be connected to the thermostat at a time. Moving on, Pam also inquired about our floor heating system warranty. The warranty for our best-selling product line, TempZone, is a 25-year no-nonsense warranty. We guarantee our TempZone product to be free from manufacturing defects for a full 25 years from the date of purchase. It is important to note that this warranty is not prorated. Many warranties in the industry are prorated, meaning if a problem arises 10 or 15 years down the line, you would only receive a percentage of what you originally paid. However, with our warranty, if a failure occurs due to a manufacturing defect, whether it's on day one or day nine years and 364 days later, you will be reimbursed the same amount.

When it comes to measuring your room for a quote, it’s quite simple. You need to provide dimensions going left and right, as well as up and down, to give us an idea of the room's size. Additionally, highlight areas where you will not be heating, such as under a standard built-in tub, as heating wires cannot be installed under permanent fixtures. In the drawing, you can see that we have marked out the shower enclosure. While showers can be heated if permitted by your local authority, our TempZone heating product is wet location rated in Canada, ensuring it can withstand extreme conditions. In the United States, we do not have a wet location rating system, but you can be assured that our system is tested for such use.

It is also advisable not to heat under sinks or vanities, although you should heat right next to the vanity to ensure warmth where users typically stand. For example, it is essential to heat under the toe kick but not directly under the vanity itself. Regarding toilets, you can heat under a wall-mounted toilet, but in most homes, toilets are floor-mounted, and you should keep the heating wire three to four inches away from the wax ring. The main goal is to ensure that the areas where people will be standing, such as in front of the vanity or shower, are adequately heated. If you need to adjust the coverage, you can take a little from areas where people are less likely to stand, such as a corner.

Next, let’s discuss naming the project. When using the instant quote tool, you will encounter a screen where you can name your project. We conducted a poll to determine the most effective naming convention. One option was "Floor Heating Bathroom Job One," while others included "John Smith of Albany" and "Downstairs Bathroom." The majority of respondents chose "John Smith of Albany," which is the best practice for naming a project. This approach helps in tracking multiple projects, especially for contractors who handle several jobs throughout the year. If the project is a spec house, you might name it something like "Lot Number Two at 302 Smith Avenue in Albany, New York."

Another common question we receive is whether you can use our instant quote tool with your pricing. The answer is yes; you can customize the instant quote tool with your information on your website. To do this, simply contact your account manager for more details. They will gather your information and coordinate with our IT department to set up your project. If you would like more information about any of our products, please reach out to your account manager. If you are unsure who your account manager is, you can find out by checking your online account or by contacting us at 800-875-5285.

For on-site installation assistance, our tech support team is available 24/7 at 800-875-5285. Join us for our next webinar, where we will discuss Wi-Fi thermostats and how they differ from regular thermostats. We will also introduce our newest control, the Honeywell VisionPro 8000. This webinar will take place on Thursday, April 28th, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. You can register at the link displayed on your screen, warmlyours.com/webinar/wifi-thermostats. Our next Ask Us Anything webinar will be held on the second Thursday of every month, with the next session scheduled for May 12th at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. You can register at WarmlyYours.com, Webinar, Ask Us Anything.

Thank you for joining us today and for sending in your questions. We hope to answer them all, but if you still have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to call us at 800-875-5285 or email us at info@warmlyyours.com. We are more than happy to assist you. You can also reach us through our live chat tool on our website. We look forward to seeing you at our next webinar. Until then, stay warm and be radiant.