Ask Us Anything - How to Install Floor Heating Under LVT, and more

Hello and thank you for joining us today. We have a very different type of webinar that we're going to be doing today. We'll be hosting a session with a lot of people here, as we are here to answer any questions you might have. We will take questions that have been submitted to us by email ahead of time, as well as any questions that arise during the webinar. If we can't get to your question or if we don't know the answer, we will get back to you with the information you need as soon as possible after the conclusion of the webinar.

I'm your host today. My name is Scott, and I am the Tech Support Manager here at WarmlyYours. I have been working here since 2008 and manage a team of about four or five individuals who take phone calls all day and all night, as we are available 24/7. You may have spoken to one of us in the past. Joining us live and in person today is Jennifer Colley, our Customer Support Service Coordinator. Jen has been with us since 2012 and helps coordinate and manage the sales and customer team schedules. You’ve probably talked to her or some of her colleagues in the customer service department before.

Next, we would like to remotely thank Mary Goddard for joining us. Mary is an account manager here at WarmlyYours and has been with us for nine years. She is our vanguard woman, having been our first account manager. You may have spoken to her on the phone or seen her at some of the shows we participate in. So hello, Mary, and thanks for joining us.

Next, I'd like to introduce our Director of Sales and Business Development, Elodie Pasek, who is joining us from our Toronto, Canada office. Elodie has been with WarmlyYours since 2005 and is responsible for managing sales and customer service teams, as well as overseeing business development for the company. Both of these ladies are here today to address any sales and business-related questions you may have.

I would also like to introduce our IT Director, Christian Billon, who has been with WarmlyYours since 2004. Christian heads the IT department and manages the IT team, helping to develop the web tools and webpage that we use daily when you visit warmlyyours.com. Thank you for joining us, Christian.

If you would like to submit any questions at any time, please click on the questions and answers button in the upper left-hand corner of your screen. We expect it may take a little while for questions to come in, so each of us has prepared a couple of questions that we frequently receive at our 1-800 line. In our invitation email, we also asked for any questions you might have submitted ahead of time, and we have a couple of those as well.

I’ll go ahead and start because I’m in control here. One of the common questions we receive is about the steps required to install WarmlyYours radiant floor heating under hardwood. We have an on-demand webinar coming up soon that will cover this topic in detail. Additionally, we have a fresh installation video available on our website under the videos page, which shows a real-life installation. The video is about 15 to 20 minutes long and provides all the necessary information for this installation.

When installing radiant heat under a wood floor, the easiest method is to place wooden sleepers on the subfloor to create a trough for the cables to rest in between. You then cover this with self-leveling thinset up to the top of your sleepers, which are 3/8 of an inch high. You create troughs of about 8 to 12 inches wide, running the cable back and forth, and then cover it with self-leveling material to achieve a flat surface. Finally, you can nail into the wood you’ve placed, which is the purpose of the sleepers. As mentioned, please check out the video on our webpage for a step-by-step guide.

Another frequently asked question is about where to install radiant floor heating in a bedroom. Specifically, can it be installed in a walk-in closet or just in the free floor space area? We do not recommend placing heat under a bed due to dust ruffles and the potential for storage boxes trapping heat. Instead, we suggest placing the radiant heat around the bed for optimal coverage. Regarding closets, it is not advisable to heat closets in the United States due to the National Electric Code. However, if your local code allows it, you can install radiant heat in closets. In Canada, it is permissible as long as a thermostat is placed inside the closet to control the temperature.

We also received a question from Tim regarding the length of the supplied sensor lead from the temperature sensor to the thermostat. The sensor lead is 15 feet long. If you are installing a laminate floor with an area rug on top, it is essential to place the sensor under the area rug to prevent overheating. The sensor should be positioned between the heating wires, ensuring it does not come into contact with them.

Regarding underlayment, it is crucial to consider whether you are placing it over concrete or wood, as you need to allow space for the sensor wire to return. You can lengthen the sensor wire up to 40 feet using 18-gauge stereo speaker wire, which is available at Home Depot. However, you must ensure your underlayment is thick enough to accommodate the power supply cords for the heating product. If you are installing over concrete, we recommend using a quarter-inch underlayment to avoid the need for chiseling out space for the wire.

Another common question is whether the floor heating can be used as a sole source of heat in a room. The answer is that it could be, but it requires a heat loss calculation for your room. Well-insulated rooms have a better chance of using floor heat as the sole source of heat. In contrast, older homes with poor insulation may not find it effective. You can visit WarmlyYours.com and use our Heat Loss Calculator, found in the upper right-hand corner, to determine if the floor heat will adequately warm your room.

Now, I think we've covered a lot of technical questions, and if you have more, please let us know. I’d like to move on to Mary. Mary, can you explain how one can use electric floor heating and when it is best to install?

Electric floor heating is best installed during a remodel or when new flooring is being put in. Radiant heating can go underneath any type of flooring, but it is most commonly installed under tile. Many people may not realize it can also be installed under laminate, hardwood, luxury vinyl tile, or even carpet in the USA.

If someone wants to start their project, what information do they need to provide to get a quote?

To begin, the best approach is to send us a sketch or drawing of the room you want to heat. Please include any permanent fixtures, such as toilets, vanities, and showers, as well as the desired thermostat location or power source. This drawing can be faxed or emailed to us, either directly to a sales representative or to sales@warmlyyours.com. We also have tools on our website where you can upload your floor plan or use our online instant quote tool to create your room layout and submit it online. For ballpark pricing, the instant quote tool can provide rough estimates to get you started.

Thank you, Mary. I appreciate your insights on getting started with electric floor heating. Now, Elodie, with so many electric floor heating companies out there, what makes WarmlyYours stand out?

Thank you for having me today. WarmlyYours differentiates itself through a unique selling proposition that is threefold. First is speed; we are known for our quick customer service. We offer 24/7 tech support and same-day shipping, meaning that when you place your order, it ships out from our warehouse that same day. Our account management team provides seven-day plans, typically within 24 hours.

The second aspect is our direct approach. WarmlyYours works directly with customers, customizing projects based on individual needs and budgets. This direct contact fosters a personal relationship with our customers, thanks to team members like Mary, Jen, and myself, who engage with clients regularly.

Lastly, we offer flexible return policies without restocking fees and various warranties, including a 25-year warranty for parts and labor on our Tempsense Flex Rolls for any manufacturing issues.

Thank you for that overview, Elodie. Another common question we receive is about the cost of running an electric floor heating system.

This is a great question. We have an operating cost calculator on our website that requires you to fill out three simple fields: the square footage of your area, the average kilowatts per hour you pay in your state or province, and the average usage time per day. For example, in Illinois, the average cost is around 11.7 cents per kilowatt-hour, and most people use it about eight hours a day, which results in a minimal daily cost. Overall, it is a very energy-efficient system.

If someone is interested in becoming a WarmlyYours dealer, what benefits do they receive?

We have developed several dealer programs over the past 20 years, with our most notable being the SPiF program and our Name Your Own Promotion. The SPiF program offers cash incentives for jobs sold within a specific timeframe, and you can reach out to your account manager for details on enrollment. The Name Your Own Promotion is designed for customers, providing them with extra incentives on featured products during a specific timeframe to help convert projects faster.

Additionally, we have programs for store owners and sales representatives, such as the Model Home Program, which allows you to showcase WarmlyYours products in your model home, and the Personal Use Program, which offers discounts for personal installations. We also have a dealer locator available for anyone in the trade or remodeling contractors who want to showcase our products.

Thank you, Elodie. If we have any questions that require your expertise, we will reach out to you.

Now, we have a question from John, who asks whether our products have been used under new vinyl products, specifically which ones.

For vinyl planks and luxury vinyl tiles, we recommend our TempZone product, which is available in rolls or loose cable form. You install it on your subfloor and cover it with a layer of self-leveling cement or underlayment. This creates a flat, heated floor that allows for flexibility in flooring choices; you can change the tile or even install carpeting over it if desired. If you have questions about the installation process, you can find the TempZone installation manual on our website or give us a call for assistance.

Now, I’d like to bring Jen back into the conversation. Jen, if someone needs to revise a plan or order that has already been placed, how should they proceed?

We recommend notifying us immediately upon noticing any changes that need to be made. Send us a drawing with the updated layout dimensions or any furniture placements you might know of, and we can provide a new quote. If you already have the product in your possession, do not cut the mat or alter it in any way. We can issue an RMA to take it back without a restocking fee and process the new order for you.

If someone places an order today, how long will it take to receive it?

Typically, it takes between one to seven business days for delivery, and we do offer expedited shipping options if next-day delivery is needed, provided the order is placed before 4:30 PM Central Time.

Some customers have questions about our thermostat programming services. What is the difference between the smart home set thermostat programming service and the preset programming service?

The home set thermostat programming service involves sending someone to your home to program the thermostat in person. In contrast, the preset thermostat programming allows you to fill out a form indicating how you want it programmed, and we pre-program it in our warehouse before shipping it to you.

How long does it typically take for a customer to receive their quote after submitting their information?

It usually takes between 24 to 48 business hours to receive a quote. However, if you need it back the same day, provided your request is in by 1 PM Eastern or Central Time, we can accommodate that.

Regarding OHM readings, what happens if a customer does not provide them after installation? Will that void their warranty?

The warranty will not be voided if OHM readings are not provided. We ask for them to assist our technical team in troubleshooting any future issues. If you call in with a problem, having the OHM readings can help us identify the issue more quickly, but not having them does not affect your warranty.

Thank you, Jen. Now, I’d like to bring Christian back into the discussion. Christian, can you explain how customers can create an online account on our website?

Certainly! Customers can create an online account by clicking the register button on the top right of our website. They can choose to authenticate using an email address or their preferred social media account. If they use an email address, they will need to create a password. Once registered, our team will match the online account with any prior accounts to ensure they can view their discounts.

Once logged in, how can customers find their discounts?

Customers can view their discount program under the My Account section. The instant quoting tool allows them to create a quote that reflects their current promotions and discounts. They can also browse our online catalog and see their discounts applied to selected products in their cart.

If a customer wants multiple users to have access to their account, how can they set that up?

The primary account holder can add additional users by going to the My Account section and selecting the Create New User button. Each user can have individual roles or preferences, allowing for varied access levels within the system.

How can customers manage their email preferences?

Customers can manage their email preferences by clicking the unsubscribe button at the bottom of any email they receive from us. They can also access the email preference button under My Account to adjust their settings.

Who can view the quotes saved in an account?

The primary account holder has access to all projects and order history. Sub-users will only see the projects they initiated. Additionally, account managers can access the account to assist with inquiries.

Thank you, Christian, for explaining the account management features. I don’t see any more questions at the moment, but if anyone has additional inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at info@warmlyours.com.

As a reminder, if you need to request more information, please contact your account manager. You can reach us at 800-875-5285, and if you don’t know your sales representative, just call, and we’ll direct you to the right person.

If you have questions during your installation, don’t hesitate to call us. We are available 24/7, so if you have an electrician on-site at 8 PM, please contact us while they are there to troubleshoot any issues.

Before we conclude, we have one last question from Helen. She asks whether a dedicated GFCI circuit is required for electric heating.

According to the National Electric Code, a floor must be protected by a GFCI, especially in bathrooms or kitchens. Most of the thermostats we sell have GFCI built-in, so you don’t need a separate circuit breaker. It’s best to use a regular circuit breaker to save costs, as the GFCI protection is already integrated into the thermostat.

Thank you for that question, Helen, and to everyone who submitted inquiries ahead of time. We appreciate your participation today. Thank you all for joining us, and a special thanks to Mary, Elodie, Jen, and Christian for their contributions.