Ask Us Anything - To Use Thin-Set or Self-Leveling, and more

Hello and thank you for joining us today for our second Ask Us Anything webinar of 2016. These webinars are held on the second Thursday of each month and consist of a live and open Q&A session. The goal is for us to interact with our customers live and answer any questions you might have about our products, services, product installation, quotation, and ordering process. Anything at all, we’ll be glad to cover. I'm your host, Scott Rosenbaum, and I'm the Technical Support Manager at WarmlyYours. I currently manage a team of four incredibly knowledgeable tech support team members. We may have helped you before with some of your technical questions over the phone. I'm here today to address all your questions live and in person.

If you'd like to submit any questions at any time, please click the Questions and Answers button at the top left corner of your screen. We'll be getting those questions and answering them for you. If you have attended one of these Ask Anything webinars before, you may notice that some questions are repeats that have been talked about in previous sessions. That's because we do have a few questions that we get all the time over the phone, and we think it's important to address them in case we have new people joining us today. So if you do hear a repeat or two, we apologize. But we do take lots and lots of calls here, and we'd like to pass those questions on to you. Maybe it'll answer a question before you raise it.

We do have a couple of questions supplied to us today. One of them is from Gary, who has a couple of questions. Gary asks, "I purchased a Flex Roll for my bathroom remodel. After rolling out the Flex Roll, do you suggest using thinset or self-leveling mortar in step one of the two-step process before tiling?" The easiest thing to do is, if you want a nice flat floor and the minimum amount of troweling, the safest, fastest, and easiest installation is to put that product down on the floor, adhere it very well to the subfloor, and then put self-leveling over it. If you don't attach the cable or the mats very well to the subfloor, they will try to float in the self-leveling because self-leveling is very dense, and the cable will try to float to the top. That's why you have to actually hold it down with tape or hot glue or something to keep it in place. Then you pour self-leveling over it, which will give you a nice flat floor to start with, and then you can come back and tile right over it.

Gary continues with another question regarding the areas where the Flex Roll will not be used, such as under a freestanding tub, around the toilet, and in the walk-in closet. He asks how to make up the height difference of the Flex Roll thin-set base prior to tiling. Should he use a larger notch when laying tile in these areas, or is there another step prior to tiling to address this height difference? The answer to the first question will guide you on what to do for the second. You only need to cover the 1/16 of an inch thick wire completely with self-leveling, doing that from wall to wall. Once you're done, the area that you want heated will be covered with that self-leveling, as will the other areas in the room that need to be built up. My suggestion, especially with these two questions, is to install your roll, secure it very well to the subfloor, cover it with self-leveling along with the entire room, and then you will have a uniform height that makes it easy to install tile over.

Next, Ross sent us an email with a question about his fairly new system with an SCV dual sensor for an outdoor snow melt system and a relay. He asks if an electrician can install an indoor LED indicator light so he can know when the system is operating without trudging outside through the snow to look at the light at the sensor. He inquires if there are any suggestions other than not doing it, as it would void the warranty. Yes, there is a solution. We have a blog on our website that describes such an activity. A person had their electrician put a light on the side of the barn so they could see that light go on every time their snow melting system activated. Your sensor sends a signal back to the relay to turn the relay panel on and off, sending power out to your heating system. That 120-volt trigger comes from the relay, and your electrician can tap into that 120-volt feed on its way to the relay. Each time the controller asks for heat, it will send 120 volts to that relay, triggering the light. This light can be wired anywhere in your house, allowing you to have it on an alarm or any other indicator you prefer.

Continuing on, those are the only two questions I have right now, so I’ll cover a couple of common questions that we often receive, which may answer questions you already have. One common question is, "Where and how can one use electrical in-floor heating?" You can install it anytime the flooring is being remodeled. It can go under virtually any type of flooring, with the most common applications being under tile. However, it can also be installed under laminate, engineered or nailed hardwood, luxury vinyl tile, and carpeting, among others. We have a saying here: if you can walk on it, we can probably heat it for you.

Another frequently asked question is whether floor heating can be used as a primary heat source. In many cases, the answer is yes. Consider the materials and dimensions of your room, including the length of the walls, their height, and the presence of windows, exterior doors, and skylights, as these factors contribute to heat loss. For example, a room with high ceilings and multiple exterior windows may not be a good candidate for this type of heat. Conversely, a room with one exterior wall and a small window, which is well insulated, can effectively use floor heat as a primary source. To determine if your room is suitable, visit our website and use the heat loss calculator. Simply enter the details about your room, such as wall length, height, and the type of flooring, to receive a computer-generated printout indicating whether floor heating is a viable option.

A common inquiry is whether insulation is necessary when installing floor heating over a concrete slab. WarmlyYours has long supported the idea that placing an insulating layer between the heating cable and the concrete slab is beneficial. The concrete slab tends to absorb heat, which can prevent the floor from reaching the desired temperature. For instance, we conducted an experiment where we compared areas with and without insulation. The thermal image showed a temperature difference of 4 degrees Fahrenheit, with the insulated area measuring 79.1 degrees and the non-insulated area at 75 degrees. Therefore, to achieve optimal output from your floor heat, it is advisable to install insulation between the heating wire and the concrete slab.

Another frequently asked question is how to install floor heating under luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or sheet vinyl. If it’s a vinyl product, you can heat under it. To do this, use our TempZone product, which is primarily designed for tile. Attach the TempZone system securely to the subfloor to prevent it from floating, and then cover it with self-leveling concrete or underlayment. This will create a flat surface that is ideal for attaching LVT, carpet squares, or any other low R-value materials. If you have questions about this process, feel free to reach out to us anytime, and we can provide you with diagrams and further assistance.

When installing in a bedroom, many people ask where the radiant floor heating should go. Can it be installed in a walk-in closet? Should it be placed only in areas where people walk? The answer is nuanced. For example, if you have a bed with a dust ruffle that reaches the floor, there is no need to place heat under it, as this would trap the heat. Instead, focus on areas where people walk to maximize comfort and efficiency. Additionally, regarding walk-in closets, the National Electric Code in the United States prohibits installation in these areas, but local codes may vary. In Canada, you can install heating in a walk-in closet as long as a thermostat is included to control the heat.

To get your project started, you don’t need to be an artist. Simply make a sketch of the room with dimensions so we know where everything goes. Include details such as the depth of the tub, the size of the shower enclosure, and whether the toilet is wall-hanging or floor-mounted. This information will help us design the heating layout effectively. Once you send us your sketch, we will provide you with a complimentary design that outlines how to install the product. This plan will detail how long to run the heating cable, where to make cuts, and how to turn it, simplifying the installation process for you.

If you’re wondering how to create an online account, you can easily do so on our WarmlyYours website. Just click on the register link at the top right of the page. There are various authentication options available, including registering with Facebook, Google+, or Twitter. If you have previously done business with us by phone, mail, or fax, we can connect your online login with your existing account. This will ensure you are matched with the correct sales account representative. If you have any questions about setting up your account, feel free to contact our friendly sales team at 800-875-5285, and they will be happy to assist you.

Our tech team is available 24/7 to help you install your product. If you encounter any issues during installation, even on a Sunday morning, don’t hesitate to call us. We are here to answer your questions and keep you moving forward with your installation.

As we wrap up, I want to remind you of our next Ask Us Anything open question and answer session, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 10th, at 2 p.m. Central Time. You can sign up at warmlyours.com/webinar/ask-us-anything. If you have any lingering questions, feel free to save them for next month or reach out to us directly. Thank you for joining us today and for sending in your questions. If we didn’t address all your inquiries, please don’t hesitate to call us at 800-875-5285 or email us at info@warmlyyours.com. We’re more than happy to assist you with any additional questions or needs. We hope to see you again next month. Until then, stay warm and be radiant.