How to Help Your Customers Choose the Ideal Floor Heating System

Hello and thank you for joining today's webinar, "How to Help Your Customers Choose the Ideal Floor Heating System," hosted by WarmlyYours Radiant Heating. I'm your moderator, Scott Rosenbaum, and I'm going to share some in-depth information about the various features of our electric floor heating products, how to best portray that information to your customers, and how to get them started with their purchase. Before we dive into the presentation, I'd like to quickly go over one housekeeping item. If you'd like to submit a question at any time during the webinar, you can click on the Questions and Answers button located in the top left corner of your screen. I'll be sure to answer these questions at the end of the webinar.

Getting your customers started with floor heating can be a bit overwhelming, especially if they're new to this type of system. The simplest way to simplify the process is to identify the type of flooring that will be used. If you're working with tile, stone, vinyl, or hardwood, our TempZone system is the right choice. For laminate, floating wood floors in the U.S. or Canada, or carpeting in the U.S. only, our EnvirOn system is ideal. If you're pouring a new concrete floor, then our slab heating system is the appropriate option. While choosing the right system may seem complicated, this presentation will address how to arrive at an easy solution. It's crucial for salespeople to be equipped with the knowledge to help their customers navigate these various options.

Before we take a closer look at each of these options, it's important to note that all of our heating systems will only radiate heat where the roll, mat, or cable is placed in the room. When discussing lateral temperature spread, keep in mind that the temperature will spread about an inch and a half laterally from the cable. Therefore, placing a small mat in the middle of the room will not provide heat to the entire space. Users should be aware of the need to select an appropriately sized system to heat the maximum area in a room.

Let's begin by examining our product lines one by one, starting with the TempZone solution. The TempZone product line includes shower mats, flex rolls, easy mats, custom mats, and cable. TempZone shower mats are particularly easy to specify and should be selected if you want to heat a shower floor or bench. These mats are available in common shower sizes such as 32 by 32 inches, 32 by 60 inches, and 48 by 48 inches. Additionally, shower bench mats are available for standard sizes of 11.5 by 32 inches and 16 by 32 inches. These mats feature drop-in installation and include a hole in the center for the drain. If your shower has a drain at the edge, please contact us for a solution tailored to that situation.

Both shower floor and bench mats come with longer cold leads than our other products, featuring a 22-foot cold lead compared to the 15-foot cold lead that comes with standard TempZone products. These longer cold leads can easily reach the thermostat, regardless of its location in the room. TempZone shower mats are safe for wet location installations and have been tested and approved under the strict Canadian wet location listing. However, be sure to comply with your local code requirements.

Next, we have the TempZone flex rolls, which are WarmlyYours' most popular floor heating product. These rolls come in 1.5-foot and 3-foot widths for rapid installation in larger spaces. They offer a custom design while still utilizing a standard size roll, making them ideal for full coverage in various room layouts. The rolls consist of heating cable secured in a serpentine design onto green mesh, with the cable spaced three inches apart to ensure even heat distribution. With a watt density of 15 watts per square foot, which is the highest allowed by the National Electric Code, these rolls heat up faster and reach higher temperatures than similar lower wattage products.

Moving on to TempZone EZ Mats, these are perfect for spot heating. If you place one down, it will only heat that specific area, making it a great option for heating spaces in front of sinks or showers. These mats are affordable and easy to install; simply roll them out on the floor, spread thin-set over them, and install your choice of tile, wood, or vinyl on top. Like TempZone Flex Rolls, EZ Mats provide 15 watts per square foot for maximum heat in the shortest time.

TempZone Custom Mats offer ultimate convenience as they are custom-made to fit your specific space. These mats provide hassle-free installation—there's no cutting or turning involved. You simply lay it out in the desired area, apply thin-set, and cover it with more thin-set. While this convenience comes at a slightly higher price due to the custom nature of the mats, they are an excellent choice for DIYers with uniquely shaped rooms who want the simplest installation possible.

The TempZone cable is the newest addition to the TempZone lineup and is generally the most affordable option. It offers maximum flexibility in coverage, allowing it to be laid out around plumbing, pillars, and angled or rounded walls. The TempZone cable features the same quality wire found in TempZone flex rolls, with watt densities ranging from 8 to 12 watts per square foot. This flexibility allows you to space the cable according to your heating needs, using 3-inch spacing for greater heat and switching to 4-inch spacing in lower traffic areas. At 8 watts per square foot, the cable can heat up to 225 square feet on a 120-volt circuit with a single 15-amp thermostat.

To determine whether a room is best suited for cable spaced three inches apart or four inches apart, you should consult our heat loss calculator. This tool considers climate, insulation, and the room's position to determine if floor heating can serve as a primary heat source. Factors such as fireplaces, skylights, and exterior walls can negatively affect heat loss, and these should always be taken into account to ensure proper heating. Our heat loss calculator will also guide you in selecting the right product based on the subfloor and flooring type you input.

Now let's discuss the EnvirOn floor heating system. If your customer is placing floor heating under laminate or floating wood flooring in the U.S. or Canada, or under carpet in the U.S. only, the options become more straightforward. The EnvirOn lineup consists of EnvirOn Flex Rolls and EnvirOn EZ Mats. EnvirOn Flex Rolls are similar to TempZone Flex Rolls, but they are made with reinforced laminated aluminum foil and are designed for use with laminate and floating wood flooring, as well as carpet in the U.S. only. Unlike TempZone, the EnvirOn system is intended solely for flooring types that float above the heating element.

EnvirOn Flex Rolls are designed for full flexible coverage in any room and can be cut and turned to provide wall-to-wall coverage. They are easy to install, with cable spaced two inches apart on the aluminum reinforced foil roll, offering a watt density of 12 watts per square foot. This design ensures uniform heating with minimal raising of the floor level.

EnvirOn EZ Mats provide a simple solution for heating specific areas of a room and are the most efficient means of covering large spaces with laminate or floating wood in the U.S. or Canada, or with carpet in the U.S. only. These mats do not require cutting or trimming, as the cables inside are designed to go around the perimeter. They can be installed with either side up, allowing for flexible cold lead placement. The cable in the EZ Mats is spaced three inches apart, and they are both affordable and easy to install under flooring.

For customers seeking radiant heat in polished, stamped, or stained concrete floors, our slab heating options are ideal. Slab heating mats or cables can be used in concrete floors, garages, sunrooms, or even as primary heat sources in homes with trendy stamped or stained concrete floors. This option is particularly suitable for new construction and can also be installed in wet areas, although it's essential to refer to local electrical codes for guidance.

Slab heating mats come in various sizes and are flexible, allowing them to be cut and turned to fit your room. Unlike TempZone and EnvirOn Flex Rolls, slab heating mats feature black netting that allows concrete to be poured directly through the inch-and-a-quarter squares. The cable is spaced three inches apart for even heat dispersion, making these mats ideal for new construction or when pouring a new concrete floor.

Slab heating cables offer maximum flexibility for rooms of any shape or size, allowing customers to customize the watts per square foot during installation. This flexibility is beneficial when using heating cable as a supplementary heat source, as it can save money. The cable can be spaced at five inches, providing a lower watt density that allows for heating the slab while still permitting a floor covering above it. This built-in heating solution enables customers to change their final flooring surface without affecting the heating cable.

Regardless of whether your customer is interested in installing heating mats or cables under tile, laminate, or concrete, the key to selling in-floor heating systems lies in helping them envision the warmth in their own home. WarmlyYours offers merchandising materials, such as a heated tabletop display and an in-floor showroom display kit, to facilitate this experience.

It's essential to highlight the benefits of floor heating, which can reduce energy bills when used as a supplemental or primary heat source. In-floor heating is also a healthier option, as it does not disperse dust or allergens into the air like forced air systems. Above all, in-floor heating adds comfort to any room.

Once you've opened your customers' eyes to the benefits of in-floor heating, it's time to assist them in obtaining a quote. There are several ways to do this. First, you can utilize our instant quote tool online. By selecting the type of project—floor heating—and the project location, you can input details such as whether the floor heating will serve as the primary heat source, the subfloor type, and the flooring type.

Next, enter the project dimensions by providing the square footage, the length and width of the room, drawing the room using a project planner tool, or uploading the floor plan. By entering this information, you can instantly receive a quote that includes recommended products, coverage area, and costs. If you draw the room online, WarmlyYours will provide an instant quote along with recommended products and their costs. You can also submit the drawing to our design team for a free installation plan, which will detail how to install the in-floor heating system in the customer's room.

Customers in select areas can schedule an in-home measurement, where a professional will visit to obtain the exact measurements needed for their project. Alternatively, you can upload your customer's floor plan online, and our team will compile a custom installation plan and quote to send back to you by the next business day. You can also work directly with your account manager by emailing or faxing the floor plan, after which your account manager will provide a quote and a custom installation plan.

These various options make it easy and convenient for you to obtain a quote in the format that best suits you and your customer, allowing them to move forward with their project. If you have any questions or would like to request more information about any of our products, please contact your account manager. If you're unsure who your account manager is, you can easily find out by checking your online account or contacting us at 800-875-5285. We will be happy to direct you to the appropriate person.

It's also important to note that WarmlyYours offers 24/7 technical support. Your customers can reach out to our experts any day of the week, day or night, for installation assistance. This level of support sets WarmlyYours apart from the competition. By ensuring your customers have the information and tools they need for their floor heating project, you can facilitate a smooth purchase process and enhance your bottom line.

With that, I'll open the floor to any questions. If you have a question, now is the time to enter it, and we will be glad to address it. We do receive a high volume of calls on our 24/7 tech support line, and there are a couple of questions we often encounter. One common question is about the cost of floor heating and its operation. Based on a national average electricity rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour, the approximate operating cost for an average bathroom measuring 8 by 10 feet would be between 16 and 21 cents a day, assuming the system runs for a full eight hours daily. For more accurate estimates, customers should refer to our energy use calculator available on our website.

Regarding the cost of our products, the price per square foot varies, but on average, the MSRP is about $10 per square foot. We also offer volume discounts on our heating systems, meaning the more you buy, the more you save. For example, TempZone Flex Rolls start as low as $8 per square foot for a 210 square foot space. Customers should visit WarmlyYours.com for full product pricing.

Another frequently asked question pertains to the warranty for our indoor floor heating systems. WarmlyYours TempZone systems are backed by an industry-leading 25-year no-nonsense warranty. In the event of a defect, we cover not only the repair or replacement of the TempZone floor warming roll mat or cable but also any labor and materials required for the repair. Our EnvirOn systems are backed by a 10-year no-nonsense warranty when used under laminate and floating wood in the U.S. EnvirOn systems used under carpet are covered by a five-year no-nonsense warranty. Our slab heating systems come with a 10-year warranty, covering the replacement of the product or a refund of the original cost.

Another common inquiry is whether insulation is necessary when installing a floor heating system over a concrete slab. Yes, we strongly recommend adding a layer of insulation prior to installing the system. This insulation should be placed on top of the slab and beneath the heating cables. Our floor systems provide up to 25% more heating power per square foot than many competitors. The slab will always act as a heat sink, meaning it will attempt to warm itself first before allowing the tiles or flooring above to heat up. Some heat that could be transferred to the flooring surface gets trapped in the slab, resulting in lower surface temperatures compared to using insulation.

Adding insulation on top of the slab and beneath our floor heating system allows a greater percentage of the generated heat to transfer to the flooring surface, enabling it to warm to a comfortable temperature. In many cases, the floor heating can serve as the primary heat source for that room. We recommend using an insulated synthetic cork underlayment called Cerazorb. However, if you're using heating cable, slab cable, or slab heating mats, do not place Cerazorb on top of the slab, as it will retain heat in the slab and prevent it from reaching the tile surface.

That's about all the time we have for questions. I'd like to thank you for listening and for the opportunity to share our in-floor heating products and services with you. We sincerely appreciate your time and hope to be in touch soon. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 800-875-5285 or at info@warmlyyours.com, and we will be happy to assist you. Until then, stay warm and be radiant.