Electric under floor heating allows you to step out of the shower onto a warm floor and getting up in the morning in the winter isn’t quite so bad when you step onto a heated floor. Affordable, practical and energy efficient are more incentives to consider this type of home improvement.
Electric radiant floor heat coils in a residential bathroom. This cable will be covered by mortar and tiles and will warm the floor.
Floor Systems
There are many different electric floor-heating systems available; from do-it-yourself systems to professionally installed whole home heating systems that include additional areas, where having a controlled heating system is advantageous. Floor heating systems are available for all types of floors; however, each material requires a specific type of heating element.
Tile, granite, marble and other stone type floors use one type of heating element while carpet, wood and floating laminates use another and showers use a waterproof heating element. All of these types of radiant heating units provide warm, comfortable floors that can increase a room’s comfort at an affordable price.
Durability
Electric floor heating systems are created using flexible heating elements bonded to polymer plastic or elements that are encased in thin mortar that protects them from wear. Some heating elements are created using flexible polymers that heat when exposed to electricity and contain no actual metal heating elements. This type of radiant electric floor heating can be used under almost any material including carpet, sub flooring, tile, laminate panels as well as some asphalt roof shingles and sidewalk and driveways. Of these types of heating systems, none has moving parts and all come with warranties. Occasionally failures occur that usually result from an electrical connection wire break, rather than an actual heating element failure.
New Material Old Concept
The use of under floor heating systems is not a new idea. The Romans used hot water and steam to heat their stone and tile floors, and today these same types of floors can be heated using new materials for an old concept. While providing comfort, electrical floor heating systems improve a home’s energy efficiency as they are either thermostatically controlled or use electrical on/off timers. Thermostatically and timed control systems reduce energy costs while improving comfort and are an efficient use of electrical power.
Electric Emissions
When looking to purchase an electric floor heating system check the system’s radiant electric emissions. All electrical appliances put out some amount of electromagnetic energy, some appliances more than do others. Young children and pets spend a lot of time on the floor playing and sleeping, and systems that put out high amounts of electromagnetic energy could be detrimental to their health.
Product specifications can be found online to allow customers to compare the energy released by their product against other manufacturers. Radiant floor heating system manufacturers that display the REET, Radiant Electrical Emissions Testing, stamp of approval have been tested by an independent testing organization that provides rating certification for electrical appliance manufacturers.
Having a warm floor will provide comfort for every family member and electric floor heating can be economical, practical and increase the value of your home.
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