Radiant heat or in-floor heating is a luxurious addition to any home. Whether you want a solution for heating a chilly area of your house or you’re simply interested in improving the heating for your entire home, heated floors are a great option. Before you bite the bullet and schedule radiant heat installation, get the answers you need to the following common questions about heated flooring.
Why radiant heat?
Hot air naturally rises and spreads out overhead in the home where it doesn’t do much good. Radiant heating allows heat to rise from the floors slowly, enabling even distribution and keeping toes warm so you feel warmer without heating the whole home.
When should I use radiant heat?
Radiant heats costs $4-6 per square foot on top of standard flooring costs, which adds up quickly. It’s also less effective under traditional insulating flooring materials (i.e. carpet). As such, radiant heat is a natural choice for select areas of the home with flooring that radiates heat efficiently (i.e. ceramic, stone tile).
What system should I install?
There are three types of radiant heat systems, which are as follows:
Forced air- Forced air systems carry hot air through floor channels. They are hardly ever used in homes.
Hydronic- A hydronic system uses hot water to carry heat through a tubing network, which is very efficient.
Electrical- Generally electrical radiant heating is less efficient than hydronic heating. The one major exception is in regions with lower priced electricity during off-peak hours, in which residents can save by heating floors on a timer overnight and letting the warmth radiate gradually during the day.
How is radiant heating installed?
There are two primary types of radiant heat installation: wet and dry. A wet installation is embedded in the concrete when the home is built or when a layer of concrete is added for the flooring. A dry installation is layered under or over the subfloor and below the finished flooring. Dry installations boast a newer technology, making them the preferred choice for newer homes and retrofits for older homes.
Do I have to fill a whole room?
The short answer is no. Many homeowners opt to heat a specific area of a room. For example, if you want in-floor heating in your bathroom, consider installing it next to the tub or shower to keep feet toasty while stepping out of a bath or shower or in front of the vanity to stay warm while getting ready in the morning.
How do I tile over a partial installation?
If you decide to install radiant heating in a portion of a room, it’s preferable to install a different type of flooring over the heated area than the rest of the floor. A single flooring for the whole room traps the radiant heating system permanently under the flooring. Breaking up the flooring creates visual interest in the room while making it simple and stress free to access the heating system for repair work.
Alair works closely with our clients to build custom homes and navigate major home renovations including bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. To learn more about our heated floor products and whether or not heated floors are a good option for your home, fill out our online request form.