| Ever wonder what it would feel like to walk barefoot | | | | from electric radiant heating. Unlike a hydronic system |
| in your house all year long and be comfortable? | | | | that needs a boiler to heat the water and flexible |
| Electric radiant floor warming systems answer that | | | | piping throughout the heated area, electric radiant |
| question. | | | | heating can be done in small open areas with "spot |
| Electric radiant floor warming uses a thin mesh mat | | | | heating" mats designed just for that area. |
| with a heating element woven throughout to heat | | | | Consideration of permanent fixtures and furniture |
| open floor areas. Rooms such as baths and kitchens | | | | plays an important role since electric radiant heat is |
| are popular places people like to have extra warmth, | | | | not recommended under these areas. The heat |
| but don't forget the foyer, mudroom, laundry room - | | | | needs to dissipate and if there is a fixture flush with |
| or just about any room in the house! | | | | the floor, the heat has nowhere to escape. And |
| Using radiant heat, the heat stored in the floor is | | | | besides, who wants to pay for heat you can't feel? |
| similar to the heat provided by a radiator. The heated | | | | Speaking of cost, one of the frequent questions is |
| floor radiates heat to the people and objects in the | | | | how much does it cost to run the electric radiant |
| room. The flooring surface is maintained at a | | | | mats. The answer varies, depending on the length of |
| comfortable, yet higher temperature than the | | | | time you have it on, the size mats you have installed, |
| ambient temperature of the floor before the heat | | | | and the cost of electricity in your area. For example: |
| was turned on. Since the heat is conducted and | | | | a 1'x 40' mat (15 watts per square foot) is set to |
| radiated from floor level up, it helps to provide a | | | | turn on from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. |
| warm and comfortable environment for the | | | | to 10 p.m.; the usage rate from the electric bill is 8 |
| occupants of the room, unlike forced air, which tends | | | | cents per kilowatt-hour. Multiply the square foot of |
| to concentrate most of the warm air near ceiling | | | | the mat by the watts per square foot to figure total |
| level. It provides even, uniform heat throughout the | | | | watts (40 x 15 = 600). Take the total watts and |
| room, without the visibility of heaters or losing floor | | | | divide by 1000 to determine total kilowatts (600 |
| space to heating units. | | | | 1000 = .60). Multiply the total kilowatts by the usage |
| For installation, the subfloor should be clear of debris | | | | rate found on the electric bill to figure how many |
| and sharp edges or objects that might damage the | | | | cents per kilowatt hours (.60 x .08 = $0.048 per |
| element. Loose boards should be repaired and all gaps | | | | hour). It is important to realize even though a system |
| filled in to assure the mat will be installed over a | | | | is set to be on for several hours, it is usually only |
| smooth and even surface. John O'Brien, Director of | | | | utilizing power for the first hour or so in order to |
| Sales and Marketing for Radiant Floor Warming, a | | | | initially heat to the set temperature. The thermostat |
| company providing electric radiant systems, says, " | | | | will then be switching itself on and off from time to |
| Our mat is only 1/8" thick - ideal for ceramic tile and | | | | time for short intervals in order to keep the surface |
| stone since it will not add to the finished floor height. | | | | temperature consistent. Assuming it uses power for |
| Our material is fully covered by the thinset or | | | | 2 hours during each time setting (1 hour for initial |
| underlayment used in the tile installation." The ceramic | | | | warm up and 1 hour of usage to keep the heat |
| tile or stone is then installed according the | | | | consistent), in our example the power would be in |
| manufacturers' and industry standards. | | | | use for 4 hours. At the rate of $0.05 per hour, this |
| Renovations as well as new construction can benefit | | | | adds only $0.20 daily to your electric bill. |