Electric in-floor heating offers a cost-effective solution for heating and provides your home with comfort and energy-efficient warmth. Expert Electric knows the value of in-floor heat and its licensed electricians have a wealth of knowledge about how to install in-floor heating. Its residential electrical services include a variety of installation services for electric heating.
Benefits of In-Floor Heating
Oftentimes, when people think of in-floor heating systems, they imagine a nice warm surface to walk on rather than the cold kitchen tile that they are used to; however, heated floors have much more to offer than simply eliminating cold feet. In-floor heating tends to use less electricity than traditional radiators or forced-air heating systems, which means that your home can conserve valuable energy. Heated flooring disperses heat evenly throughout a room, so your home will not have any cold spots and the house will heat evenly.
Types of In-Floor Heating
The type of radiant in-floor heating that you can have installed will depend on what type of heating system you already have in place. The three types of in-floor heating are radiant air floor heaters, hot water radiant floors, and electric radiant floor heaters. Electric floor heaters are the most efficient type of in-floor heating.
Installing Electric In-Floor Heating
The procedure that licensed electricians typically adhere to when installing in-floor heating is as follows:
1. Remove Old Flooring
Whether you are installing your in-floor heating under tile, carpet, laminate, or any other style of flooring, you will have to pull up the floor surface completely to lay down the radiant heating system. Some types of floors can be laid back down, but many will be ruined by the removal process, meaning you may need to lay new tile or carpet.
2. Find a Compatible Electrical Source
Whether your heated floor’s electrical source is a GFCI outlet or a new breaker, this source will need to be known and ready before the new electric floor heater is installed. To prepare the source, an electrician will run wires from the outlet to the section of wall that the heating mat will be connected to.
3. Order or Build a Custom-Sized Heat Mat
Depending on who is installing your in-floor heating, you may need to wait for your custom-fitted electric heat mat to be manufactured. By getting a custom heat mat, you can guarantee that every inch of your floor is heated properly.
4. Position and Place the Heat Mat
At this point, your electrician will make sure that everything fits perfectly. Once the mat is positioned properly, your electrician will glue down the in-floor heat system.
5. Wire the Heated Mat into House Circuitry
Once the heated floor mat is in place, your licensed electrician will wire it in and make sure that all the circuits are running properly. This step includes wiring the mat into your thermostat.
6. Reinstall Flooring
This could be an excellent opportunity to lay down new laminate flooring or tile over your heated floor. If your old flooring is intact, you might be able to save some money by having it reinstalled.
To learn more about how to install in-floor heating, or if you are interested in one of Expert Electric’s residential electrical services or commercial electrical services, please contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.