Floor heating, or radiant floor heating, is a luxurious home feature that will keep your feet warm all year round. Floor heating will keep your rooms warm without making noise or wasting too much energy. There’s no blowing air like forced air systems, so you won’t have to worry about allergens being stirred up around your home.
There are so many benefits to come along with heated floors. Read more to find out exactly what you’re missing out on.
How Does Heated Flooring Work?
There are a few different types of radiant floor heating, including:
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Air-heated radiant floors
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Electric radiant floors
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Hydronic radiant floors
Each different type of flooring solution has its pros and its cons. For example, air-heated radiant floors aren’t great for residential areas, as they aren’t cost-effective. Hydronic radiant floors, however, are the most popular type of radiant heating floors to be used in residential projects as they’re cost-effective and easy to maintain.
Pros of Radiant Floor Heating
The specific pros and cons of radiant floor heating depend on what type of heating you’re using. However, hydronic radiant floors are the most popular and the most common, so let’s focus on those for now.
1. Energy Efficient
Water-based systems are incredibly energy efficient. They heat up the floor for consistent and efficient warmth whenever you need it. Water-based systems run water through pipes under the floor to create heat, maintaining a temperature of 84 degrees in order to keep the room warm.
A traditional radiator has to get to approximately 150 degrees in order to keep an entire room warm. Because floors don’t have to get as hot, you’ll save money and energy.
Heated floors also help you to avoid cold spots. As radiators heat the air nearest to them first, there are often cold spots throughout your home. Heated floors heat the room evenly, avoiding cold spots.
2. Easy to Use
Once your heated floors are installed, they require virtually no maintenance. Most companies also offer a lengthy guarantee, such as 30 years. Most heated flooring options come with either a smart thermostat or a programmable thermostat that allows you to program schedules if you want to have your heat off at certain times throughout the day or night.
3. Many Options
You can use virtually any floor covering options on top of heated floors. There are so many different choices, including:
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Tile and stone
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Carpet
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Wood and laminate
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Vinyl
Within each of those categories, there are even more options, so you’ll never feel like you’re setting limits on your ability to design your new home the way you want.
4. Easy to Install
Underfloor heating is easy to install, especially if you install it when you’re building your home or as a part of a large renovation project. Some types of heating are easier to install than others. For example, electric radiant floors can be installed very easily, requiring you to lay down the electric wire that’s pre-spaced and ready to be attached to the included mesh.
Water-based systems are harder to install and must be done by a professional.
How Much Does it Cost?
When budgeting for your heated flooring installation, you can expect to spend between $10 and $20 per square foot depending on the type of system you choose for your home. You’ll need to contact a qualified electrician to connect the system to your power supply, which can cost between $200 and $250.
If you’re looking to purchase a water-based system you can expect to spend 2 to 3 times as much as you would on an electric system. However, water-based systems will cost you less to operate, so you’ll end up saving money in the long run.
