When Midwestern winters reach peak freezing temperatures, many homeowners long for additional heat sources for their homes. If you want to upgrade your home interior during the coldest months of the season, why not install heated floors? Not only will heated floors boost your property value, but you will also get a dose of warmth under your feet. Heated floors are for more rooms in your home than just bathrooms. Heated floors are a must-have convenience and comfort for every room in the house!
Is It Worth Having Heated Floors?
Are heated floors worth having in your home? Does the price justify the experience they offer? Let’s unpack everything you need to know about installing heated floors in your home.
How Do Heated Floors Work?
Heated flooring or a radiant system uses electric wires or hot water pipes beneath the floor to create warmth. Underfloor heating differs from a gas heater or fireplace that disperses heat into the room. Heated floors push heat up, warming your feet while leaving the air around you cool. Therefore, heated floors won’t impact your HVAC system or fireplace and its efficiency.
The heating source ensures a primary heating method that works independently of other primary heat sources. Electric heating is the most common and affordable floor heating system available. We will focus on that for the basis of this post.
- Hydronic radiant floor heating systems run heated water through pipes under the floor.
- Electric systems use a heating element, typically wires, embedded in the sub-flooring material.
Both systems, electric or radiant floor heat, provide uniform heating across the room, regardless of the type of floor. Electric floor heating systems typically take around 30 to 60 minutes to reach the ideal temperature setting.
Electronic floor heating systems come with programmable thermostats. They allow you to set the heat to turn on for around an hour before you get up, so you have warm floors first thing in the morning. If you heat your entire home using radiant heat, you can easily control the floor temperature for energy efficiency and cost savings.
Safety Requirements with Heated Floors
One of the considerations for installing electric floor heating is applying for an electrical permit before starting the project. This is especially important when installing a heating pad under carpet or other types of floor covering. Some materials can affect heat distribution. You’ll need to complete this step even if you plan on completing the project yourself.
The permit includes an electrical inspection and certificate you must provide if you sell your home. Don’t skip this step, especially in preparation for those cold winter months. You could open yourself to liability.
A professional inspection is crucial to ensure safety and avoid any risk of an electrical fire. A fire could cause wide-ranging damage to your home.
The Pros of Electric Underfloor Heating
- Ideal for smaller rooms in the home
- Floor heating cost is more affordable than hydronic systems
- Suitable for use under a natural stone or tiled floor
- Energy-efficient
- Near maintenance-free after installation
The Cons of Electric Underfloor Heating
- Electric underfloor heating is more suited to smaller rooms rather than larger ones
- Floor heating installation is expensive to install
What are the Benefits of Heated Flooring?
Minimal Maintenance
Most high-quality underfloor heating systems come with a 20 to 25-year warranty. They don’t require any maintenance throughout their lifespan.
Energy Efficient
Radiant heated flooring provides a 20 to 25 percent higher energy-efficient rating than conventional forced air heating systems. Homeowners can expect significant savings on heating costs over the floor’s lifetime.
Uniform Heating
A forced air heating system distributes warm air throughout the room. On the other hand, heated floors heat the entire floor, leading to an evenly heated room. As a result, you feel cold drafts less often, much cozier, and more comfortable at lower ambient room temperatures.
Increase Your Property Value
Heated floors increase your home’s value long-term and increase the appeal of your property to prospective buyers. Particularly luxury-seeking millennials and Gen X’ers.
What are the Disadvantages of Heated Flooring?
Installation Costs
Installing heated flooring in your home is a costly experience. You pay a lot upfront. However, the eventual energy savings will pay for the entire floor setup over its lifetime.
Replacing your Flooring
If you have existing tiles or laminate, you’ll need to rip out the old flooring to install the heating system in the subfloor and then replace the flooring system. This can be an expensive exercise, though worthwhile. Tile is the best choice for your new flooring system as it conducts heat well.
Are Heated Floors Expensive?
The cost of heated floors can vary significantly depending on several factors, such as:
- The type of heating system
- Size of the area to be heated
- Installation method
- Additional features or customizations
Generally, electric radiant heating systems are more affordable upfront than hydronic systems, which require a boiler and tubing installation.
- For electric systems, the cost typically ranges from $5 to $10 per square foot for materials and installation.
- Hydronic systems can range from $10 to $20 per square foot.
The complexity of installation, such as retrofitting existing flooring versus installing in new construction, can impact costs.
While the initial investment for heated floors may be higher than traditional heating methods, many homeowners find the comfort and energy efficiency benefits worth the expense.
Should You Install Heated Flooring?
Considering installing underfloor heating in your home? It can help to weigh the pros and cons first. Sure, it might cost you more upfront, but the convenience and energy savings will pay off over the long run.
You must ensure professional fitment if you don’t have any handy experience. Even if you complete a DIY fitment, remember to apply for your permit and inspect the installation professionally.
Related reading: Radiant Heating (Energy.gov)
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