4 Considerations Before Installing Heated Floors

Posted On Monday, 10 May 2021 21:08

If you live in a place that gets extremely cold, you know how handy heated floors are during those chilly months. For many people, in-floor heating systems are great ways for making homes cozy, comfortable, and warm. 

Heated floors are great for homes that have high ceilings and plenty of space that needs excess energy to get heated. They maintain warmth in the lower part of the room where it’s needed most without necessarily incurring high energy bills at the end of each month. 

More homeowners are installing heated floors as part of their upgrade. In fact, homeowners that want to increase the resale value of their properties are choosing to install heated floors to attract customers. 

But installing in-floor heating systems isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. If you’re planning to install heated floors in your home or property, here are five considerations you need to bear in mind:

1. Rooms That Are Most Suitable

Before installing heated floors, you must determine which rooms and spaces require the most warmth or heat. There is no doubt that in-floor heating systems add a lot of value to people’s lives and homes. However, installing them on carpeted floors can cause them to be less effective. Some areas that are most ideal to install such systems are kitchens and bathrooms. 

When installed beneath stone or ceramic tiles, heated floors keep important rooms such as bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms warm, keeping your feet cozy and warm. Other places in your home where heated floors can be very beneficial include mudrooms, outdoor decks, and foyers. By keeping these areas warm, your family and guests can enjoy these spaces throughout the year, even during the wet or cold seasons. 

2. The Type of Heated Floor You Want 

In-floor heating systems are classified into two types, wet heated floors, and dry heated floors. Dry systems are the most modern type while wet systems involve fitting the heating system on the concrete. Dry installation is characterized by layering its mechanisms between two sub-floor levels. The type and process of installation are largely determined by the type of heated floor you choose. You can learn more about this at https://www.floorheatingsystemsinc.com/

In-floor heating systems can also be grouped into two main categories—hydronic-based, electrical-based, and forced-air heating systems. Hydronic-based heating floors are designed to use water to release heat through tubing connections. Electrical-based heated floors use warm water to raise warm air throughout the home. 

On the other hand, forced air systems push hot air through floor passages. Among the three, hydronic-based systems tend to be more efficient in heating homes. While electric-based in-floor heating is a more cost-effective option, it can be extremely costly in areas where electricity rates spike during off-peak hours. 

3. New Or Old House

There are major differences between renovating old homes and constructing new homes. If you’re constructing a new house, you have more flexibility when it comes to choosing an ideal heating system because the floor has not been fixed yet. 

As such, you won’t have to worry about removing the floor as you would with an already existing house. It is also possible to lay the heating system in the entire home compared to an existing one, where you’ll probably just select the areas that need installation. Laying a heating system throughout an already constructed home would mean removing the entire floor—which is not just going to be costly, but is also a tedious renovation project.  

4. The Flooring Type You Have At Home

In-floor heating systems are installed under the floor. Their effectiveness is largely determined by the kind of floor that your home has. Generally, heated floor systems tend to be highly effective when placed under floorings that conduct heat well. This includes laminate floorings and tile floorings. This could be another setback for those who are planning to install heated floors in an old home that has wooden floors.

Conclusion

Heated floors offer numerous benefits to homeowners or tenants because of the warmth and comfort they bring. Their energy efficiency makes them worth investing in, considering it creates a conducive environment for common areas in the home where guests and family members can relax. 

Despite its advantages, heating systems cannot be installed haphazardly. Rather, homeowners must give careful thought to the type of flooring they want in the home, the mode of installation to be used, and the areas where heat is needed the most. If you’re looking to install heated floors in your home, take note of the four considerations that were discussed above. 

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