About Electric Radiant Floor Heating

The best and most efficient heating system your house could have would be one you don't even know is there. No noise, and no mite-filled ductwork spewing out allergens, dander and dust on your family. And an electric radiant floor heat system fits that description exactly.

In addition, these systems have even more than mere aesthetics going for them. They are also an extremely efficient way to heat your home, increase your comfort, and lower your heating costs all at the same time. Electric systems can be installed in just the rooms where comfort and enjoyment are necessary, such as kitchens, living rooms, nurseries or bathrooms. Electric radiant systems are perfect for bringing soothing and warmth to cold, unevenly heated rooms. Imagine being able to shed those thick socks and slippers, and allowing your children to crawl and play on the floor in complete comfort! And what a luxury to step barefoot from a bath or shower and not feel the shock of freezing cold tile.

Electric systems are also more efficient than other heating methods, such as hydronic floors, which are heated by warm water running through plastic tubing under your floors. This makes the electric systems a more viable option for homeowners looking to save money and energy. Forced-air systems typically lose heat through heating ducts and also by the heat rising into the ceiling, cooling, and then dropping back down.

Subfloor heating presents neither of these problems, as the heat rises gently through the floor to warm your family from the ground up, leaving the cooler air at the ceiling. Because of this, the thermostat can be set to a much lower temperature, and you can enjoy the luxury of efficiently heated floors anywhere in your home while reducing energy costs up to as much as 40%, depending on the insulation in your home.

Most Electric Radiant Systems are available for installation by the do-it-yourselfer. You can use your own tools, labor and simple installation packages available from any Electric Radiant Floor System company, and raise the value of your home for about half the cost of hiring someone to install the system for you.

An electric radiant system is made up of thin cables, somewhat like the wiring in an electric blanket. These are installed beneath ceramic floor tiles. The cables are thin enough that they don't noticeably raise the level of the flooring; this makes them a good choice for remodeling. While you certainly can look into hiring a professional to retrofit a radiant-floor, it's not a difficult job to do yourself if you're comfortable setting floor tiles. Although, our advice is to have a licensed electrician come out to hook up the new electrical circuit.

All in all, these systems can be the perfect, low cost solution to your home heating needs. With a little research and some do-it-yourself know-how, you can significantly raise the value of your home while providing a warm, inviting, comfortable environment for your family to enjoy, all while saving a considerable amount in your energy bills!