Home Improvement

All you need to know about Under- flooring Heating System

You will be surprised to know Under Flooring Heating System is dated back to Neoglacial and Neolithic periods. Archaeological surveys have been found in Asia and Alaska that how the old age man used drafted smokes from fire through stone covered trenches. Recent advancements in electric floor heating system had now made it efficient, radiant and cost-effective.

What is Under-flooring heating System?

This is a central heating system through which you can even warm up the house or a part of it. The room is made cozy and warm using conduction, radiation and convection techniques. The flow of heat is even. The system is, therefore, also called a Radiant floor heating system.  

Types of Radiant or Under-flooring heating system:

There are two types of Under-flooring heating system: Electric and hot water

  1.    Electric floor heating system

This system uses electric resistance cables to produce heat and features cables embedded in thin mats. These mats are installed under tile, stone, engineered wood, and laminate floors.

These mats have a thermostat controller so that the floors get warm as per your temperature settings for vanities and drains, you can order, pieces to fit in size from the manufacturer.

For open areas, you can install full-size mats. You can also floors that can be stapled in between the existing floors along with the insulation to keep the heat from dissipating downwards. These mats along with connectors and controllers cost from $5 to $7 per square foot and add $3 to $5 per square foot for labor charges. You can use Electric single wire installations as an alternative to mats. This is a single wire system that is continuous, insulated wire attached to metal clips for the subfloor installed over the mortar bed. With this, you can customize the size and can put exactly where you want.

 

  1.    Hot water radiant systems:

This is also called as hydronic heating and use heated water circulating through PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing. The tubing is embedded in mortar or in plywood subfloor panels that have pre-cut channels. This system has a hot water heater, a pump that circulates the water, and a thermostat to regulate room temperature. This system can be used for washing, cooking, and bathing.

The cost of installing this system is $6 to $16 per square foot.

Benefits of Under-flooring System:

1)    Cost-effectiveness

2)    Low maintenance costs

3)    This system comes with 25 years warranty.

Other things you should know:

  •    The cost will depend on the insulation in the building, the age of the building and the type of heating system you choose.
  •    Electric systems are better than hot water system as they are easy to install and have low installation costs.
  •    If you are low in funds, then go for installing a heating system on the ground floor and use conventional radiator for upper floors.