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Can Having Heating Floors Provide Energy Savings?
Updated: 6 days ago
How radiant floor heat works, how it is installed, and why homeowners are choosing it.
Planning a project? Talk with Joe Avila: call 908-232-6600 or book a virtual consultation.
All homeowners are interested in saving money and according to the United States Department of Energy, heated flooring is one of the best ways to accomplish your energy saving goals.
How Heated Floors Work
Underfloor heating systems heat your dwelling using thermal radiation. Such systems do not need fans or blowers to move the heated air. Rather, the heat production is accomplished through electrical coils or liquid filled tubing, which is placed beneath the floor.
Some modern homes are manufactured with heated flooring, but this type of system can also be added to your dwelling to replace its current system. The installation is not a do-it-yourself project, however, as only professionals are qualified to install underfloor heating.
Installation
Both wet and dry procedures are used to install heated flooring. With a wet installation, several thin layers of concrete or gypsum are poured over coils or tubing. The topcoat of concrete or gypsum eventually becomes the home’s subfloor. The floor covering of your choice is then installed over the top.
Dry installation typically involves the use of electric cables over which an extra layer of wood is installed. This type of installation is easier than wet installation, but still requires the services of a professional. Thermostats are also placed in each room to maintain separate heat levels, which also substantially lowers long-term energy costs.
Energy Savings and Other Benefits
Underfloor heating is gaining popularity in the United States as well as other areas of the world because of the benefits it offers to homeowners, such as significant energy savings. Additionally, it is visually appealing and may save space, depending on your home’s former system.
According to the World Health Organization, heated flooring may also be advantageous for those suffering from allergies or asthma, as this type of system helps eliminate dust mites. If you are building a new home or rethinking your current system, heated floors are a practical and cost-effective option you should consider.
Quick Answers
How do heated floors work?
Electric coils or liquid-filled tubing under the floor warm the room through thermal radiation, with no fans or blowers.
What is the difference between wet and dry installation?
Wet installation pours thin layers of concrete or gypsum over the coils or tubing. Dry installation runs electric cables under an extra layer of wood.
Can I install heated floors myself?
No. This article explains that underfloor heating should be installed by qualified professionals.
Can heated floors save energy?
This article cites the U.S. Department of Energy on heated floors as a way to save energy, and separate thermostats in each room help lower long-term costs.
Talk to a Wood Flooring Specialist
Not sure which option fits your project? Call 908-232-6600 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern), visit our showroom at 406B West Broad Street in Westfield, New Jersey, or book a virtual consultation. We work with homeowners, architects and designers across New Jersey, New York City and the East Coast, and serve clients nationwide.
Call 908-232-6600, email joe@hugginsflooring.com or book a virtual consultation. Explore our sanding and finishing, eco-friendly finishes and floor care services.
About The Author
Joe Avila has 26 years in the wood flooring trade. He is an NWFA-certified wood flooring inspector, installer and sander, and for more than a decade he has taught accredited continuing-education programs for AIA, ASID and IDCEC audiences, training thousands of architects and design professionals in how to specify wood flooring correctly.
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