{"id":9156,"date":"2022-11-30T12:00:16","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T17:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/?p=9156"},"modified":"2022-11-29T16:22:32","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T21:22:32","slug":"what-are-the-benefits-of-heated-floors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/what-are-the-benefits-of-heated-floors\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Benefits of Heated Floors?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Innovations in home construction, combined with an increased focus on energy efficiency, have made heated floors more popular, especially as an upgrade in new homes. If you associate heated floors with luxury and high expense, you may need to think again. The latest heated flooring systems can add comfort to new or retrofitted spaces while providing benefits such as healthier indoor air and energy savings.<\/p>\n

What are heated floors?<\/h2>\n

Heated floors use a specialized system to generate warmth below a surface material such as tile. Over the years, the logistics involved in transferring heat through flooring have improved, making a radiant system easier to install and use in new homes. Heated flooring can also be retrofitted into existing homes. If you\u2019re already considering replacing your current floor, it may be the ideal time to swap for heated floors. Or, you can install heated floors and keep your current flooring by accessing the subfloor by going through the ceiling of the floor below.<\/p>\n

How do heated floors work?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever stepped out of a steamy shower and placed your bare foot on a cold tile, you might have wished for a way to warm the floor to the same temperature as the air around you. A heated floor can solve this problem by using an electric or hydronic system underneath your choice of flooring. Floor materials such as ceramic, stone, or even engineered hardwood can conduct heat from the radiant system throughout your kitchen, bath, or other room.<\/p>\n

Scientifically speaking, heated floors use infrared radiation<\/a> to transfer warmth through a compatible material, such as ceramic tile, to the surface of a room. This radiant heat then spreads to other objects and surfaces through a process known as radiant heating. The warmth generated by the sun or your kitchen stovetop are other examples of radiant heat. You can feel the temperature rise from direct sun rays shining on your face or from an activated burner when cooking. Similarly, heated flooring systems add warmth through the floor to anything it comes in contact with, such as your feet.<\/p>\n

Radiant heating systems also incorporate the process of convection, where warm air rises within a space. As the floor in a room heats up, the air closest to it also increases in temperature and rises through the room, carrying additional warmth.<\/p>\n

Electric versus Hydronic Heated Flooring Systems<\/h2>\n

The most common options for heated flooring include electric or hydronic power. Air-heated flooring systems exist but generally lack the necessary cost-efficiency for residential homes.<\/p>\n

Electric Heated Flooring<\/h3>\n

Electric systems use wired mats or cables placed below the floor to generate heat. The mats below the floor can fit the measurements of your room. Electric-powered options are easier to install than hydronic systems, with lower upfront costs. They work best in a limited-sized space, such as a bathroom. If you\u2019re handy and experienced at installing tile flooring, you might even consider adding this type of heated flooring to your home as a DIY project.<\/p>\n

Hydronic Systems<\/h3>\n

A hydronic system sends hot water from a boiler through tubes running below the floor to warm a room. The added complexity of a hydronic system typically calls for professional installation. Hydronic-powered heated floors have a higher initial price tag, but they can efficiently cover larger areas than electrical systems. As a result, they may save you more in energy costs over the life of the system.<\/p>\n

Heated flooring design options<\/h2>\n

While you can install a heated flooring system under various flooring options, some materials work better than others. When selecting your flooring, ask your designer or contractor for samples of materials that are specifically compatible with a heated flooring system.<\/p>\n

Tile floors conduct and retain heat efficiently, which makes them an optimal choice for a radiant system. Tile is also water-resistant and holds up well in humid areas of the home, such as kitchens or bathrooms, where a heated flooring system may be located.<\/p>\n

Other flooring materials can pair with heated floors successfully, but some might work better than others. Your local climate and humidity may influence the type of flooring material you select. The amount of moisture in the air and year-round temperature variations may affect certain flooring materials. Hardwood floors may not be as effective in areas with high temperatures and humidity as they are less likely to transfer heat efficiently with a radiant heating system. If you prefer wood floors, heated flooring manufacturer Warmboard<\/a> recommends sticking with laminate or engineered wood, which is thinner but still dense enough to conduct heat properly.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s even possible to place radiant heat under vinyl and carpet, but the products used should be specifically rated for heated flooring systems. The padding under the carpet can also make a difference in the efficiency of a radiant system.<\/p>\n

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