Electric Floor Heating Overview
The dreaded cold bathroom floor is enough to keep anyone in bed, however, a resolution to the problem is heating radiated heat underneath the floor in the bathroom. Electric heat coils can be installed under almost any floor and in any room. In fact, it is popular to install radiant heat as an inexpensive supplement to an HVAC system. Electric floor heat uses non-corrosive, flexible heating elements that can be laid in concrete or placed under the flooring for the room. Since electric floor heating uses very few components it is very easy and inexpensive to install, making it perfect for a do-it-yourself project.
Installation of Electric Floor Heating
The easiest way to begin installing an electric floor heating product is to buy a kit that comes with all of the necessary materials. Following are the steps to follow when installing electric heating under a floor.
1. Make a detailed floor plan of how to lay the mat, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not allow the mesh or wire to overlap, nor space them too far apart. Be sure to keep at least 6 inches from a toilet’s wax ring.
2. Remove old flooring and sweep or vacuum the subfloor. Make sure it is clean and clear of any debris or protruding materials, like nails, that may break the coils.
3. Cover the floor with roofing felt, cement board, or plywood according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure any staples and nails are flush with the floor.
4. Check the electrical resistance of the wire or coils with an ohmmeter to ensure it is to the manufacturer’s specifications.
5. Lay out the mesh according to your floor plan, beginning in one corner of the room, leaving about 3 inches between the walls and the mat. Be sure the connecting ends are near the thermostat. When you come to a wall at the end of a run, cut through the mesh just enough to turn it to go back the other way. Make sure you do not cut the coils or wires. As you lay the mesh, check the electrical resistance with an ohmmeter periodically to be sure the coils remain undamaged.
6. Secure the lead wires to the floor, and run them to the wall of the thermostat.
7. Weave the unit’s temperature sensor through the mesh in a central location. Do not let it touch wires or coils.
8. Install an electrical outlet box on the wall for the thermostat, and connect the thermostat.
9. Have an electrical inspector check all connections before laying the floor on top.
10. Lay your flooring or pour concrete on top of the mats. The flooring should not require nails, because they could damage the coils.
To learn more about electric floor heating, visit http://www.heattechproducts.com/library
