 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Alternative-Heating-Info.com
Electric radiant floor heat, also
known as electric under floor
heating, can be installed
throughout the home or
zoned to heat a single room.
The heat source is a specially
designed, insulated copper
cable that reaches an internal
temperature of 115 degrees.
The cable is sold either on
rolls for free form installation,
or woven into mats of varying
widths and lengths for under
floor or under carpet
installation.
known as electric under floor
heating, can be installed
throughout the home or
zoned to heat a single room.
The heat source is a specially
designed, insulated copper
cable that reaches an internal
temperature of 115 degrees.
The cable is sold either on
rolls for free form installation,
or woven into mats of varying
widths and lengths for under
floor or under carpet
installation.
Electric Radiant Floor Heat
Free form cables are used under tile or hardwood floors and
are no thicker than the layer of tile adhesive or scree
applied to the sub floor adding only 1/16" to 1/8" to the
floor height.
Insulated cables use anywhere from 8 to 15 watts of
electricity per square foot of floor area depending on how
close the wire loops are spaced.
Electric heating mats are fastened to the sub-floor with
tape or staples and covered with a layer of thin-set mortar
for tiling, vinyl or hardwood flooring systems.
The mesh can be cut between the cables to the far seam
and rotated 180 degrees for the return run or to fit an
irregular floor plan. Cable type electric mats use
approximately 12 watts per square foot.
Radiant electric floating floor pads are installed under
laminate, hardwood, or engineered wood floors. They also
work with interlocking tile systems.
The 1/8" thick pads are rolled out over the sub-floor (no
cement required), and seamed together with duct tape.
Under carpet electric heating mats are available in rolls for
installation under wall to wall carpeting, or in panels sized
to fit under area rugs and runners.
For wall to wall carpeting, the mats are rolled out between
the carpet pad and carpet. Installation requires direct
connection to 110 volt power source. Costs around 40 cents
a day for 120 square feet.
are no thicker than the layer of tile adhesive or scree
applied to the sub floor adding only 1/16" to 1/8" to the
floor height.
Insulated cables use anywhere from 8 to 15 watts of
electricity per square foot of floor area depending on how
close the wire loops are spaced.
Electric heating mats are fastened to the sub-floor with
tape or staples and covered with a layer of thin-set mortar
for tiling, vinyl or hardwood flooring systems.
The mesh can be cut between the cables to the far seam
and rotated 180 degrees for the return run or to fit an
irregular floor plan. Cable type electric mats use
approximately 12 watts per square foot.
Radiant electric floating floor pads are installed under
laminate, hardwood, or engineered wood floors. They also
work with interlocking tile systems.
The 1/8" thick pads are rolled out over the sub-floor (no
cement required), and seamed together with duct tape.
Under carpet electric heating mats are available in rolls for
installation under wall to wall carpeting, or in panels sized
to fit under area rugs and runners.
For wall to wall carpeting, the mats are rolled out between
the carpet pad and carpet. Installation requires direct
connection to 110 volt power source. Costs around 40 cents
a day for 120 square feet.
| Electric free form cable |
| Electric floor heating mat |
| Electric floating floor pad |
Electric under carpet mat
All in all I think installing electric mats between the carpet pad and carpeting is a bad
idea. Not only is the return on your heating dollar poor, many under carpet
installations are not UL listed. I would not buy an electric radiant heating system that
was not UL approved. Also it's impossible to predict how well the electric cables will
withstand the weight of heavy furniture.
No matter what type of heating system you're investigating, your first consideration
should always be cost and availability of fuel. In the case of electricity, it's readily
available just about anywhere, but the cost per kWh (kilowatt hour) varies widely
from region to region.
Here's an easy way to estimate the cost of heating with electric mats where you live.
Multiply the square footage of the room you plan to heat x .012 (the average number
of kilowatts an electric mat consumes per sq. ft.) x cost per kWh (check your bill) = cost
per hour to heat the room.
For example, a homeowner paying $0.10 kWh to heat 150 square feet:
150 x .012 x $0.10 = $0.18 per hour.
Manufacturers of electric radiant heating systems are introducing new and innovative
products on a regular basis. Many, like the examples on this page, can be installed by
anyone with average diy skills up to the point where a licensed electrician is required
to make the final connection.
idea. Not only is the return on your heating dollar poor, many under carpet
installations are not UL listed. I would not buy an electric radiant heating system that
was not UL approved. Also it's impossible to predict how well the electric cables will
withstand the weight of heavy furniture.
No matter what type of heating system you're investigating, your first consideration
should always be cost and availability of fuel. In the case of electricity, it's readily
available just about anywhere, but the cost per kWh (kilowatt hour) varies widely
from region to region.
Here's an easy way to estimate the cost of heating with electric mats where you live.
Multiply the square footage of the room you plan to heat x .012 (the average number
of kilowatts an electric mat consumes per sq. ft.) x cost per kWh (check your bill) = cost
per hour to heat the room.
For example, a homeowner paying $0.10 kWh to heat 150 square feet:
150 x .012 x $0.10 = $0.18 per hour.
Manufacturers of electric radiant heating systems are introducing new and innovative
products on a regular basis. Many, like the examples on this page, can be installed by
anyone with average diy skills up to the point where a licensed electrician is required
to make the final connection.
