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All "between the joists" basement installations using hydronic tubing or electric mats
are also termed dry installations. Another dry method is the use of baseboard
radiators for a hydronic system.
Electric Radiant Floors
Electric radiant floors typically consist of insulation coated cables. The cables can be
run free form in loops over the subfloor or interwoven within a mat. Free form cable
installations are usually immersed in a 1 1/2" gypsum or concrete slab.
When the cables are immersed in a concrete slab a thermal mass is created. The
upside to a thermal mass is once it's heated to temperature it will retain the heat for
hours and requires much less energy to keep it "charged." The downside is warm up
time of several hours.
Electric mats on the other hand are as little as 1/8" thick when covered with mortar
and warm up much faster than slabs. Another installation option for electric mats is to
staple them between the joists under the subfloor as a retrofit "spot" heating
solution. Both free form slabs and mats can be covered with tile, hardwood floors, or
carpet.
Although above floor, and under floor mats might look similar, their applications are not
interchangeable. Under floor mats are not designed to be set in mortar and vice versa.
The temperature of electric mats is controlled by sensors and should not exceed 85
degrees F at the surface. 85 degrees is skin temperature and anything warmer starts
to feel too warm. Floor coverings other than stone or tile REQUIRE a maximum
temperature below 85 F. Most people are very comfortable between 75-80 degrees F.
Electric cables or mats will raise the ambient room temperature 10-15 degrees when
installed under hardwood or tile, but only 7 or 8 degrees under carpet.
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 the electric cables will withstand the weight of heavy
furniture.
Electric radiant floors may also make sense for additions onto homes for which it would
be impractical to extend the heating system into the addition. However, homeowners
should examine other options, such as mini-split heat pumps, which operate more
efficiently and have the advantage of also providing cooling.
Hydronic Radiant Floors
Hydronic (liquid) systems are the most popular and cost-effective radiant heating
systems for heating-dominated climates. Hydronic radiant floor systems pump heated
water (100 degrees F) from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern underneath the
floor.
In some systems, the temperature in each room is controlled by regulating the flow of
hot water through each tubing loop. This is done by a system of zoning valves or
pumps and thermostats.
A big advantage of hydronic systems is the flexibility of the fuel source. You can use
gas, oil, electricity and even solar energy.
Hydronic systems have high start-up costs because you have to buy a boiler. The
installed cost of an electric floor can more or less be figured by the square foot. As a
result, electric radiant heat tends to be more cost-effective on small floors. The larger
the area you need to heat, the more cost effective a hydronic system becomes.
are also termed dry installations. Another dry method is the use of baseboard
radiators for a hydronic system.
Electric Radiant Floors
Electric radiant floors typically consist of insulation coated cables. The cables can be
run free form in loops over the subfloor or interwoven within a mat. Free form cable
installations are usually immersed in a 1 1/2" gypsum or concrete slab.
When the cables are immersed in a concrete slab a thermal mass is created. The
upside to a thermal mass is once it's heated to temperature it will retain the heat for
hours and requires much less energy to keep it "charged." The downside is warm up
time of several hours.
Electric mats on the other hand are as little as 1/8" thick when covered with mortar
and warm up much faster than slabs. Another installation option for electric mats is to
staple them between the joists under the subfloor as a retrofit "spot" heating
solution. Both free form slabs and mats can be covered with tile, hardwood floors, or
carpet.
Although above floor, and under floor mats might look similar, their applications are not
interchangeable. Under floor mats are not designed to be set in mortar and vice versa.
The temperature of electric mats is controlled by sensors and should not exceed 85
degrees F at the surface. 85 degrees is skin temperature and anything warmer starts
to feel too warm. Floor coverings other than stone or tile REQUIRE a maximum
temperature below 85 F. Most people are very comfortable between 75-80 degrees F.
Electric cables or mats will raise the ambient room temperature 10-15 degrees when
installed under hardwood or tile, but only 7 or 8 degrees under carpet.
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 the electric cables will withstand the weight of heavy
furniture.
Electric radiant floors may also make sense for additions onto homes for which it would
be impractical to extend the heating system into the addition. However, homeowners
should examine other options, such as mini-split heat pumps, which operate more
efficiently and have the advantage of also providing cooling.
Hydronic Radiant Floors
Hydronic (liquid) systems are the most popular and cost-effective radiant heating
systems for heating-dominated climates. Hydronic radiant floor systems pump heated
water (100 degrees F) from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern underneath the
floor.
In some systems, the temperature in each room is controlled by regulating the flow of
hot water through each tubing loop. This is done by a system of zoning valves or
pumps and thermostats.
A big advantage of hydronic systems is the flexibility of the fuel source. You can use
gas, oil, electricity and even solar energy.
Hydronic systems have high start-up costs because you have to buy a boiler. The
installed cost of an electric floor can more or less be figured by the square foot. As a
result, electric radiant heat tends to be more cost-effective on small floors. The larger
the area you need to heat, the more cost effective a hydronic system becomes.
Alternative-Heating-Info.com
Types of Radiant Floor Heat
The two most commonly installed
types of radiant floor heat are
electric and hydronic (liquid)
radiant floors.
down as wet or dry installations.
Hydronic tubing immersed in a
concrete slab floor or electric
heating mats set in mortar applied
over the subfloor are called wet
installations.
Dry installations include modular
wood panels with precut grooves
for hydronic tubing such or electric
mats designed for installation
under carpeting or hardwood floors
types of radiant floor heat are
electric and hydronic (liquid)
radiant floors.
down as wet or dry installations.
Hydronic tubing immersed in a
concrete slab floor or electric
heating mats set in mortar applied
over the subfloor are called wet
installations.
Dry installations include modular
wood panels with precut grooves
for hydronic tubing such or electric
mats designed for installation
under carpeting or hardwood floors