Radiant floor heating

To view and search all MLS listed homes in the Edmonton area visit us at: www.TeamLeadingEdge.ca

Stone or ceramic floors look great, but they sure can be cold on the feet! The solution? Radiant floor heating.

Very popular in Europe, floor heating arrived in Canada some years back. Like the sun, it works by radiating heat. Unlike convection heating (electric baseboards, for example), radiant floor heating warms objects in the room (walls, floor, bath-tub) rather than the air. Once they are warmed, the objects themselves raise the room temperature. Radiant heating operates at a temperature that is never higher than that of the human body. It releases heat slowly, so it should not be turned off every time you go out for a few hours and can be left on throughout the winter.
Even heat is obtained by setting a thermostat connected to a sensor that measures the temperature between your floor covering and the subfloor (usually plywood or cement), where a very thin, winding heating cable is located. This cable heats the floor covering. The length of the cable varies depending on the heat-conducting properties of the floor, the heat loss in the room and the amount of space available for installing the cable. (It cannot be run underneath the bathtub or the cabinets.) Generally, a heating cable generates eight to 12 watts per square foot.This system can be used in conjunction with a baseboard heater, but it cannot be installed under wood flooring, as the wood might dry out and crack. To avoid unpleasant surprises, get an electrician to do the work.

The cost? It depends on the size of the room, but the greater the surface to be heated, the lower the cost per square foot. For example, the system could cost anywhere from $500 to $600 for a 50-square-foot bathroom. A solarium of 100 square-feet will cost between $600 and $900. However, your electricity bill should not increase. Love to have a radiant-heating system throughout the house? During your home's construction, you can have ceiling-mounted radiant panels installed (a cable is already integrated.) Or, you can opt for a "hydronic" or hot-water system, in which a plumber installs pipes under the floor.

To heat a house of 2,500 square-feet with a radiant-panel system, bank on spending between $8,000 and $9,300. A hot-water system will cost around $10,000 - $15,000 if you opt for a high-efficiency boiler. Uncoupling membraneMake sure an uncoupling membrane is laid between the heating cables and the floor covering, a step that many contractors disregard. "It provides more even heat, but more importantly, if there's a problem, the ceramic floor covering can be pulled up without damaging the heating cables," explains Leslie Szekely, a technical advisor with Ciot. The expense will be well worth it down the line!Hot-water heatIn homes with a hydronic heating system, the floor is warmed by small pipes instead of electric cables.

Source: Maryse Guénette of Option Consommateurs News (styleathome.com)