Floor heat. under tile

[Frankenkubota]

Has anyone used the electric mats you install under your flooring, used to heat the floor in your house?

I'm done with laminates etc etc. The big box stores sell a tile that is about 36 inches by 6 inches and looks like wood. I'm sure there are other options. Probably using that.

Tile is cold so I figured i'd put in the floor heating. I will have a heat pump and pellet stove so i'm just interested in taking the chill out of the floors.

I'm on slab and I refuse to have water running around under my floor so it's elec or nothing.

Anyone with experience?

thx

 

[Citydude]

Yes, we have it under our master bath floors going on 7 years now. I highly recommend it.

 

[grsthegreat]

i actually installed nearly 4,000 SF of mat for a customer that had their entire main floor done in tile (or granite, i forget). i had the mats manufactured in Canada from a company that had me make a paper layout of all floors (not including cabinets, toilets,) i marked on templets where the thermostatic zones were going to be located. i mailed them the templets, they mailed back the pre-made pads. i gave pads to tile installer and was there as they were laid out. fit like a glove. leads were exactly where needed for thermostats. the company supplied all 120 and 240 v tstats and all instructions, including an alarm unit that was installed at each zone while laying tile to alert if there was a breach to the wires.

system has been working trouble free for years. but i would not want to pay his electric bill. but hes rich.

 

[PILOON]

Yep, done it for some clients.
Mostly the wire pattern style that you lay out.
Matts are another style,
Most want a dedicated thermostat that use a probe.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Yep, done it for some clients.
Mostly the wire pattern style that you lay out.
Matts are another style,
Most want a dedicated thermostat that use a probe.

Many thx to all.

I've laid tile plenty of times. I'm sure not a pro but i've screwed up enough to know, this time i hire a tile setter.

I guess my best bet is to find someone who has installed it in the past, nothing like experience.

I've found, if i can keep my feet warm, the rest of me seems ok but the instant my feet get cold, it's over. I Had to give up skiing because of cold feet!

 

[grsthegreat]

just dont install it under any fixed item such as cabinets, as they will overheat system in that location and damage mat.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've installed the Schluter brand on a few bathrooms from my tile supplier. It makes me nervous that it won't work after all the tile is installed, but so far, they have all worked fine. I bought the tester to make sure it's installed properly and nothing got cut or pinched before laying tile over it, but it still made me nervous.

 

[PILOON]

I've installed the Schluter brand on a few bathrooms from my tile supplier. It makes me nervous that it won't work after all the tile is installed, but so far, they have all worked fine. I bought the tester to make sure it's installed properly and nothing got cut or pinched before laying tile over it, but it still made me nervous.

Know the feeling.

Did an entry and then along came the floor sanding crew.
Yep, they nicked the heat wire!*
I carefully chipped away the grout/cement and was able to re attach (solder a splice) and get it back to heating.
As they say, All's well that ends well.

*they used a large disk sander that undercut a corner of a tile

 

[4570Man]

My parents have it in their bathroom. I don’t know what the cost is to run, I think it’s like 1500 watts but the warm floor is nice.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Thx for that, good point!

 

[RalphVa]

Have it in the master bath floor. Never run it because never could tell it did much.

Ralph

 

[KennyG]

I have it in two bathrooms. I had a contractor install it and it was no big deal for him. It works very well but be aware that it takes a long time to heat up. It's on a programmed timer and you need several hours of anticipation to get any noticeable increase in temperature.

 

[TnAndy]

I've installed the Schluter brand on a few bathrooms from my tile supplier. It makes me nervous that it won't work after all the tile is installed, but so far, they have all worked fine. I bought the tester to make sure it's installed properly and nothing got cut or pinched before laying tile over it, but it still made me nervous.

We just finished a "gut to the studs" remodel of our master bathroom. Wife and I did all the work with the exception of hanging the glass door on the shower. Put in the Schluter in floor electric heat. I got a 53sqft kit which worked out just right. It only draws 650 watts. Got the thermostat programed so it comes on at 5am so the floor is nice and toasty when our feet hit it.

Didn't run it in the shower.

Homemade doors and moldings

 

[m1garand762]

As an hvac professional i dont like it. The elements fail generally after 3 to 5 years and then your screwed. Have someone put pex in the slab but never use straight water. We always use glycol so you never have to worry about the pipe freezing. You dont need a boiler a small heat exchanger and a couple pumps and you can use your existing water heater as a heat source. You will need mixing valves to keep the loop temp under 100 degrees though. Any good contractor should be able to set it up correctly. Anyone that says you cant is a hack. I have done tons of jobs like this over the years

 

[grsthegreat]

As an hvac professional i dont like it. The elements fail generally after 3 to 5 years and then your screwed. Have someone put pex in the slab but never use straight water. We always use glycol so you never have to worry about the pipe freezing. You dont need a boiler a small heat exchanger and a couple pumps and you can use your existing water heater as a heat source. You will need mixing valves to keep the loop temp under 100 degrees though. Any good contractor should be able to set it up correctly. Anyone that says you cant is a hack. I have done tons of jobs like this over the years

Not true, i have mats installed 10 years ago still working fine. I do replace lots of contollers on boilers for pex systems over the years though.

 

[AWSubie]

I installed a wire system in a second bathroom (not mat) and it’s been working great for twenty years.

They are not difficult to install.

U will love it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have only ever seen it used in small areas like a bathroom. Historically, I would say, it often fails. Like any electrical heating element. That then sucks! Maybe they have improved.
Can't be more expensive than heating your house electrically by other means, but certainly more then other heat sources in most places.

I'm kind of in the same boat. Too bad, you can't make electricity in a wood fired boiler on a consumer scale. Would be easy to get the heat where you want and need it.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Has anyone used the electric mats you install under your flooring, used to heat the floor in your house?

I'm done with laminates etc etc. The big box stores sell a tile that is about 36 inches by 6 inches and looks like wood. I'm sure there are other options. Probably using that.

Tile is cold so I figured i'd put in the floor heating. I will have a heat pump and pellet stove so i'm just interested in taking the chill out of the floors.

I'm on slab and I refuse to have water running around under my floor so it's elec or nothing.

Anyone with experience?

thx

I put a heating cable into mortar base in our living room. On top of it is just a floating floor, works great, everybody loves it. It must be fifteen years or so since I installed it. The thermostat needed replacement few years back, other than that it just works.

I am pretty sure it was Alcatel cable from here:

Alcatel Cables