Heated Floors: Myths & Facts

One of the worst parts about winter is stepping onto a freezing cold floor after a hot shower. It chills you to the bone and has you running for your robe. Heated floors are something that can alleviate that discomfort. A lot of people have a preconceived opinion about heated floors that are just not accurate. Some of those common misconceptions are:

• Heated floors are only for luxury homes: Although heated floors are a luxury item, they aren’t that expensive. The equipment and labor is around $800-$1200 depending on the size of the space while the energy output costs can be as low as $0.25 a day if running for 8 straight hours.
• Heated floors heat the whole room: The room will feel warmer because of the heated floors but they will not heat the entire room. The wire mesh is made to heat just the floor tiles not the air above them.
• If you don’t leave the heater on all day, the tiles will be freezing: It is safe to leave them on all day though we wouldn’t recommend it because it can be costly. If you leave the thermostat at a high temperature for a short while, the tiles will retain the heat and stay warm for a while after- lowering your electric bill and keeping your feet warm.
• DIY Installation is easy: The installation involved with heated floors doesn’t have to be difficult but hiring a professional bucks county heating company is still recommended. Thin heating cables are merged with mesh mats that are placed under thin tile, stone or marble. There are systems that heat under wood or carpet flooring but they aren’t as effective and can be harder to install. Once the cables and tiles are installed, a cable is run inside the wall to a thermostat that will control the temperature and time settings for your new heated floors.
• If I can install it, I can repair it: Repairs are much harder to complete than the initial installation. It involves tearing up tile, finding the problem and fixing the cables underneath. Also, don’t forget that the thermostat is probably malfunctioning too. We’re not saying you can’t, just that we wouldn’t try it.
• The cables are going to disrupt the floor level: The wires and cables are only 1/8 inches thick and are placed 3 inches apart so bunching doesn’t occur. Because of the thin nature of the cables, the tiles are barely lifted and look just like a normal floor.

When contemplating the installation of heated floors in your kitchen or bathroom, remember that they aren’t as expensive or as much of a pain as you might think. They look just like regular tile but keep your feet warm during those cold mornings. So do your research and don’t judge a book by its cover.  Heated floors can make those cold winter mornings more bearable and do so without breaking the bank.