Save Money & Energy with Heated Floors

Did you know radiant floor heating is the most energy-efficient method of space heating? Heated floors use radiant heat transfer to warm up the floor, as well as the people and objects in a room, so you can experience optimal comfort and energy savings. If you're not already using heated floors in your home, it's about time you replace your forced air or baseboard system with underfloor heating. Here are some ways you can save money and energy with heated floors: 

Minimize Heat Loss

With baseboard and forced air heating systems, energy can be lost through ducts. Underfloor heating systems don’t use air ducts or other mechanical equipment that can result in heat loss. Heat loss is also greater in conventional systems because the heat is concentrated at the top half a room, where heat loss is highest. Heated floors, however, don't cause heat to rise to the ceiling and instead evenly distribute warmth throughout the bottom half of a space.

Lower Your Thermostat

As just described, heat doesn't rise to the ceiling with heated floors. Instead, heat is kept where it's needed most—on the people in the room. This efficient distribution of heat allows a home's occupants to feel more comfortable with their thermostat set to a lower temperature. According to the Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), radiant floor heating allows people to be comfortable at temperatures 6 to 8 degrees F lower than conventional systems like forced air and baseboard heat. 

Heat Your Home in Zones

With heated floors you can set different areas of your home to different temperatures, depending on how often they're used. For instance, you can apply more heat to high-traffic rooms, such as the living room, bedrooms, bathroom and entryways, and lower the thermostat in low-traffic spaces. 

Utilize Off-Peak Energy Costs 

Your electric company may offer cheaper rates for off-peak usage. Take advantage of these lower rates by heating up your floor during off-peak hours, such as overnight, and then turning it off during the day. Once it's warmed up, your floor will retain the heat throughout the day and periodically release it even if the system is turned off. 

These are some ways you can save money and energy with heated floors. Visit us online at www.ThermoSoft.com to learn more about radiant floor heating.

Electric In Floor Heating Systems are Easy to Install

Are you thinking about installing electric in floor heating in your home? ThermoFloor from ThermoSoft is the radiant floor heating system of choice for wood, laminate, carpet and vinyl floors. It's the world's only three-in-one underfloor heating pad, which provides radiant heating, thermal insulation and sound protection. ThermoFloor is also made with ThermoSoft's proprietary FiberThermics technology to prevent overheating, moisture and damage.

Installing ThermoFloor in your home is easy. Unlike with other heating systems, the installation process does not require the help of a specialized contractor; the process can be completed by the homeowner in little time.

For a complete guide to installing ThermoFloor in floor heating, review the Installation Manual. Read on for a brief overview of the installation process. No cement is required.

Installing ThermoFloor

Step 1

Roll out the underfloor heating pads. Arrange them to fit the heated area.

Step 2

Fill in the non-heated areas with your Insulayment sound and temperature insulating pads.

Step 3

Install the floor temperature sensor. Run the lead wire from the ends of each pad to the electric box.

Step 4

Install the thermostat and make the electrical connections.

Step 5

If you have glued laminate or wood floors, glue ThermoFloor to the subfloor. Then glue the laminate or wood floor to ThermoFloor. For wall-to-carpet, carpet tile or vinyl tile, install the fiberboard over ThermoFloor.

Step 6

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the floor covering.

This is a basic overview of the ThermoFloor installation process. To ensure the proper installation of your in floor heating system, be sure to read and follow the detailed instructions provided with your order. If you have additional questions about the installation process, please contact ThermoSoft by calling 800.308.8057. To learn more about the benefits of in floor heating and our industry-leading heated floors, visit www.ThermoSoft.com.

Electric vs. Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant floor heating is the heating method of choice for homeowners across the U.S. and Canada. Heated floors offer optimal comfort and energy savings and don't circulate dust and allergens around a home like forced air systems do. While you're probably familiar will all the benefits of radiant floor heating, what you may not know is there are two underfloor heating options to choose from— electric and hydronic. Read on to learn more about these radiant floor heating systems.

Electric

As the name suggests, electric heated floors use electricity to heat your floor. Electric heated floors consist of mats that are wired with resistance electrical cables and deliver an even distribution of heat. This type of radiant floor heating is cheaper and easier to install than the hydronic alternative, as it requires no water heaters, pumps or extra equipment. Electric floors are ideal for heating single rooms, such as the bathroom, kitchen or bedroom. It's also beneficial in spaces that have a large thermal mass and where electricity providers offer time-of-use electricity rates.

Hydronic

A hydronic radiant floor uses water to heat your floor. The water is heated in a boiler and then moves through pipes located under the floor. While hydronic floors can be cheaper to operate than electric radiant floors, they do not provide the same level of comfort, and they are more costly and difficult to install. Since the water has to move through a series of pipes after it is heated, water near the end of the pipe is cooler compared to the water at the beginning. Also, hydronic floors involve multiple mechanical parts, which put it at a higher risk for ruptures and malfunction. 

At ThermoSoft, we offer the industry's best radiant floor heating products. Our heated flooring solutions are ideal for all types of flooring, including ceramic, hardwood, laminate, carpet and vinyl. For more information about our heated floors, contact 800-308-8057.