Radiant floor heat practicality

8 years ago

Hello!

My bathroom remodel began this week. We're having second thoughts about putting in radiant floor heating. Getting a dedicated 20 amp line into the room is doable. The electrician said numerous times he's seen radiant floor heating go bad in 5-10 years. My contractor has picked out the product that he usually uses and thinks is reliable. My house is a 110 years old. I think a tile floor should last at least a few decades, but if radiant floor heating is really so temporary, should I invest in it. I plan on being in this house until I retire in 20 more years. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Paul

Featured Answer

PRO

Mint tile Minneapolis

8 years ago

A successful heated floor especially radiant requires a flawless install along with the proper surrounding conditions.

Something as simple as running the cable under a vanity, a toilet or over a NON insulated slab in certain climates is enough to force a short lived failure.

If the system is rated for and installed properly as well as the proper prep work such as thermal breaks, wire layout, embedding, and a secondary thermostat sensor is in place on a dedicated circuit you should have a 20 yr service from it.

Most of the failures you see or hear of are installation failures. HIRE WISELY.

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Comments (11)

roarah
8 years ago
My house is just shy of 100 years old and I only added radiant floors because my DH really wanted them. I love them. They are less than two years old and no issues. I did explore using a hydronic system hooked to my boiler system so need to add a 20 amp line but the heat exchange due to the volume and size of the room mandated a proper radiator and the floor to be secondary heat and the electric mats provide better continuous warm floors with less cool pockets. If I had a smaller area I would have opted for the hydronic radiant floors as a sole source of heat though so if you heat with a boiler you have other options than an electric mat.
Paul Lombardi thanked roarah
llp
8 years ago
I love radiant floors have had them for 20 years. The only issue we had to deal with was changing the thermostat. We are renovating a new house and installing them there as well!
Paul Lombardi thanked llp
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skitt
8 years ago
I just installed them in two bathrooms and we plan to live here for at least 40 more years, so I sure hope they last!
Paul Lombardi thanked skitt
PRO
Filipe Custom Woodwork
8 years ago
We use Warmly Yours Radiant Heating.
Paul Lombardi thanked Filipe Custom Woodwork
PRO
Creative Tile Eastern CT
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I've installed many successfully over the years. Some are just for warming floors while others can be set to the ambient temperature for use as a heating system. Nu-Heat cable with a uncoupling mat would be my go to. Inquire with your contractor as to the abilities of their preferred system. (Then verify on manufacturers website)

Laticrete has recently released Strata - Heat which I would certainly consider.
Paul Lombardi thanked Creative Tile Eastern CT
Paul Lombardi
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you everyone for your comments!
User
8 years ago
If he has seen numerous failures, then I would hire someone else. There is zero reason for the system to ever fail if it is installed properly. There are 60 year old electric radiant systems going strong.
Paul Lombardi
Original Author
8 years ago
Sophie, the electrician made the comment, not my contractor. My contractor has a great reputation in my community.
MongoCT
8 years ago
Good comments. Fully agree with Tundra regarding the insurance of adding a second T-stat wire.

Fully map out the floor. The heat is either there or it isn't. Make sure you get it where you want it.

Follow installation instructions.

Use a continuity tester.

Don't let someone who takes shortcuts install it. An insulation nick can kill the system. Some wires just can't be shortened with snips. Several people seem to want to disprove that year after year. They all fail.
Paul Lombardi thanked MongoCT
Paul Lombardi
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for the additional comments. I did purchase additional thermostat sensors. I think my contractor is the best in the area, so I believe he will do it right. We've decided to go ahead with it.