You can put the heated floors on a timer to come on a little before you get up in the morning to the temp you would like & shut off after after you are done getting ready in the morning.

electric resistant heat is expensive to run but run it on a timer and heat only when you need - normally each morning and then off

We sell a few different brands of electric heat mat here and have found it is quite inexpensive to run if used with a programmable thermostat. We have calculated a cost of about 10 cents a day if used a few hours in the morning and in the evening. Our customers here in New England love it in the cold winter months!

I believe it is worth the investment but also you should plan on a towel warmer for your wet towels

Are you planning to close off the air vents currently there?

No we wouldn't be closing off the air vents, is that what most people do? And how much does it cost to install if we were already planning to Reno almost the entire bathroom? Any of the electrical switching and thermostat I can do myself as I am an electrician but have never specifically done a heated floor. Also I live in Alberta, canada

Hay Sparky - Check out NuHeat from Canada. Used this product may times and installation is easy.

your tile setter can install the mats for you.

NuHeat is what we sell at my work. it's easy to install, and they'll even make a custom mat for you if you have an odd size or shape room.

I'm going to throw something out there - cork glue down tiles in a bathroom can offer most of the same comfort of heated flooring without the cost of product/install/product.

I've already saved my clients over $100,000 this year. Simply by having clients look at the option for a glue down cork tile (100% water proof floor) in bathrooms; floating cork flooring in basements or areas of the house where cold feet are an issue.

If you have ceramic tiles in there now, you can sink the tiles in cement and then glue down the cork tiles direcltly over top the cement. Three coats of water based polyurethane and you are done like dinner. The cost for 30sf of cork to Calgary AB (assuming $2.29/sf for 43sf of cork) = $98.48 + $27.95 (polyurethane) + $25 shipping + $39.99 for adhesive (Home Depot). And we are a Canadian company.

Just a little FYI

We're thinking of having electric underfloor heating installed in a pretty small 'mudroom' type area (it's not really a proper mudroom, more like a hallway, but that's the purpose it serves and it will have a bench and cubbies and coat hooks, etc.) and our thought is to make use of some of the 'smart' technologies now so that it's not just something that you turn on and then can forget to turn off. Probably in our situation it will be somehow tied in to the door being used and normal times for coming and going - I think there are systems now that can learn somehow so you don't have to constantly tweak the time settings by hand. (Maybe tied in to smart phones so the system knows when you're in the house and you don't have to tell it? Not sure how they work. :) )

Do keep in mind also that the ideal behavior of the mat will depend on the material you put over it, also. Some things take a while to warm up but then stay warm for some time even if the heater switches off, and others basically are only warm as long as the heating is on.

There is a radiant heat p
roduct called Nu Heat that the installer puts directly on the floor before installing the tile. It is easy to regulate, low energy and very nice on cold mornings.

We have over 2,400 sq ft of hydronic heat in our lower level, including the baths... it is heavenly. But, if you have to buy those electric mats under your tile, make certain they are on a timer... or you will pay $$$$ when your electric bill comes.

Thanks for all the input everyone :) mucho appreciation. Lots to google :)

Mom
M&MS
L