Everything You Need to Know About Radiant Floor Heating Systems

As living species, we seek comfort. Your dog does, the mailman, our great-grandfathers, and even squid. Who in their right mind draws pleasure in being uncomfortable? Nobody, and climate plays a huge role.

No matter where you live, you’re better off if the temperature inside your home is consistently comfortable. Radiant floor heating systems are designed to do just that; they keep rooms at controlled temperatures and are highly adaptable to individual spaces. In this post, we’re going to review eight exceptional radiant floor heating systems and answer some common questions.   

What Are the Pros and Cons of Radiant Heat?

Most radiant heating system fans are quick to point out energy efficiency. In fact, it’s the number one frequently mentioned pro, and this is understandable. After all, many radiant floor heating systems occupy 12 watts per hour per square foot. To put this into perspective, a 100-square-foot room with an electric heating system would eat up 1,200 watts in a given hour. Compare this with a space heater, and that’s 300 watts less.

A close second to energy efficiency is installation ease. Based on online reviews, it would appear that most radiant floor heating systems are a snap to install across brands and models. You don’t hear that often, especially when it comes to something like a heating system. Most companies will work on a more individualized level, tailor cutting and trimming the heat mats to your specific measurements.

In line with easy installation is the uniform heating that comes with a radiant floor heating system. There is nothing worse than a room where one corner is freezing, and the other is toasty. Everyone fights for toasty corner occupation, and there’s always a sore loser in the bunch. With radiant floor heating, every spot on the floor receives equal heat, and cold spots become a thing of the past.

There are plenty more benefits to radiant floor heating. But not all is rosy in the radiant floor heating world, and one area that some are quick to complain about is the cost. But of course, whenever money comes into play, folks tend to cramp up a bit.

It’s understandable; spending money on a trip, a new car, some cool shoes, or a fancy dinner is much sexier than a floor heating system. But cost is a thing here, especially the up-front fees. To get a rough idea, simply multiply the square footage of the desired area in your home by 12 watts. Then, convert that number to kilowatts and multiply it by what your local electric company charges per kilowatt-hour.

Lastly, depending on your flooring, it might need to be pulled up and that’s more of a process. If you’re involved in a remodeling or a new construction process, you can install a system blindfolded. But if you have existing flooring that you intend on keeping, a pull up might be needed.  

Check out this article from Energy.gov for more on the pros and cons of radiant heat.

Can Radiant Floor Heating Heat an Entire House?

The ultimate goal of any home heating system is one thing – a cozy home. Some get into radiant floor heating thinking about certain rooms over others. After all, not many folks are hanging out in the guest bathroom. But if you consider your own home, every room is likely to be used to a reasonable extent. Bedrooms and kitchens more so than others, but a quality radiant floor heating system ultimately should heat the entire home.

There are two types of radiant floor heating systems – electric systems and hydronic systems. Electric systems can be used as the principal heat source for a room, and the good ones are. But most are supplemental and installed under laminate or just over the subfloor. Yet, as we touched on earlier, if pulling up your existing flooring will be an issue, and you want a fail-safe, complete heating experience, hydronic systems are the way to go.

A hydronic system heats water in tubes that circulate under the flooring. The water is heated to a max of 120 degrees Fahrenheit and powered by a central boiler. You can install the tubing in a couple of ways; it can be stapled under the subflooring, installed over the cement slab that typically exists, or embedded within the slab. Additionally, if you count on specially designed subfloor panels, the tubes can also be fitted inside the channels.

Once the tubes are in place, you can place carpeting, vinyl, or hardwood strip flooring over the space. For new construction, this is again a no-brainer, and while the upfront costs are more, it’ll save you money over the long-term. If you are going to retrofit an existing floor, make sure to get a handful of quotes to ensure you’re taking into account all the costs. They should all be roughly within 10% of the same quoted price.  

The Best Radiant Floor Heating Systems for Your Home

WarmlyYours TCT120-KIT-OT-MEM-300 TempZone

No heating system is complete without the cabling, and this kit includes a 300 foot cable, a 3.3 ft. x 49.2 ft. roll of Prodeso Membrane, a handy circuit check alarm that alerts you if anything was damaged during installation, and a floor heating programmable thermostat. 

The kit can cover roughly 93.7 square feet (assuming the membrane spacing is 3.75”), or 125 square feet if you choose to space the membrane to 5.” According to multiple reviewers, optimal heating occurs at 3.75,” that’s the sweet spot! But more than the array of products in one kit, WarmlyYours provides a generous 10-year warranty along with a handy technical support line. 

To learn more, click here.

PEX Manifold Radiant Floor Heating Set

If you’ve made your mind up to go hydronic, PEX Manifold are the folks for you. The heart of your heating system starts here, and each manifold comes equipped with shut-off ball valves, flow meters, compression connectors and drain/fill valves. The manifolds are outfitted with heavy-duty mounting brackets, and best yet, they come pressure tested. We can’t tell you how important this is; a set that hasn’t gone through the proper pressure testing is a disaster waiting to happen.

PEX offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and they’re made of stainless steel with an additional chrome plating. These manifolds easily resist corrosion and are highly durable. A solid purchase to serve as the heart of your heating system.

Ready to buy? Click here.

Schluter DITRA HEAT DHEKRT12040

It’s rare to see someone rave about tutorial videos, but one satisfied customer was so satisfied with this set from Schluter that she praised the online tutorial videos that made the installation easy and stress-free. While Schluter does note that this product is not designed to provide central heating, multiple reviewers have pointed out that the radiant heat this set emits is quite powerful for its size and affordable price point.

This is an all-inclusive pack containing a DITRA-HEAT uncoupling membrane, a touchscreen programmable thermostat, and a heating cable. The membrane prevents the tiles from cracking, and there are no fasteners or needs for clips with this set-up.

To see pricing, click here.

QuietWarmth QWARM3X10F240 Electric Heating System

Besides having a killer name, QuietWarmth is also a leading manufacturer of ultra-thin heated panels that keep rooms uniformly heated and cozy, no chill or cold gaps reported.

This product works even better if you combine it with QuietWalk underlayment. We know, that sounded like a sales pitch, but dozens of reviewers swear by this combination, so who are we to disagree!

To read reviews, click here.

Warming Systems 120 V Electric Tile Radiant Floor Heating

This set-up from Warming Systems is what’s known as a “cable set.” The kit comes with floor heating cable, a programmable thermostat with a sensor, an installation monitor, and cable guides. Manufactured in Spring Grove, Illinois, the cable covers 25 square feet, and if you have rooms that are not perfectly shaped squares or rectangles, this is a great option.

The cabling is exceptionally flexible, so traversing around odd-shaped curves is never an issue. Do note that you cannot cut the cable and lay pieces, so be sure to measure your space accurately before purchasing. The installation monitor also needs to be connected before installation and you’ll hear a warning if anything is off.  

Like it? Click here to buy now.

HeatTech Electric Radiant In-Floor Heating Cable System

When digging into this system from HeatTech, the online reviews were delightful to read. First, nearly 100% were glowing, something rare for any product. Regarding the system itself, there was overwhelming consensus around the ease of the installation and the bang for your buck. This set is perfect for retrofits and new construction, as well as apartments or homes.

Some systems have issues with bathrooms and kitchens, namely due to the tiling. HeatTech has that figured out, and everything from marble to tile, stone, or granite can be heated and kept cozy with HeatTech. Another plus is the cable is only ⅛” thick, so the floor will not remain overly raised once the cabling is installed.

Love it? Click here to buy now.

LuxHeat Electric Radiant Floor Heating System

No radiant floor heating post is complete without a product from LuxHeat. Known for always bringing the best technology to the table, combined with superb customer service and a look and feel that is second to none, LuxHeat is recommended by health professionals for those who suffer from allergies. Moreover, this system is also 100% safe for pets and children.

These mats can be trimmed, cut, and generally manipulated to the exact dimensions of any room. The mats are double insulated, suitable for wet locations (a big plus), feature a self-adhesive mesh, and on the other end, double-sided tape. This ensures the mat will always stay flat even when it’s flipped.

To learn more, click here.

Happybuy Tubing Oxygen Barrier O2 EVOH System 

The Happybuy Tubing Oxygen Barrier is a ¾” rugged and crack resistant tube that comes in an impressive 300 feet. The EVOH layer serves as an O2 barrier, keeping oxygen from penetrating the tubing components.

The tubing is highly flexible and can be fitted to any shape. It sports a 7” bending radius and expands and shrinks depending on the temperature. This product is generally reserved for medium to large size rooms, and you can also use it in garages or semi-outdoor patios. 

To read reviews, click here.

To Sum it Up…

Many assume radiant floor heating is only for places that experience cold or snowy months. While this is certainly true, even temperate climates experience chilly evenings, and the idea behind radiant floor heating is comfort, no matter the time of day or year. We reviewed eight outstanding radiant floor heating systems, touched on the pros and cons, and the difference between radiant and hydronic systems.

The one thing to keep in mind before purchasing any of these products is your flooring. If you have existing flooring that you want to keep, know that there will be a “pulling up” process. If you’re retrofitting or embarking on new construction, we can’t recommend these heating systems enough. They will save you money over the long-term and keep the family cozy throughout the year. 

Want to get organized, but don’t know where to start? Check out Garage Tool Organization and Storage Ideas next!