Add a Heated Floor to Your New or Renovated Bathroom
You’ve heard the adage about cold hands, warm heart. But I’ve never heard of an upside to cold feet. If you are tired of waking up to ice cold floors, now might be a good time to think about adding a heated floor to the bathroom you’re planning to add or renovate.
My preference is for hot water (hydronic) radiant heat systems, which provide more effective, uniform heat. Where a hydronic system is impractical, an electric mat under the floor is an alternative but, depending on the system, it may only heat directly above the mat and it does consume expensive electricity.
By contrast, hydronic systems do not depend on electricity but can be heated from standard gas, oil, wood or solar boilers. Hydronic radiant heat systems are installed on the subfloor; because the tubing that will carry the hot water is flexible, it can be laid out in a pattern best suited to the size and configuration of the room.
In a bathroom, you’ll want a tile or stone floor over the system, because tile and stone conduct heat rather than insulating. We install tiles super tight, with the smallest possible grout lines, allowing just enough space for expansion and contraction.
Overall, the Department of Energy states that radiant heat “is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced air heating because it eliminates duct losses.” So a heated floor will not only prevent cold feet, it will keep the bathroom temperature even and comfortable throughout.
Hydronic heating systems were used by the ancient Romans; and while WORKS hasn’t been in business quite that long, we are known for our trouble-free, efficient and quality installation of modern systems. Contact WORKS today for warm good mornings every winter.