How to Install a Radiant Floor Heating System

Stepping on warmed ceramic tile or marble floors in your bathroom or kitchen is an affordable indulgence. We just installed one and oh, my! Radiant floor heat makes the whole bathroom more comfortable and helps lower energy costs.

If you can lay a tile floor, you can install a radiant floor heating system. Your bare feet and body will be glad you did!

Things You'll Need

• Electric floor heating system (mat or cable/loom type)
• Thin set (mortar) and grout
• Ceramic tile or marble
• Level floor without dips
• Dedicated electric circuit (110 or 220V)

Instructions

1. 

   Decide Whether you want Mat-Type or Cable-Type Radiant Floor Heat.

   Search the internet for electric heated floors or radiant floor heat. There are only a handful of manufacturers or brands. Go to the websites of a few brands and watch the installation videos or read the instructions and advantages of both types of systems. Or you can go to a local tile and floor center and ask about the different product lines and what to expect during installation.

   Mat-type systems are available at 'big box type' home improvement stores and may work well for you if your bathroom floor is a straightforward rectangle. But if you have a complex layout with lots of angles or curves, for example, you may be better off laying a cable-type system where you can customize the areas you want heated.

2. Read the Manufacturer's Instructions Thoroughly before Installation.

   If you have any questions at all or if there is anything you don't understand, ask the manufacturer or knowledgeable tile center person before you begin installing the system.

3. Make Sure you Have a Dedicated GFCI Electrical Circuit.

   A licensed electrician should perform this service. Depending on what floor (level) the heated bathroom is located on and how easy electrical access is to this room, this can be the most costly part of the project. The rest of the work can be a do-it-yourself effort.

4. 

   Measure your Floor and Determine the Area to be Heated.

   When measuring for the amount of coverage you'll need for the electric floor heating system, know that there are certain physical constraints that will factor into your layout. For example, an 8 by 10 foot bathroom will not get 80 feet of heated floor. You will not heat under the shower/tub or toilet, heating vents, under the cabinets, etc. Each manufacturer specifies the constraints for that floor heating product.

5. 

   Install the Radiant Heat System following the Manufacturer's Instructions.

   Be sure to test the resistance as specified in the "Tips" section below.
   Set the programmable thermostat and remember to adjust for seasonal temperatures. Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Invest in a small tester for checking the wires during installation so you can get an audible warning instantly if you nick the wire or get a break in the cable. This is something you need to know before you lay tile and grout the floor.

• Once you put the electric heating system down under the floor, you need a diagram of the placement so you don't inadvertently drill through the cable later when installing something like a towel warmer or electrical outlet.

• Most manufacturers require a dedicated ground fault protected circuit for the heating system.

• Measure the resistance of the mat or cable at least 4 times: when you first receive it, immediately before you install it, after it is installed but before tile is laid, and after the tile is laid.