Mon, 05 May 2008

Electric Floors

Whats better than a series of tubes under your floor keeping it warm? WiFi? Maybe...but...how about normal, electrically heated floors? (Girl not included).

        SunTouch marketing photo

I recently completed the installation of a SunTouch heated floor mat and programmable thermostat into the "master" bath. Its recommended application is under tile.

        Glob on thinset over mesh thingy,
        plop tiles like normal on top of thinset

Installation was probably the easiest part of the entire tiling job. So much that it was the only part i finished (I had a contractor finish the rest of the tile cutting and placement). The idea is to take the mat, lay it on top of the cement backerboard, put your thinset over it, and put your tiles on top. Oh, and there is a little sensor you put into the thinset that measures the temperature. Wire up the GFCI themrostat, and you are good to go. An installation video (VHS) comes with the mat.

The website touts specialized contractors for this type of installation. I do not think its required. All you need is A) a tile flooring guy who isn't afraid to smear thinset on a flat, plastic woven mat -- that ain't hard B) someone willing to hook up the magic thermostat box to electricity.

   GFCI thermostat can
keep the "shock" away

Out of morbid curiosity, I cranked this thing to 104F (maximum setting), but it becomes plenty toasty by 80F. 80F only took it 15-20 minutes. I am sure it will take a while to get to 104F though.

Total current draw is about 2A with my mat, or about 200ish watts. As with any radiant heat technology, that heat generated will just reduce the time my furnace runs.

Electric is great for small, directed applications (ie: walk areas, bathrooms, kitchens, etc) where you want heat, but I think a hydronic system is better suited for whole-house applications. Another benefit to electric is how cheaply it can be done. Just remember, if you decide to lay down this mat in your next flooring project, The cut-off between the mat and non-mat under the tile is a considerable drop off! Its down right chilling!

I have another bathroom remodel coming up. You can bet I will be putting in some more of this.

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