Can You Put Electric Radiant Heat Under Hardwood Floors?

Most homeowners are uncomfortable in the cold, and few places in the home radiate coldness like floors do. Wouldn’t it be nice to walk on floors that are heated? For many homeowners, such is an enjoyable reality.

In this article, the important things you need to know about electric radiant heat floors will be put forward. Electric radiant heat alternatives will be explained, and a brief overview of installation is also provided. It’s best, however, to have electric radiant heat floors installed by a professional.

Yes, electric heat can be used under hardwood floors. In fact, electric heat is arguably the best kind of radiant heat for floors in homes, and that’s because these systems can heat a floor fast while helping it retain heat as well. Hydronic radiant heat floors are good too, but these can’t be used in walls and ceilings like electric radiant heat systems can.

Floors that utilize radiant electric heat have cables built into them. There are also systems that utilize electrical matting, and this is mounted to the subfloor that’s directly below the floor.

Energy-efficient systems include concrete and other significant thermal masses. On this point, you need to understand time-of-use rates, and these are outlined by your utility company.

Essentially, you “charge” the concrete floor with heat when the demand for electricity is low (approximately 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.). A reliable system will be able to keep the stored heat for eight to ten hours without more electricity being required.

If it’s daytime and warm, the heat won’t have trouble staying. As a means of cutting costs, this is more effective than heating during the time of day when electricity is most expensive.

While doing so isn’t common practice, air-heated radiant floors can be installed in residences. These systems are not cost-effective when used in homes, even when combined with a solar heating system.

The obvious drawback of such a combination is that the solar-based heat can only come during the daytime, and this is generally when there’s not a lot of demand for heat.

A standard air-heated radiant floor utilizes tubes under the surface material, and through these tubes hot air is pumped from a furnace. This is typically done during the nighttime.

But unlike electric radiant floors, air-heated radiant floors don’t retain heat well, and such is why it’s better to use a solar heating system during the day.

The most cost-effective and popular kind of radiant heat floor is the hydronic system, otherwise known as “liquid heat”. These systems utilize boilers and piping networks; the pipes are installed under the floor.

Some systems even allow for controlling the flow of hot water through the pipes, and you can control this using a combination of zoning valves, pumps, and thermostats.

Before installing a hydronic radiant heat floor, you need to consider these elements, as they collectively determine what the cost of installation will be: the size of the home, the type of system being installed, the type of surface material, the remoteness of the site, and the cost of labor.

For a while, radiant heat floors were thought of as merely a fad, but time has shown that these floors have staying power. Radiant heat floors can reach 85°F, though most system manufacturers say their systems should be kept between 70°F and 80°F.

How well the heat stays largely depends on the kind of surface material being used. If you’re using wood, you can expect the floor to heat up quickly, and wood will efficiently retain heat once it’s no longer receiving it.

If the surface material is tile, you can expect heating to take longer, but tile will retain heat well. Again, how fast the floor heats and how long it can retain heat are both largely determined by the type of radiant heat system that’s being used.

The first step in the installation process is, of course, finding out which system is best for your home. You’ll likely choose between electric heat and hydro heat, and which is better for you depends on your preferences.

Keep in mind that nailing and gluing should both be avoided if the surface material above is wood; using nails and/or glue under the wood can weaken it, and such will likely lead to damage in the future.

This is why floating floors which interlock are preferred, as with these you can easily replace the floors when there’s damage. But, of course, you should get a floor expert’s advice when you want radiant heat floors, as they’ll know which system is best for you.

Related Questions

How are wood sleepers involved in the installation process?

For an electric radiant heat floor to be effective and efficient, wood sleepers must be used. Sleepers are strips of wood that are between 1″ and 2″ wide and 3/8″ to 1/2″ high.The system’s manufacturer will explain how these should be placed in the manual, and these are used to create lanes through which the heating tubes go.Before installing these sleepers, one must make sure they’re compatible with the floor material above. This is one reason why doing the installation on your own isn’t good, as you won’t know for sure whether the sleepers are a good fit for your floor or not.

Is loose cable ideal for electric radiant heat floors?

Loose cables are efficient because there’s no cutting required. However, when it comes to heating floors via radiant heat, Flex Rolls are just as good.

Can other parts of a home’s structure utilize radiant heat?

Yes. Floors are not the only sections of a home that can be equipped with radiant heat. Ceilings and walls can also be equipped with radiant heat panels, and these panels are usually made of aluminum.In the same way, they’re heated using either electricity or water, but usually these aren’t water-heated because of leak risk. Most homes that utilize electric radiant heat have this coming through the floors, walls, and ceilings.