How Electric Floor Heating Is Installed In Homes
Electric floor heating is one of the available radiant floor heating options available to you for your home. The installation process is not too difficult, but it should be done by a professional to ensure that it works properly and there are no problems with the system. Below, we will go over how electric floor heating is installed in a home.
Installing Electric Floor Heating System
Step 1: The first step in the process is to grab the mat material for installation and unroll it. Once it is unrolled, you want to measure out the amount you need and then cut it to size. This is an important step as a piece too small will not be effective and a piece too big will add heat in places you do not need it to.
Once measured and cut, you need to strip two of the wires, as this is where power will run to it. You should place the two wires sticking outward, so that you can access them easily. Now, staple all of the mats in place.
Step 2: The next step in the installation process is to crimp one wire from each of the mats to the other. Typically, you will crimp the black and white wires together, but if your wires are other colors, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. You will also need to place copper wire inside of the crimpling sleeve that you place over top of the crimped wires. Once done, place electrical tape over top of the connection.
Step 3: After all of the mats are in place, you can begin installing the insulation for the flooring. You should place the insulation in between the joists of the flooring. You do need to keep the insulation a distance away from the heating mats themselves and NEVER lace the insulation on top of the mats.
You may need to refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines to find out how far away the insulation needs to be from the mats. Always stick to this measurement.
Step 4: The last step involves installing the subfloor within the home. You should never place the flooring of the home on top of the mats alone. To complete this step, you should lay the mats down on top of the subfloor and then apply a layer of concrete on top of the mats.
Once the concrete is dried, you can continue on to install the flooring within the home. While concrete is a great option, you can also use gypsum, if you prefer, but make sure to utilize a moisture barrier in areas of the home that may be wet or humid such as the kitchen and bathroom.
Installing floor heating in your home is not too difficult, but it is important that it is done correctly. If you do a poor or incorrect job, you will find that the flooring does not do what it is supposed to and may not even heat up at all.
If you are interested in floor heating and would like to learn more about the installation process, contact the professionals at Heavenly Heat Inc. today.
