Have you ever ventured into a room that felt markedly colder? Most homes have cold spots because of tile flooring, which is naturally cold. Radiant heating, installed to heat up floors, can warm up your house significantly. But are heated floors worth it? The below pros and cons will help you to make up your mind:
Pros
Uniform Heating
A forced air heating system makes use of vents to distribute warmth throughout a room. The positioning of the vents determines the areas that will be warmer than others.
On the other hand, floor heating systems heat up the entire floor resulting in even heat distribution. You will feel more comfortable in this environment because it does not have cold drafts.
Energy Efficient
Electric floor heaters are more energy efficient when compared to forced-air heating systems. Floor heating systems do not have an escape route for heat – this means that they retain all the warmth generated. In fact, under the right circumstances, a floor heating system can be used to warm up the entire house.
Generally speaking, the cost of operating a floor heating system is very low. If you only want to heat your bathroom floors, you might only need to spend one dollar a day to run the heating system.
No Maintenance
Electric floor heaters require little to no maintenance. If damage occurs during the installation process, the installer can use thermal imaging cameras to find the problem and fix it. A floor heater can last up to 25 years with very little maintenance.
Non-allergenic
Because the system that heats up floors warms up objects and people directly, it usually doesn’t disturb the existing allergens and dust. Forced air heating systems, on the other hand, blow around dust and particles in an attempt to distribute heat. This distributes allergens around the house.
Easy to Install
Heated floors are so easy to install that you can do it yourself if you are handy. The good news is that you can install a floor heating system under most floor types. Some are available in rolls that you can cut and turn to fill the room. The main advantage of installing radiant heating systems is that they do not require any additional ductwork, which can be time consuming and costly to install.
Cons
Expensive to Install
Radiant floor heating costs between 10 and 20 dollars per square foot. If the electricity costs in your area are high, the cost of operating heated floors will be even higher. Before you start your project, you need to look into this issue.
Elevated Floor Height
Depending on the system that you want to install, you might end up with elevated floors. Whether you choose an underlay or installation membrane, you need to take floor height into account. In most cases, the floor ends up being raised by about half an inch.
Conclusion
Are heated floors worth it? You should weigh the pros and cons to decide. If the cost and elevated floors are not bothersome, you will enjoy the benefits.