Home > Video Channel > Heating with Radiant Floor Mats

Heating with Radiant Floor Mats

The existing basement floor was a cold concrete slab that will now have ceramic tile floor installed over radiant heat mats. Bob talks with Kevin Murray from NuHeat Inc. about the electrical radiant heating pads. The pads go underneath the tile and can reach a temperature of about 92 degrees. Using the pads to heat a room uses about the same amount of electricity lighting the room. The pads plug into a programmable thermostat so the heating can be set to come on at regular times during the day. Murray then demostrates how the pad is installed. First, it is dry-fitted to the floor and set to fit the general area. The pad is then affixed to the floor using an adhesive mud. After the mud has been put on the concrete and the pad set in place, a float is used to press it down. The pad is made of a porous polycarbon fabric. After all the pads are put in place, the tile setter can put in the mastic and tile. Mike Blangiardi from Portsmouth Quality Flooring set and grouted the tile after letting the thinset sit for 24 hours. The homeowners selected a DalTile ceramic tile for the laundry and bathroom area. The homeowners should wait another 24 hours once the grout is complete before using the room.
Get Adobe Flash Player to see this content.

Clip Transcript For:

Heating with Radiant Floor Mats

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Once the walls were done we took a look at the floor which is an old concrete slab. Cold underfoot and we decided the best thing to do would be to put down a nice ceramic tile floor with some electric heat pads underneath it. All right so Kevin are you ready to put this I am ready well well first of all what is it and it's a radiant heating source right it's electrical radiant floor heating. As he could see comes pre built in the pre built on the market. And comes with your leads right here click onto programmable thermostat women isn't this so that this goes down underneath the tops of -- underneath tile stone. Or any kind of -- floating wood floor such as when engineered and essentially these wires get warm. And that's what -- exactly the B -- uses is one wire going through it all gets warmed up and we can get up to -- 92 degrees isn't it awfully expensive to run you'd think that Bob but actually. Running up -- mat like this in a room like this it's it's equivalent of running your lights. But the great thing about on a programmable thermostats he can't media like Connie can't leave this so I guess the thing to remember is that you're not using it for constant heat all winter line. You're only using it when you're in the area and you need the warrantless -- barefoot and you know comfort -- right outside the Florida room and the kids are planned -- on want to come use the the bathroom here exactly here in the bathroom at 5:30 in the morning you'll have a -- five to seven. That's only time in the unit so how do you install it --"

" Looks easy but actually the way nobody uses for its gonna dry fitted to make sure it you know he had the right now for the right around as you see this does -- This fits perfectly with the vanity and the toilet or doesn't have to cover every last square inch you know the general area attitude we won't want to get on any vanity is. You know we'll go eighteen inches from the back of the toilet. To CNN's when you standing you have the right right William Israel did not typically I tell people this is a small -- what I'm -- atomic. So without. Open up. Theater that I might not. Still what is the mud that you're using that's just it typical money -- this you know you can get is why you want or as you see I didn't. I like that that Cecile -- that's the way like Clinton who and what I'll do is just come and don't be afraid you're not gonna ruin the -- it's very durable. But -- happier. They just go out do what I have."

" The do all right let's."

" And basically. You'll -- it to the goddesses reports matzo will come through. --"

" So using a float now just to press it down into the yes -- want to make sure double bubbles out certain. And so it's flat as possible is the mats made out of some sort of plastic or fiberglass it's a -- cards had cut fabric we visited his porcelain will come through see through that."

" We'll. --"

" And then do you. Do you put another layer of the thinset on top of it now yes there's just -- puts out about. OK and that the next step would be the tile setter putting down his mastic and tile exactly it's like you said. Don't be afraid to walk on -- simple. All right look thanks Garrett thanks well. Yeah."

" Right so Mike. How long have you waited between setting the tile down and doing the grout the 24 house that generally the recommended time right right that's correct and what kind of grout is this. It's just a basic grow. There's nothing face. Nothing synthetic here and now that's just. What you get these are dal tile that we're putting down and is it a ceramic -- porcelain tile these are ceramic -- okay. And I believe the homeowners' choice had a lot to do with. Well not putting down a plain white finish that would show dirt and dust and lint cause after all those who wandered off right good choice. And once you've grounded it then how long you have to wait before you can actually move in another place for else. If these ferry ago."

 [-]


More Videos »Related Videos

How to Replace a Filter for a Forced Air Heating System
How to Replace a Filter for a Forced Air Heating System

Replacing an old filter can save as much as 5 percent on your heating costs.

Energy Efficient Heating
Energy Efficient Heating

Did you know that houses produce more air pollution than cars? You can save the planet while you save on heating bills by choosing energy efficient heating appliances for your home. Some of today's 85% efficient boilers feature super insulation to prevent heat loss, computerized ecomatic control to make sure it only works when needed, and advanced corrosion protection.

Individual Zone Heating and Cooling
Individual Zone Heating and Cooling

Bob meets with Meredith Schelp from Mitsubishi Electric HVAC to learn about the City-Multi HVAC system that will heat and cool the Manhattan Brownstone floor-through apartment. This system allows for simultaneous heating and cooling of separate zones throughout the apartment, so that a busy kitchen can be cooled while a quiet den or bedroom receives heat. The system uses outdoor and indoor units with variable drives to accommodate delivery demands. There will be three units installed in the apartment, each above the ceiling in vestibules where the ceilings can be dropped to hide them. Joseph Yannaco of Polar Mechanical Corporation explains that the interior units control the temperature and delivery of the conditioned air. The thermostatic controls run on sensors, so there's no need to keep the panels mounted visibly on interior walls. Ducts carry the heated or cooled air throughout the apartment.

Installing a Preassembled Whole House Radiant Heating System
Installing a Preassembled Whole House Radiant Heating System

Bob meets with Erling Andersen of AIM (Andersen International Marketing) in the basement of the modern Colonial to discuss the heating system. The Boiler Room in a Box has just arrived in its crate, fully assembled and ready to hang on the wall. Although the gas-fired system has a very small footprint, it has a 175,000 btu boiler and can heat a 4,000 sq. ft. New England home. The water heated by the boiler is distributed throughout the house in two ways: through radiant baseboard and in-floor radiant tubing. The slimline baseboard is made of aluminum and copper with the water distributed through PEX tubing. In rooms with no space for baseboard, such as the kitchen, the heated water runs through special PEX tubing with an aluminum core that is suspended between the floor joists using plastic nail clips. Bob points out that the home's structural system comes with pre-drilled holes to facilitate the tubing installation. Once the radiant tubing has been run between all the joists, reflexive insulation is nailed up into each void effectively creating heat ducts between the joists.

Related Products & Services Showrooms

Hardwood Flooring for Less
Hardwood Flooring for Less

Lumber Liquidators is the largest direct retailer in the United States specializing in hardwood flooring. We have one of the largest inventories of pre-finished and unfinished hardwood flooring in the industry. From Birdseye maple to exotic Bolivian rosewood to 99-cent oak-- we have the perfect

Prefinished Hardwood Floors
Prefinished Hardwood Floors

Bellawood offers over 120 wood flooring varieties, including different wood species, grades, widths, cuts, and thicknesses. We have our own manufacturing facilities and sell direct to the public so no one can beat our quality and prices. Some of our products are over 60% less than traditional

More Content »More Content

Mastic or Thin-Set for ceramic tile in Shower??

Have had two recommendations for tiling my new shower....one is Type 1 pre-mixed mastic and the other is fortified thin-set. I will be using the 4x4 ceramic tiles over 1/2" Hardiboard. Thanks in advance for any comments on the advantages/dissadvantages of either.

Ceramic Tile vs Wood Floor

We are remodeling our kitchen and are debating whether to use oak floors or ceramic tile. I think that wood and water don't mix. It looks great but after a few years the high traffic areas and around the water areas…

HARD WOOD FLOOR OVER CERAMIC TILE FLOORS

I HAVE CERAMIC TILE FLOORS AND WANT TO INSTALL A HARDWOOD FLOOR ON TOP OF THE EXISTING CERAMIC FLOOR IS THIS POSSIBLE AND WHAT IS THE DOWN SIDE TO THIS.

Ceramic Tile vs Wood Floor

Hi Mieram, I only have opinions. If you want ceramic tile, you MUST have a floor that doesn't bounce. It must be SOLID. I don't like them because they're cold. I'd only do it…

Browse Topics

Click on a letter to browse content by topic alphabetically.



About  | FAQ  | Contact  | Sitemap  | Privacy Policy  | Terms of Use  | Help

© BobVila.com 2009