How To Install Electric Underfloor Heating

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  • Author Sarah Clark
  • Published April 28, 2012
  • Word count 555

Electric underfloor heating systems are becoming popular as a method for cutting the cost of heating in many homes. The reason for their popularity is that they are reasonably priced, easy to install, and they do a great job of heating a home. If you are considering installing an electric underfloor heating system there are some things that need to be considered before the installation.

The first consideration is to choose the right type of system. There are many different types of systems on the market; some are intended to just warm the floor while others are powerful enough to heat the entire home. Some models will work better under different types of flooring; this means that you will have to choose a system that is compatible with the flooring you are going to install over the system.

A good example of this is that some types of laminate floors cannot withstand the heat output of the more powerful systems. This will leave you the decision of purchasing a less powerful heating system or purchasing a different type of laminate.

Once you have all of these questions answered, it will be time to install your electric underfloor heating system. The first step in the installation process is to remove the old floor covering. If you are installing in a new home with bare floors this step is obviously unnecessary. Once you have the old flooring removed you will need to make sure that your subfloor is thoroughly cleaned and perfectly level. With wood floors, you may need to level the floor or repair bad spots with plywood. Make sure that all nails, staples, tack strips, and other debris are removed.

Once all of this is complete, it is time to lay the insulation on top of the sub-floor. Your electric underfloor heating kit will come with insulation that goes on the subfloor and all around the edges of the room. The insulation keeps heat from radiating under the home or losing heat around the edges of the floor.

Now it is time to lay the mesh pads that contain the heating coils. All that is required is to roll the mats out and cut the mesh to fit around corners and other objects. When cutting the mesh ensure that you do not cut the heating wires. Once the mesh is laid, you will tack it down with the supplied tape or adhesive.

This can all be done by the homeowner if you want to do the project, but at this point your work needs to be checked and signed off by a certified electrician. To avoid this many people have professional installers do the entire job.Once your system is inspected, you can then install your new flooring.

This sounds like a lot of work but actually removing the old flooring and installing the new flooring is the biggest part of the job. The actual installation of the heating system is actually simple. With many systems, you can do a lot of preparation work to the heating system before you remove the old flooring. This allows for a very quick installation process once the old flooring is removed. Many people opt for this method of installation because in some areas it can be difficult to get someone to inspect the installation on a timely basis.

If you want to find out more about installing electric underfloor heating click the link for an excellent independent guide to the subject.

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