Best Electric Radiant Floor Heating Systems

COMFORTTILE^® - Floor Heating Systems
Recommended Uses: Tile, Laminates, Marble and Slate

Ceramic tile floors provide an elegant look for any home. Installing radiant heat under a tile floor adds luxurious comfort to the stunning looks. ComfortTile floor heating systems are particularly well suited for heating tile floors, as well as laminates and marble.

The heat cable is available on spools or pre-spaced on an adhesive-backed fiberglass mesh. This makes installing the cable as easy as rolling out a sleeping bag. Because ComfortTile cable is so thin (3/16-inch), there is very little floor build up. For heating tile floors, the heat cable is laid out and secured to the subfloor and then thinset is applied directly over the cable. The tile is then installed.

ComfortTile radiant heating has proven to be extremely effective for heating tile, laminate and marble flooring. This is one of the most popular radiant heating systems, and is also used in a variety of other applications as well.

IN-SLAB^™ - Heat Cable for Concrete Slabs
Recommended Uses: Tile, Hardwood, Carpet

In-Slab heat cable is a rugged radiant floor heating cable designed for installation in new concrete slab applications. Capable of heating any type of floor, In-Slab is most often used to heat tile, hardwood, and even carpeted floors.

During installation, the heat cable is laid out and secured over the area to be heated and embedded about 2-inches below the slab's surface. When power is sent to the thermal heating cable, it warms quickly, and the concrete slab efficiently stores and distributes the heat evenly throughout the area to provide a nice, warmth spreads evenly across the entire floor.

In-Slab heat cable is waterproof, so it is safe for use in both wet and dry applications. Designed to produce 10-15 watts per square foot, the cable is an excellent solution for in-slab floor heating applications in both custom residential as well as large commercial radiant heating projects.

FLOORHEAT STEP^® - Low-Voltage Heated Floors
Recommended Uses: Hardwood, Carpet, Wood Laminate, Parquet Flooring

The low-voltage FloorHeat STEP system features a unique self-regulating, semi-conductive polyethylene heating element that can be installed directly under any material, ranging from hardwood floors to roofing. The most popular floor heating applications for FloorHeat are hardwood, laminates and parquet flooring. This innovative floor heating system can also be effective for heating carpeted floors.

The thin heating element makes FloorHeat an attractive option for heating hardwood floors, and is installed directly under the finished floor. When used for heating tile floors, thinset is applied directly over the heating element. No additional floor buildup is required when heating floors with FloorHeat because it is so thin.

FloorHeat is a safe low-voltage product for practically any application, so it can be safely nailed through without damaging the heating element.

FILMHEAT^™ - Floor Heating Panels
Recommended Uses: Floating Floors, Carpet

The FilmHeat floor heating system has proven to be one of the best, and most popular options for heating under floating floors. This unique system utilizes an ultra thin heating element that is barely thicker than a sheet of paper. (The heating panels are just 0.016-inch thick.) Heating floors without any buildup is an attractive feature offered by FilmHeat systems.

The thin heating element is rolled out directly over the underlayment, and the laminate, or floating floor is placed over the FilmHeat panel. Installation requires no alarms, special tools, or mortar or self-leveling compounds.

FilmHeat systems are extremely versatile, and can be installed under a wide variety of floor types. The heating panel can be cut onsite, making installation quick, easy, and affordable.

PRODESO^® - Membrane
Recommended Uses: Vinyl, Carpet, Tile, Wood Laminate

The Prodeso membrane system consists of a flexible membrande that serves as an innovative uncoupling and waterproofing system for heating floors and other surfaces without movement or expansion joints in the screed. The membrane can be quickly and easily installed over the entire subfloor, and features pre-engineered channels for the heat cable, ensuring proper cable spacing and consistent, evenly spread heat across the floor.

The Prodeso membrane is versatile and can be used to heat a wide variety of floor surfaces. The system can even be used for indoor and outdoor applications. Prodeso provides waterproofing for the substrate in the case of overlaying on cracked or imperfectly cured floors with a risk of vapor stress.

RETROHEAT^® - Film Heating Element
Recommended Uses: Heat Existing Hardwood, Tile, and Laminate floors

The RetroHeat system is one of the best values for installing radiant heat under any existing floor surface. This effective floor heating system features a thin film heating element that is installed (stapled up) between the floor joists. Bat insulation is then stapled up over the heating element to direct all the heat upwards to the floor. To heat an existing floor, you must be able to access your floor joists from below. If you can, then RetroHeat is the ideal system for retrofitting your floors with energy-efficient radiant heat.

While the RetroHeat floor heating system effectively heats virtually all types of floor surfaces, it is especially recommended for heating hardwood, tile and laminate flooring. The floor heating element consists of a thin panel that can be cut to the desired length on site and then installed. The FloorHeat system can also be used to retrofit floors with radiant heat; however, the RetroHeat floor heating system is the most cost-effective way to heat existing floors. A version of this heating element (FilmHeat) is also available for heating laminate and floating floors. This is perhaps the most recommended system for heating hardwood and floating floors.