Are low-voltage heated floors worth it? Let's find out!

Posted by Alex U.
6
Dec 12, 2022
185 Views

If you live in a cold climate, you know how tough it is to get out of your comfy bed and leave it shivering. On top of it, putting your feet on the cold floor is so painful. On the other side, when you have a low-voltage floor heating system installed in your home, it will become easier for you to start your day. Imagine waking up, putting your feet on the warm floor, sauntering around your home with your toasty warm feet, and doing all your routine activities. Sounds great, isn't it?


You can also start your day in this manner to ease your morning. You can also be one of the privileged homeowners with a heated floor and home just by installing a low-voltage flow heating system.


Let's dive deeper and understand how you can make the most of the low-voltage floor heating system.

What are low-voltage heated floors?


A low voltage floor heating system is a smart and efficient way to keep your floor and home warm. As the name suggests, it first heats your floor evenly, and then the heat radiates throughout the entire room.


Now you might be thinking, "Why only consider a low voltage floor heating system to keep the place warm and not other traditional heaters like furnaces and forced air?"


Okay! You will get your answers later in this article. Keep reading!

Working mechanism of low voltage floor heating system


First of all, there are mainly two types of radiant floor heating systems: electrical and hydronic. The components and working mechanisms of both differ slightly. Let's talk about the electric one first.


The electric radiant floor heating system has three main components: an electric-resistant cable, a contractor, and an activation device called a thermostat. When it comes to the installation of the electric radiant floor heating system, floor heating mats, woven from electrical cables, are laid out under the floor surface. Its cables are connected to the thermostat, through which you operate it. You can turn the system on and off and set the temperature and timer by using the thermostat.


Now coming to the hydronic radiant floor heating system, much like the electric one, the hydronic heating system also has three major components: PEX tubing, a control center, and a thermostat. It uses a boiler to heat the mixture of water and propylene glycol. Then this heated mixture is sent through the embedded network of tubes or pipes laid out under the floor.


The working mechanism of both systems is different, as is the timing of heating the floor. The electric one features a fast response time and can heat the floor in 30 to 60 minutes. The hydraulic one takes a little more time to heat the same area.

What makes a low-voltage floor heating system different from other traditional heaters?

A radiant floor heating system offers a more efficient way to keep your place warm. They are also cost-effective. You would have never thought it, but the underfloor heating system has more benefits than other traditional heaters. Once you know the advantages of a low-voltage heated floor, you won't have any reason left to deny this system.


Let's have a look at some of the major benefits that a low-voltage floor heating system offers:


  • Uniform heating: One of the major benefits of underfloor heating systems is their ability to heat the space evenly. Other heating systems, like forced air, circulate the hot air through vents to heat the room. So the places near the vent are warmer than the places far from the vent. In contrast, a radiant floor heating system heats the floor surface evenly. Then the heat rises from the floor surface and radiates throughout the entire room. It creates an ambient temperature around a person's body.


  • No maintenance: Once installed, the radiant floor heating system does not require any kind of maintenance. They last for more than 20 years without any maintenance. So you will save the time and money that you would have spent on maintaining any traditional heating system.


  • Easy operation: Operating an underfloor heating system is easier. You can control the temperature, set the timer, and turn the system on and off just by pressing a single button on the thermostat. The underfloor heating system also offers zoning features. It allows you to set different temperatures in different rooms. This way, you and any of your family members can set their preferred temperature in their rooms. Additionally, this provides an energy-efficient way to keep your place warm. Saving energy means saving more on energy bills.


  • No noise and Non-allergenic: Low voltage floor heating system is quiet. They do not produce any kind of unwanted sound like you hear from a furnace. The underfloor heating system is also good for asthma or allergy sufferers. A forced air system heats your room by circulating heated air, which contains pollutants and allergens. A low-voltage floor heating system does not move air around. So there is no circulation of dust and allergens in the room. The air quality of your room will be good with a low-voltage floor heating system.


Now that you have the answers to why you should consider the underfloor heating system over others, you will surely agree with the topic of the article. Of course, a low-voltage floor heating system is worth the investment. You don't have any reason not to be privileged as a homeowner with this kind of underfloor heating system.

Comments
avatar
Please sign in to add comment.