If you re installing radiant floor heat in an existing room you ll need a dedicated 15 to 20 amp gfci protected circuit to power the system and an excuse to lay a new tile floor.
How to install radiant floor heating in existing house.
The feet are always warmer than the head.
Electric mat radiant heat is best when sandwiched between the subfloor and the finish material be it wood tile or carpet.
So if you have open access to your floor joists now you can add the comfort and efficiency of radiant floor heat to your home.
Radiant heating works well with ceramic tile and vinyl but not with wood floors.
The retroheat floor heating system was designed specifically for providing electric radiant heat to existing floors by accessing the floor joists below.
This is what feels naturally comfortable to our bodies.
According to the this old house website the retrofit costs about 700 for a bathroom including the tile.
There are two basic types.
In this situation hydronic radiant heat water circulating through pipes would be easier to install than electric mat radiant heat.
A pex radiant floor heating system can be the most comfortable efficient and often may be installed for less than other heat delivery hydronic systems.
Radiant heat systems are easily hidden under a tile floor.
If you re remodeling it s a good time to satisfy both requirements.
It can go under most existing flooring including wood tile vinyl and even carpet.
Installing underfloor electric radiant heat.
Retroheat radiant floor heating system.
A bathroom size warm floor retrofit will cost 400 to 700 including the cost of the new tile.
These heated floors are a project best done when overhauling or changing the floor covering of an existing room or when adding a new room.
The best way to retrofit radiant floor heating without disturbing an existing floor is to do it from below against the underside of the subfloor.
Radiant floor heat stratifies the heat from the feet to the head.
The retroheat system can be installed to heat tile hardwood laminates.
This in floor heating system consists of one thin continuous cable heating element woven into a mat that you install under the tile.