However, it is always a good idea to educate yourself about such floor heating systems before spending your hard earned money on purchasing one.

Electric floor heating systems have a lot of things going for them. They can be installed easily for one thing. However, floor heating systems also has some drawbacks one of which is the high price of the system itself. The high price for electricity is nothing to scoff at either. Usually 3,412 BTUs of heat are generated from one kilowatt of electricity. This fact cannot be changed no matter what you try to do. The worst part is that only 1/3rd electricity produced by power plants around the city, is actually received by homes!

However there is no need to worry if you’ve already paid to install electric floor heating systems in your house or already have one in place. There are a few suggestions that can ensure your electricity bill does not hit the roof. Insulate your home properly for one thing so as to minimize the usage of the system. Also make sure to turn the system on when it is needed the most namely in the autumn and winter. Better yet, only have these floor heating systems installed in select rooms in your house. The bathroom and bedrooms are a good choice for this.

Remember though, good floor heating systems are ones that both end up costing you very little and that end up paying for themselves in time. Hydronic heating systems for instance use warm water to make your floors nice and cozy during cold weather and doesn’t cost much either. If you prefer traditional methods on the other hand, high efficiency boilers that run on natural gas are also good choices.

Forced air floor heating systems are also a good choice when it comes to cost efficiency and maximum quality. A single unit is comprised of a series of ducts running under the floor through which warm air is filtered through in order to heat the house. Thermostats placed all around the house allow home owners to regulate the temperature according to their comfort level and budget.

Whether you decide to use floor heating systems that use water to warm up those chilly floors or electricity to maintain their quality, you should check how much you’re willing to spend on each. This also includes educating yourself regarding each type’s maintenance costs. The choice is yours, but it’s always a good idea to check your finances before investing in one.

Electric Floor Heating System

This system is installed beneath the floorboards of your home. It’s built in a way very similar to that of a kettle and works like one as well. It works as electricity is conducted through the conductive cable that is installed with it under your home. The consequent heat is then distributed in an even manner throughout the rooms you have installed it under.

How it works

The way it works is simple. An electric floor heating system is basically made of a wire heating cable that is laid out on the sub flooring, while the insulation board is installed under the surface of the main floor. A pattern is employed while setting the former so as to cover the whole area. This type of heating system usually comes complete with an electrical mat that is then laid out on the sub flooring (under the surface of the main floor). It also possesses an uncomplicated wiring process and is operated via thermostats installed in each room.

Forced Air Floor Heating Systems

Believe it or not, these heating systems were first used by the Romans as their first ever form of central heating. Due to their excellent results, forced air floor heating systems quickly grew in popularity throughout this country and then the world.

How it works

This type of system works when heated air is passed through a series of ducts situated beneath the floor. The air is provided by a furnace situated in the basement, which then proceeds to warm up the rooms fitted with the floor heating system. Just like an electric heating system, the heat generated by this one is also regulated via thermostats placed throughout the house.

Hydraulic Floor Heating System

This is usually used to heat cold water in winter, that is then used either to warm bath water or used in wet heating systems situated beneath the floor. They are also quite easy to install and a more cost effective as compared to expensive wall mounted heaters. However, a condensing boiler is also a good choice for a floor heating system if you are on a budget.

How it works

Hydraulic floor heating works as low pressurised water is pumped through hidden pipes installed under your floors. The warmth exuding from the water permeates the room and keeps it toasty as you turn it on in cold weather.

Whether you feel the need for a relaxing warm bath to ease the chill from your bones or a warm home to return to in the winter months, the abovementioned floor heating systems are well worth the investment you’re willing to place in them.

There are mainly 2 types of floor heating systems to choose from, namely wet and dry. The reasons why home owners prefer to use these are as follows:

Dries Wet Areas More Efficiently

Floor heating systems dry off a wet house faster than conventional wall mounted radiators. The heat source under the floorboards contributes to this fact. The warmth easily covers a larger surface area without decreasing in intensity. Bathroom floors, which are notorious for being the coldest surfaces in the house, will remain warm once this system is set in place.

Minimum Energy Loss

Since floor heating systems warm up each resident of the household, it expends less energy. Usually family members have to wait for the heat to make its way to them. However, these systems create a direct connection to their cold bodies. In other words the warmth never has to make its way through the entire room before it warms the residents since the time for keeping the heater turned on, decreases drastically. This allows home owners to drastically cut their heating bills.

Increased Mobility for Homeowners

Several people prefer to place their furniture around wall-mounted radiators in order to maintain their quality. However, since floor heating systems are underneath the home owner’s feet and thus out of the way, residents can freely place furniture around the room as they see fit. Plus people are also free to install these systems in whichever room they require.

Reduces Chances of Allergies

Conventional heating systems tend to blow air and consequently dust around, thus increasing the chances of allergies. They can even reduce allergens by 80%. Heating systems that are situated beneath the house do away with this harmful scenario by replacing blowing hot air with radiating warmth that keeps the home toasty and comfortable season long.

Increased Comfort

Last, but definitely not least, since floor heating systems allow even distribution of heat throughout the house, it results in a cosier home. The warm air remains at comfortable levels instead of rising upwards. Plus, the lack of irritating noise from expanding and contracting pipes is also not a factor for these systems. This is especially beneficial for those people that live in milder climates since these allow them to keep their homes at comfortable levels.

Whether people prefer mounted or floor heating systems, they have to have proper installation done to minimise further costs. Since installing these systems requires tearing up floors, re-installing properly them can result in further charges.  If done correctly however, these environment-friendly heating systems usually end up paying for themselves over time.

The following are some more advantages floor heating systems provide:

Comfort Guaranteed

These cheap floor heating systems allow homeowners to warm their aching and chilled bodies as soon as they come in from the cold. The heat thermostats situated around the house allows you to regulate the temperature according to the level you’re most comfortable at. Furthermore, it is also the ideal installation for bathroom floors, which as any sleepy-eyed schoolboy knows, is bitingly cold in the mornings. The shock to the system these notoriously cold floors can give become practically non-existent once floor heating systems are set in place.

No More Allergies!

Since floor heating systems are installed under the floors, the heat emanating from them have a higher chance of eradicating harmful bacteria or allergens in the atmosphere. This is beneficial for a family that suffers from severe dust related allergies. Serious ones can irreparably damage the immune system and can also prove fatal if the problem is not treated soon enough.

Wet Floors a Thing of the Past

This makes us come to another related advantage of these systems. Since floor heating systems are spread evenly throughout the house, wet floors dry faster thus decreasing the risk of possible accidents. Small children are particularly susceptible to such accidents. However, because the heat is distributed in an even manner throughout the house rather than closer to its source, floors that have just been mopped or thoroughly cleaned, get dry faster thus reducing the risk of such accidents of occurring in the first place. Again, bathrooms are the rooms that can benefit most from this since their locked doors may prevent you from rescuing an injured family member.

Decorate Your House Freely

Every conscientious home owner knows that placing heavy furniture like refrigerators, couches, cabinets and desks is a task in itself when there is a radiator in the way. Placing them on top of the heat source can either damage them or do serious harm to the system itself resulting in extra costs. Installing floor heating systems on the other hand allows more leeway to place hefty furniture wherever you want to.

There is a reason why floor heating systems have enjoyed so much popularity over the years. Your loved ones can be free from injury or harmful bacteria within the house and you can also make a better impression at parties. Guests may be looking for a good time, but their joy will diminish as quickly as the temperature if there isn’t a good floor heating system in place.