One of the most rewarding projects for home improvement is to warm your bathroom floors. The first time (and every time) you feel the warmth on your bare feet, you’ll be thankful you had it installed.
If you are considering remodeling a bathroom, or even just updating the floor, this would be a great time to add a heating system to it. This project can be done from above or from underneath:
- You might decide to place an electrical warming mat on the existing floor, then cover it with stone, tile, or wood flooring.
- You might decide to install wiring on the underside so that the heat comes up through the existing floor and warms it.
The determination for which method is best depends on how your home was built, but either method is effective in providing the results you want. Our technicians do not actually lay the flooring over the wires, but we ensure the electrical wiring is done properly and will work with the flooring contractor.
Safety is a concern in any area where water could overflow or drip onto the heating wires, but we can ensure it is completely safe. The solutions we recommend are specifically made to provide heat for the proper electrical resistance of the wires, and there is special insulation for protection and durability. Whether you choose to use a 120 volt or a 240-volt system, you can be sure that when Frye technicians connect the wiring to the current, the finished product will be safe.
Heated flooring systems can operate from a thermostat for continual operation, or from a timer for a specific period of time. As the thermostat or timer is activated, electricity flows into the system, the wires are heated, and the heat rises up through the flooring material. That heat energy also radiates to warm other objects and people in the room. This type of system gives a warm floor and a warm body. Energy is not wasted in heating air that rises up to the ceiling. Warm floors are comforting wherever people are standing or sitting.
It sounds wonderful, but what does it cost? You can choose from many styles of electrical mats, heating cables, and kits. The wiring material for a typical small bathroom should cost only a few hundred dollars, and it should last a long time without maintenance as there are no moving parts. We also expect the daily cost to be pretty low, but that will depend on how many hours you operate the system, just like any other appliance. This type of heat is very efficient because it does not come through heat ducts so there is no heat loss in delivery.
Your family could be enjoying a warmer bathroom this winter. Just give us a call or send us a note through our online contact form. We’ll provide a free estimate and explain the options available to you.