A heated rug is a thermal carpet that comes with a combined heating system, varying power levels, and is ideal for use during extremely cold seasons. These rugs come in handy for use in jobs where workers hardly move to prevent their feet against the cold. This system is an advancement from the radiant heating technique which was popularly used in ancient times.
History of heated rugs
The use of radiant heat was practiced back in archaic times where roman slaves administered wood-blazing fires under raised marble floors to ensure Romans were cozy and warm. Currently, the idea of having a heated carpet is popular because you don’t have to struggle with noise from heaters and pipes. The evolution of radiant heating has brought about advanced systems that guarantee convenience.
Further, a heated rug is energy efficient and designed to transform floors into thermal radiators without cold and hot pockets. It’s also a cost-effective option. Advanced under carpet electric heating systems are directly installed under floor coverings that work separately from the central heating system in your home. This makes them appropriate for current sub-floor levels and single room installations. With extremely thin matting systems or even wires, different floor levels shouldn’t introduce problems to current rooms.
Wet systems distribute water via plastic pipes that are directly installed under the floor, and linked to a principal heating source. This system functions well with pipes installed in a series as it enables heat to evaporate, making it ideal for new floor designs where the sub-floor can contain a cement screed and pipe work. Wet systems are popularly found in extensions, new constructions, and considerable renovations.
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Evolution of heated rugs
Many homes today are fast embracing under floor heating systems. If you’re considering having one installed in your home, you want to do your research first. This is the only way you’ll be in a position to understand this system comprehensively. Understanding how valuable the system would be to you and your family members come in handy to help you make an ideal choice. Choosing a qualified under carpet electric heating system installer is also a critical factor to consider.
The system is simple
Apart from providing your home with appropriate heat and comfort, the heating rug system isn’t complex. Familiarizing yourself with everything you need to know about this system is the first step towards choosing a proper system for your home. This way, you’ll be able to operate the system efficiently. Under floor heating systems are available in two types. These are warm water-based and electric systems. As a homeowner, you should choose the system that serves your needs better. For instance, do you want to heat your entire home or just a section of it? Some homeowners prefer investing in a combined heating system with one system on part of their houses and a different one on the remaining section.
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It should only be installed once
Remember, installing under floor heating rugs can be a disruptive activity. As a result, you should take time to choose the best durable system from a reputable brand. Ensure the installer you choose is not only professionally qualified, but they should also have proper experience. What makes heated carpet systems different? Let’s find out below.
They’re more cost-effective compared to radiators
Heating fluid in a radiator to generate heat and circulate it across the house consumes lots of electricity, oil, and gas. These energy sources are not only costly, but they’re also non-renewable. While both heated rugs and radiators use electricity, heating can be facilitated by other means such as solar panels and ground heat.
They circulate heat fast
Unlike in the radiation system where it takes a longer time before heat can circulate across your home, electric systems can attain your preferred temperature inside a room within approximately 20 minutes.
Heated rugs generate radiant heat
Radiant heat is defined by a form of heat generated from tubes or mats of water beneath floors which allows heat to move up towards the top level of materials. This is said to be a more effective method of heating space since it doesn’t generate cold air at the peak of your room.
No cold points
When homes are heated using a radiator, the heat is often experienced in one location. However, this isn’t what happens with an under carpet electric heating system. Here, the entire floor radiates heat across your room.
It gives you freedom to design your interiors depending on your preferences
Radiators can either be inconveniently located or take up lots of space in your home. In advanced systems, however, you neither need radiators nor will you have exposed equipment or items.
Customized temperature control
Just like other heating systems, ultimate efficiency depends on its capability to regulate the amount of heat being generated. All systems feature a customized temperature regulator. This means you can turn the controls when seasons change.
Suitable floor coverings
Some people opine that you can’t lay a carpet if you already have an under floor heating system in place. While an overly thick carpet can inhibit heat radiation, there are proper carpets you can choose from. You can also opt for vinyl, tiles, or stone flooring.
Limited movement of dust
As hot air rotates across the room, it’s likely to cause disruption of dust inside a room. This isn’t the case with under floor heating systems. As we’ve mentioned above, your system will work best if you engage a professional in the installation process.
Can I put a rug on under floor heating?
Assuming your kitchen or living area is open plan and you’re considering putting a rug on the floor. What will be its impact on the under floor heating system? The capability of under floor heating systems depends on various factors. These include insulation level underneath pipes, depth of slab or screed over the heating systems, distance between your pipes, and nature of your slab. Thermal strength of your slab or screed and flooring material kept on top will have a huge impact on heat production and the system’s heating uptime.
Suitability of your rug
If you’re going to use a rug on your under floor heating system, you need to consider its suitability. For instance, can you place a rug above timber flooring? While you may want to have a beautiful finish on your interiors, placing a rug on top of your timber flooring will restrict penetration of heat from a heated screed in the room.
Timber floors come with a specific top temperature limitation. This means that placing a rug on your floor is likely to increase temperatures beyond comfortable limits. In the event of moisture or humidity, your floorboard will often swell and twist. If you’ve a floorboard installed, its layers start peeling as a result of excess heat. In this case, you may want to avoid the use of rugs on wooden floors in rooms with under floor heating systems.
Ideal rugs
Some rugs, however, are ideal for use with under floor heating systems. These heated rugs should come with minimal thermal resistance. Rather than being felt-backed, they should be hessian. It’s worth mentioning that felt-backed rugs form a thermal block that not only affects your finished floor, but it also inhibits performance. The ideal rug should come with a thermal strength rating of either 1or 2.
Consider the size and thickness of your preferred rug or carpet. An overly thick or big rug will create a block spot along the open area. This beats the purpose of having a heating source in your home. If you’ve to use rugs or mats pick options that permit air circulation without acting as insulators. The ideal rug for heated floors should not inhibit performance of your under floor heating system. Further, it should create a good atmosphere and a central position for the general open plan surrounding.
Are heated floors worth it?
Are you considering remodeling or upgrading your home? If you’re, you need to ask yourself these questions. Will this project add resale value to the home? How will the project fulfill my expectations? One of the main reasons why you’d want to remodel your home is for enhanced comfort. You wouldn’t want to spend huge amounts of money if you can’t recover the cost at some point. This explains why having a comprehensive home upgrading plan is critical. Did you know you can increase your home’s resale value by installing under floor heating systems?
If you live in areas that experience extreme winter conditions, you’ll agree with us that heated floors are among the most popular words among people looking to buy homes. What’s more, heated floors can be a major upgrade in your bathroom since they’re capable of heating cold flooring options such as stone and tiles. If you’re considering changing your home’s flooring option, installing an under floor heating system is worth it.
Seeing that heated floor systems should be installed under flooring in your home, the best time to execute an installation process is when you’re remodeling your flooring. Heated floors give homeowners a great return on investment for the reasons illustrated below.
They deliver luxury and comfort
Comfort is the core reason why homeowners may want to install heated floors. They can upgrade any room giving it the boost it requires to eliminate chill and make temperatures more manageable. Whether you install your under floor heating system in the kitchen, bathroom, or even basement, under floor heating systems provide the warmth you need to be comfortable. Further, it radiates luxury which explains the increasing demand for these heating systems today.
They increase the resale value of your home
Your home will sell fast if you’ve installed heated floors. This term can increase the resale value of your home instantly. Include it in your home advertisement and you’re likely to attract numerous potential buyers who associate heated floors with luxury. Did you know you can get a high offer on your home for installing heated floor systems?
They’re energy-efficient
You can make major energy savings by installing a heated floor system in your home. The operation of heated rug floors makes them energy efficient. Contrary to forced air systems that generate heated air across vents, electric under floor heating systems radiate heat up silently over the flooring. The heat hardly escapes seeing that there are no vents.
Homeowners can leverage a programmable thermostat to ensure that the system remains active only when underuse. This can go a long way in enhancing energy efficiency. By planning the time when you utilize your heated floors, you’re able to program your thermostat to automatically switch on and off. If heating systems aren’t functioning appropriately, or are incorrectly fitted, you may end up spending colossal amounts of money in balancing out heat in your home. If that’s what you’re experiencing, you may want to try under floor heating to enhance heat circulation inside your home. This way, you won’t have to utilize your HVAC system to heat cold areas. This way, you end up saving money on your utility bills.
Are heated floors expensive to run?
Electric heated floors are not only efficient, but they also utilize less energy compared to other heating systems. A good percentage of electric under floor heating systems utilize 12 watts per square foot per hour. This means that if your home measures 100 square feet, it’ll consume 1200 watts per hour. This is 300 watts less than the traditional space heater. Apart from evenly heating a room, heated floors are less costly to run. Space heaters often radiate more heat on one section of the home. Use these steps to estimate the power you need to heat a specific room.
Calculating the costs
Compute the heated section in your home in square foot. Multiply the square feet of your entire room by 0.9 to get your estimate. For instance, assuming the square footage is 100, multiply this by 0.9 to get 90 square feet.
Multiply your heated space by 12. A big percentage of systems utilize 12 watts for each square foot. For instance: take the above result and multiply it by 12 watts to get 1080 watts.
Divide your result, that’s the total number of watts by 1,000 to find out how many kilowatts your system will consume per hour. Kilowatts are measurement units that electric companies leverage to charge consumers. In this case, we will divide 1080 by 1000 to get 1.08 kilowatts.
Eventually, we shall multiply the total number of kilowatts consumed per hour with each kilowatt charged in your region. The average kilowatt cost per hour in USA, for instance, would be $0.12. It’s important to mention that costs vary from one area to the other. In our example, if your home is 90 square feet, you’ll spend $0.13 to run your system per hour. One good thing about flooring systems is that you don’t have to operate them round the clock to maintain warmth in your home.
Is radiant heat cheaper than forced air?
Compared to forced air, radiant heat is more efficient. Once you’re done with the initial installation costs, radiant systems will help you save money on your utility bills. Further, you’ll gain more comfort due to consistent temperatures.
Heat rugs are awesome
Are you looking for a floor heated system? Before you can have it installed in your home, you want to consider the factors included here. Remember, one of the best ways of controlling energy consumption in your home is through installation of a heated rug. Ensure your system comes with a programmable thermostat for enhanced energy efficiency.