Heated Floors for Buffalo Residents

About Radiant Floor Heating Systems

Residents in Buffalo, New York can use one of two technologies for heating their floors: electric or hydronic. Both systems can be designed to heat virtually any type of floor covering. Hydronic systems use specially treated water that is heated while electric systems utilize thin heat resistance cable or some other type of electrical heating element.

The installation of a hydronic system is considerably more complex than that of an electric system. Hydronic systems require a dedicated mechanical room to house the boiler, pumps, valves, and manifold. The systems use a water and glycol mix that is heated by the boiler and then pumped through a closed loop of Pex tubing embedded under the floor. The tubing is installed in channels provided in lightweight aluminum panels. The RAUPANELS™ are the latest and most effective material for hydronic heated floors and transfer heat efficiently and evenly.

Electric floor heating systems are considerably easier to install. The heating element – usually thin heat cable – is laid out and secured to the subfloor. Depending on the flooring, self-leveling or thinset is applied and then the flooring itself is installed.

Radiant floor heating systems provide the most efficient means for heating homes today. In fact, with heated floors, there is virtually no heat loss, so more than 99 percent of the energy goes directly toward heating the home. In addition to the benefits of energy efficiency, using a radiant floor heating system can greatly reduce the transmission of dust, allergens and other airborne particulate matter.

Forced air systems blow dust and allergens, and are notoriously inefficient. Warm air is blown through vents and quickly rises before cooling and dropping back down. With radiant heat, the warm starts from the floor a spreads upward through the room. This provides an especially comfortable environment for young children who spend so much of their time playing on the floor.

Warmzone carries a large selection of radiant floor heating systems. The electric heating elements range from thin ComfortTile heat cable and heavy duty In-Slab cable to FilmHeat’s nearly paper-thin heating element and FloorHeat STEP’s low-voltage polymer heating element. Warmzone offers only the most proven and trusted solutions, and you’ll find the largest selection of floor heating systems at Warmzone.

The ComfortTile floor heating systems are available with cable off the spool or in mats. The mats feather thin heat cable that is pre-spaced and secured to a flexible mesh with an adhesive backing so that the mats can be rolled out and secured to the sub-floor quickly and easily.

In-Slab heat cable is designed for installation in concrete slabs. This cable is ideal for heating basement floors, and any floor surface can be installed over the heated concrete slab. FilmHeat systems feature a thin “film” heating element that can be used to heat laminate and floating floors. The low-voltage FloorHeat STEP system can also be used to heat hardwood and laminate flooring.

Other insulation panels and underlayment membranes can be combined with the heating element to optimize systems. The HeatShield insulation system features lightweight polystyrene insulation panels covered with thin, specially profiled aluminum, making this system extremely efficient. The Prodeso® membrane system can also be used as an uncoupling and waterproofing system. Both HeatShield and Prodeso feature pre-engineered channels for the heat cable to be installed.

To learn more about these and other floor heating options call Warmzone today at 888.488.9276.

Warmzone also offers a selection of the industry's most advanced thermostats. From simple on/off controllers to smart TOUCH and TOUCH WIFI programmable thermostats (7-day, 4 settings per day), homeowners can find the ideal controller for their needs. And keep in mind that Warmzone maintains a list of experienced installers with favorable reviews in the Buffalo area. This way homeowners can be assured of having installers with experience, helping to ensure the proper installation of their system.