Electric In-Floor Heating Westmount: Benefits, Costs, and Installation Tips

Long Winters in Montreal can make even the most Westmount homes less comfortable. One solution to that is the use of electric in-floor heating. Unlike most traditional heating systems, this uses heat cables to warm the floor. This offers more flexibility on the placement of outlets, making for a more comfortable experience that can be placed almost anywhere in your home.

When done correctly, electric in-floor heating is actually easier to install than conventional heating. It takes less time to adjust to desired temperatures compared to heating and air conditioning systems. In addition, there will be considerable decreases in your utility bills over time.

While there are considerable benefits and costs associated with electric in-floor heating, the installation and usage of the heating system is rather difficult. An entire guide has been made for those interested in electric in-floor heating with all of the information you might need regarding costs, benefits, and installation tips. Heating systems are a big purchase, so take the time to research before buying!

Electric in-floor heating (EIFH) is a special kind of radiant heating. Instead a heating duct placed under the floor, EIFH systems use a grid of cables, metal coils, or mats to correct their floor. When the system is powered, the various heating elements heat up and the floor and room warms up as a result.

Radiant heating is much better than conventional heating systems. Conventional heating systems heat the air, in turn warming the room. While heating systems do a good job heating air, the heat is distributed unevenly. This results in colder rooms at the lower end of the room. With radiant heating, the heat is distributed evenly and results in a warmer room throughout.

For homeowners renovating their kitchens or bathrooms, having the heating system installed during the floor replacement is a space and time saver.

Benefits of In-Floor Heating in Westmount

1. Greater Comfort

The greatest benefit of electric in-floor heating is comfort. Imagine walkable warm bathroom floors in the winter. Having a radiant heating system on floor level throughout the rest of the house makes the rest of the rooms comfortable too, since it doesn’t heat the air like traditional systems.

2. Consistent Heating

Radiant heating systems don’t create hot or cold sections, unlike other types of systems.

Natural Resources Canada states that radiant floor systems create consistent and even temperature throughout a system.

3. No Large Heating Units

Since the entire system is installed underneath the floor, the wall and floor space is unobstructed, giving owners more flexibility when arranging or designing the interior of their living space.

Whereas in most renovations, with traditional heating systems, there are radiators and baseboards that run along the walls and floors of each room.

4. Perfect for Bathrooms

With bathrooms, radiant heating systems keep the floor warm to the touch, which is especially appreciated when having tile flooring.

A bathroom can feel a lot more luxurious and comfortable without a giant visible appliance designed for heating.

5. Adjustable Temperature

There are some new technologies that allow you to program and even control a system through smart devices. This means you can now set a schedule for your system to operate at your desired heat level for warm floors. This schedule can be programmed to adjust for a variety of work and school schedules.

A programmable thermostat optimizes the functionality of a heating system by avoiding the unnecessary and wasteful heating of an unoccupied home.

6. Low Maintenance Over Time

Electric in-floor heating systems are designed with removable heating elements that are installed underneath the floors. This makes them low maintenance over time.

Having a system professionally installed helps prevent difficulties that may come with trying to access a heating cable if the flooring is installed.

How much does Electric In-Floor Heating cost in Westmount?

The total cost is dependent upon a number of different factors, such as, the size of the space to be heated, the type of heating system, the condition of the floors, the electrical requirements, thermostat, labor, and the difficulty of the installation.

Current Quebec pricing estimates complete electric radiant floor projects between $15-$40 per square foot, with some sources reporting lower or higher costs depending on the extent of the project and if installation is included.

As it stands, heating materials in Quebec may cost between $7-$12 per square foot, but there are additional costs for the installation, thermostats, and labor.

For this reason, a small bathroom will not cost the same as an entire basement or multiple room heating installation.

Factors That Impact Installation Cost

There are a number of factors that affect the cost of your installation of Electric In-Floor Heating in Westmount.

Size of Heated Area

The price may vary depending on the size of the heated area. However, larger installations may be less expensive per square foot due to economies of scale.

Heating System

Project costs also depend on whether you choose to heat using cables, mats, or a membrane-based system.

Floor Prep

The subfloor's state can increase installation costs. If the subfloor is uneven or damaged, you may have to complete prep work before you can install the floor heating system.

Existing Floor

Installing a new floor heating system will increase cost due to the removal of the existing floor, and the cost of disposing of the floor.

Electrical Capacity

Your existing electrical capacity will increase the cost of system installation.

Thermostat

Basic thermostats will likely cost less than programmable thermostats or thermostats that can be controlled by an app.

Room Layout

Typically more complex room layouts will cost more to heat due to the complexity of the system.

Renovation Conditions

Heating systems will likely cost less during a scheduled renovation of a room.

Because of the wide range of cost factors associated with different projects, a price per square foot estimate will not accurately reflect your project costs.

Installation Tips

1. Consider a Professional Assessment

No installation is the same. Room size, construction, subfloor, the electrical capacity, and the in-floor heating area will help you determine where the heating elements will go, and if there are electrical modifications needed.

2. Heating Area

Heating systems will heat the entire floor, but you do not have to heat the entire floor. Permanent fixtures such as cabinets, tubs, toilets, and built-in shelves, etc., will reduce the heating area.

3. Preparing the Subfloor

A flat subfloor is essential for proper heating element installation. Self-levelling compounds may provide a solution to an uneven surface, but the choice of flooring system and method of installation will determine this.

4. Selecting Floor Coverings

Radiant heating is highly compatible with tiles. While other floor coverings may be suitable, homeowners must consult the manufacturer's instructions, temperature ratings and recommendations.

The flooring should be selected and installed prior to the heating system, to ensure the system is fully integrated.

5. Picking a Thermostat

A floor thermostat widens the control range and thus, is recommended for use with heating systems. This may be particularly useful in a room that is occupied only at specific times of the day or week.

6. Using Qualified Electrical Professionals

An appropriately qualified electrical technician must ensure all electrical work is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the province of Quebec.

These systems may require a dedicated circuit breaker. A qualified electrician must evaluate your electrical panel to assess the need for additional work.

7. Test the System Before Covering it with the Final Floor

The heating system must be tested multiple times throughout the different stages of the installation. The system must be tested before the final floor covering is installed, as the installation may be fully covered and, thus, become inaccessible.

What Makes Electric In-Floor Heating Energy Efficient?

Electric radiant floor heating changes electric energy to heating energy, but just because a heating system changes electric energy to heating energy, doesn’t mean the heating system will decrease the total cost for heating a house, over some other heating system.

In a lot of cases, heating comfort and zones of heated areas is more of a major selling point for electric radiant heating, compared to potential energy cost savings. According to Protection, electric radiant heating makes the most sense as a secondary heating system, especially used in bathrooms. In these cases, the primary comfort heating system is more important for energy savings, with electric radiant heating focusing more on comfort.

In general, electric in-floor heating systems make the most sense as a secondary heating system for a single room.

A programmable thermostat can help keep the heating system from running if it's not needed.

Why Invest In Electric In-Floor Heating Westmount?

Home owners in Westmount, place a high priority on their level of comfort and on their design, especially with their renovations. Electric in-floor heating works well with these renovations. The heating systems are out of sight, helping a designer to create the finished design.

No matter which room of your house you plan to renovate- whether you are remodeling your kitchen, bathrooms or just the other rooms of your house- you can include Electric In-Floor Heating as part of your flooring and heating plans for the renovation.

Thermo Elite Inc. is an excellent heating and renovation contractor. They will help you evaluate your space and choose an optimal heating system for your renovation and help you plan the installation of your heating system.

Final Thoughts

Electric in-floor heat involves the installation of heating wiring in the floor. Instead of cold floors, heated floors will give you consistent warm and gentle radiant heat. The wiring can be installed under the floor covering and can be adjusted to specific temperatures. Electric in-floor heat will work in bathrooms, and other areas of high use. Electric in-floor heat offers ease of operation, flexibility, and low maintenance.

You may want to reconsider your purchase on in-floor heat, depending on the room, flooring, electrical capacity, budget, and how the space will be used. Consider that the price may vary during the installation. You should have estimates completed prior to starting your renovation.

Those of you considering Electric In-Floor Heating Westmount should definitely contact Thermo Elite Inc. and explain what you are wanting to accomplish. A professional can assess your project and determine if electric radiant floor heat is the right system for you.