ThermoSoft Blog

2022 Wood Floor Heating Cheat Sheet Making wood floors as simple as possible. USE THIS CHEAT SHEET TO UNDERSTAND WOOD FLOORS This cheat sheet is intended for homeowners searching for an overview of the different options in wood floor heating. We’ll cover systems, benefits, how it works and a little history. What is wood floor heating? Wood floor heating is a popular and cost-effective way to warm your home. Floor heating creates a warm, soothing sensation that radiates heat quickly, evenly and efficiently. Wood floor heating systems are easy to install and maintain (and conceal!), which makes them ideal for new construction or remodeling projects. Wood floor heating works by either circulating warm water through tubing under the floor or installing heat cables under the floor. The heat is transferred from the tubing or cable to the floor above, warming the surface of the entire room. There are two types of wood floor heating systems: Hydronic systems use heated water from a boiler or water heater to warm the floor. Electric systems use electric cables or mats with built-in heating elements. Can radiant floor heat be used with wood floors? Wood, engineered or not, can be used with radiant floor heating. The only difference is that engineered wood floors have a plywood base and so are thicker and more rigid than solid wood flooring. Solid wood, on the other hand, is less thick and more flexible since it is just a single piece of wood. When you lay down your flooring boards over the radiant system, there will be some slight give in the flooring when you step on it. In either case, you should use a floating installation method to install the flooring. Floating means that the flooring is not fastened to the subfloor but rather sits on top of it. This allows for proper expansion and contraction of the floor as humidity changes during seasonal temperature changes. If you were to fasten down your flooring over the radiant system, then you would need to create expansion gaps between each board. This gap would allow room for expansion but would also create areas where heat would escape through which could reduce your energy efficiency and cause potential discomfort. Floating the wood over the radiant system eliminates this problem while allowing you to enjoy the beauty of hardwood floors with the warmth of underfloor heating. What is the best wood floor heating? The WarmStep Radiant Heating Mats are an excellent choice for installation under wood floors. These mats are designed to be placed directly under wood flooring, enabling the heat to radiate up through the wood. The mats can be cut to fit in almost any situation and they come with a lifetime warranty. Find out more about wood floor heating in Installing Radiant Heat Under Wood and Best Wood Flooring Over Radiant Heat. Wi-Fi-Enabled Thermostats When it comes to adding a thermostat to your wood floor heating system, there are a few options that we recommend. If you're looking for convenience and want to be able to control your system from anywhere, then we offer WiFi-enabled thermostats that can be controlled from your phone or tablet. These thermostats can be used with our cloud service so you can access them remotely, or they can be used as stand-alone thermostats when connected directly to your home's network. If you'd like a simple way to turn the electric heating on and off, we also offer programmable timer switches. These are great for turning the system on before bed so that you have warm floors in the morning, or during the day when you're at home and want a quick boost of heat. They don't offer temperature control like our WiFi thermostats do, but they work well with supplemental floor heating systems. The OJ Wi-Fi Enabled Touch Screen Thermostat The OJ Wi-Fi Enabled Touch Screen Thermostat offers the ultimate in control and convenience for your radiant heating system. When connected to your home’s wireless internet, easily and securely, you have access to control the system from anywhere in the world! This is a great option for secondary homes where you may need to turn on the heat ahead of your arrival or power off a system you left on after leaving. As a result, this thermostat is ideal for homeowners who travel frequently or otherwise have an unpredictable schedule. The OJ thermostat comes with an app that can be used on any mobile device or web browser so that you always have the ability to fine-tune your electric floor heating system. One of the best ways to learn about wood floor heating is to speak with a professional, who can help you determine your specific needs as well as suggest a solution. You can also check out our articles section and blog here. https://www.thermosoft.com/pages/engineered-solid-wood Why ThermoSoft's WarmStep Mats are the Answer For You With these benefits in mind, where can you add comfort and value at the same time? Look no further than ThermoSoft floor heating systems! We have the fastest warm-up time in the industry, and installation is simple and DIY-friendly. NO Embedding in Cement, NO Sleepers, NO Transformers The Benefits of the Simplest and Fastest Installation for Wood, Vinyl, and Laminate Tested for compatibility with adhesives, floor coverings, and install methods When paired with FidBox, moisture and temperature datalogging provided Specially engineered permeable fabric for nail or glue installation 8-10 W/ft² heat output perfect for wood floors FiberThermics heating elements included for safety under combustible floor material 1/16' thickness - no vertical deflection Made in the USA & UL Listed ThermoSoft never compromises on your comfort or safety, so why would you? Take your gorgeous wood floors to the next level and bring warmth and coziness into your home all winter. Thanks to ThermoSoft’s innovative designs and attention to detail, adding radiant heat to your wood floors is safer and easier than ever. Don’t miss out on a chance to transform your home into a luxurious, cozy retreat. Be sure to check out WarmStep®: the only electric radiant heat for direct nail or glue down wood floors. No embedding of the heating elements in cement required. We also offer an all-in-one system for floating floors, or cable if you are pouring a new concrete subfloor! Visit us online or contact our experts today to learn more! Need help with a project? Tell us about your project and let our experts help you. Our team of Radiant Experts is ready to help! We can help find the right radiant heat product for any project from indoors to the outdoors. Just tell us a little about yourself and your project to get started. Contact an Expert 1-800-308-8057 GET FREE GUIDE >> Don't Trust Just Any Floor Heating Systems – Insist on ThermoSoft Products ThermoSoft offers the best-performing and most reliable radiant electric heat solutions on the market. Our systems are safe and can be installed quickly during a room remodel or a new home build. ThermoSoft products are made in America and are backed by our best-in-class customer service. We design and manufacture our systems here in Vernon Hills, Illinois with the highest quality control. We have an in-house team of qualified professionals to offer guidance and advice every step of the process – from selection to installation and beyond for years to come. Discover all the possibilities to bring warmth & joy into your life! Certified, Tested & Approved COMPLETE YOUR BATHROOM UPGRADE WITH THERMOTILE ThermoTile floor heating mats for tile and stone will take your bathroom to the next level! Add floor heat to enhance your space and make your bathroom feel like a luxurious spa. Call us or click here to transform your entire bathroom!

Tell us about your project and let our experts help you. Our team of Radiant Experts is ready to help! We can help find the right radiant heat product for any project from indoors to the outdoors. Just tell us a little about yourself and your project to get started. Contact an Expert 1-800-308-8057 Why ThermoSoft's WarmStep Mats are the Answer For You NO Embedding in Cement, NO Sleepers, NO Transformers The Benefits of the Simplest and Fastest Installation for Wood, Vinyl, and Laminate Tested for compatibility with adhesives, floor coverings, and install methods When paired with FidBox, moisture and temperature datalogging provided Specially engineered permeable fabric for nail or glue installation 8-10 W/ft² heat output perfect for wood floors FiberThermics heating elements included for safety under combustible floor material 1/16' thickness - no vertical deflection Made in the USA & UL Listed ThemoSoft never compromises on your comfort or safety, so why would you? Take your gorgeous wood floors to the next level and bring warmth and coziness into your home all winter. Thanks to ThermoSoft’s innovative designs and attention to detail, adding radiant heat to your wood floors is safer and easier than ever. Don’t miss out on a chance to transform your home into a luxurious, cozy retreat. Be sure to check out WarmStep®: the only electric radiant heat for direct nail or glue down wood floors. No embedding of the heating elements in cement required. We also offer an all-in-one system for floating floors, or cable if you are pouring a new concrete subfloor! Visit us online or contact our experts today to learn more! GET FREE GUIDE >> Don't Trust Just Any Floor Heating Systems – Insist on ThermoSoft Products ThermoSoft offers the best-performing and most reliable radiant electric heat solutions on the market. Our systems are safe and can be installed quickly during a room remodel or a new home build. ThermoSoft products are made in America and are backed by our best-in-class customer service. We design and manufacture our systems here in Vernon Hills, Illinois with the highest quality control. We have an in-house team of qualified professionals to offer guidance and advice every step of the process – from selection to installation and beyond for years to come. Discover all the possibilities to bring warmth & joy into your life! Certified, Tested & Approved COMPLETE YOUR BATHROOM UPGRADE WITH THERMOTILE ThermoTile floor heating mats for tile and stone will take your bathroom to the next level! Add floor heat to enhance your space and make your bathroom feel like a luxurious spa. Call us or click here to transform your entire bathroom!