ThermoSoft Blog

When most people think about electric floor heating, they picture metal wires buried in cement beneath the floor, getting hot as electricity passes through them. That is how many traditional electric radiant floor heating systems have worked for decades.  ThermoSoft’s FiberThermics® technology is different.  Instead of relying on metal wires or carbon heating elements, FiberThermics® uses specially engineered electro-conductive textile fibers to create warmth beneath the floor. These conductive fibers are designed to distribute heat more evenly, flex more naturally with the flooring system, and provide an added level of safety protection that traditional wire-based systems do not offer.  This is not ordinary electric heating. FiberThermics® is ThermoSoft’s patented electric heating technology and used in  WarmStep® Electric Floor Heating Mats to make radiant floor heating smarter, safer, extremely durable, and comfortable.   Heat Through Fibers, Not Wires  Traditional electric floor heating systems typically use metal resistance wires. When electricity passes through the wire, the wire heats up and transfers warmth through the flooring surface.  ThermoSoft FiberThermics® takes a different approach. The heat generates and passes through FiberThermics® as the light passes through fiberoptics. The heating element is made from soft, conductive textile fibers that generate warmth throughout the material itself.   The safe FiberThermics® heating elements are not required to be buried in cement or mortar, which allows the heating system to be placed closer to the flooring heating surface. This placement provides the most efficient energy heat exchange and uniform warmth on the flooring surface.    Thus, the unique patented design of FiberThermics® provide the following features:  • More even heat distribution • Fewer hot spots • Greater flexibility • Improved durability • Enhanced safety • A more comfortable floor heating experience  ThermoSoft’s Built-In Safety Advantage  One of the most important advantages of ThermoSoft FiberThermics® heating element technology is its innate thermal cut-off capability.  That may sound technical, but the idea is simple. The conductive fibers are designed to act like thousands of tiny built-in safety ffusable points within the heating element. If a section of the FiberThermics® material experiences excessive heat, the fibers in that area can self-fuse and stop conducting electricity.  In simple terms: Too much heat means the affected fibers shut themselves off without using any electronics or sensors.  With a traditional metal heating wire, a damaged, pinched, or overheated section may continue conducting electricity and even arc, creating a serious safety hazard. In severe cases, that can allow temperatures to keep rising. ThermoSoft’s FiberThermics® technology behaves differently by adding a layer of protection directly inside the heating element itself.  That temperature self-fusing capability is one of the reasons FiberThermics® is so different from conventional electric floor heating systems.  Like a Circuit Breaker Built into the Heating Element  Most people are familiar with the circuit breaker or fuses in their home’s electrical panel. When something goes wrong, the breaker or fuse trip and stop power from continuing through the circuit.  ThermoSoft FiberThermics® works on a similar safety principle, but at the fiber level, throughout the whole heating element length. Rather than depending only on external controls and localized thermal sensors, the FiberThermics® heating fibers themselves provide an added layer of protection within the floor heating system.  This patented overheat protection self-fusing capability helps turn the heating element into a continuous thermal safeguard. It is one of the key reasons ThermoSoft’s electric radiant floor heating technology stands apart from traditional metal wire-based or carbon-based systems.  Why Traditional Electric Floor Heating Wires Have Limitations  Traditional electric floor heating systems can be effective, but metal wire and carbon-based heating elements have limitations.  Metal wire heating elements can be stiff and less flexible. They may fatigue or break from repeated bending, and they can create concentrated heat paths or hot spots. Over time, connection points may also weaken and overheat.  Carbon-based heating elements can also face performance challenges, especially if damaged or overheated. Like metal wire systems, they may be vulnerable at electrical connection points, and they do not have overheating self-fusing capabilities.  ThermoSoft FiberThermics® was developed to resolve many of these challenges. By using electro-conductive textile fibers instead of traditional heating wires, ThermoSoft created a patented electric floor heating technology designed for comfort, safety, flexibility, and long-term reliability.  Stronger Connections for Better Reliability  In many electric heating products, failures happen rarely in the heating element itself. They happen where the heating element connects to the electrical wiring.  Connection points are often one of the most vulnerable parts of any electric heating system. Over time, they can loosen, oxidize, weaken, or break due to movement, installation stress, or repeated use, which can cause drastic overheating.  ThermoSoft addressed this issue with a patented connection process that combines textile engineering and electrical engineering. This patented connection process is designed to create a stronger, more durable electro-conductive bond between the  FiberThermics® heating element and the electrical metal wiring.  For ThermoSoft electric floor heating systems, that means improved reliability, no service issues, absent risk of connection-related failures, and much longer product life. For ThermoSoft customers, it means Peace of Mind. Comfortable Radiant Warmth, Not Hot Spots  Comfort is one of the biggest reasons homeowners choose electric radiant floor heating. ThermoSoft FiberThermics® technology provides comfort even better.  Because the conductive fibers are distributed throughout the heating material, warmth is spread more evenly and very close to the floor surface. Instead of feeling hot and cold zones, users experience gentle, uniform radiant warmth beneath their feet.  That is the ThermoSoft difference. FiberThermics® does not just create heat. It helps create a better soothing floor warming experience.  Independently Tested and Certified  Safety is not only built into ThermoSoft FiberThermics® technology. It is also verified through independent testing.  All ThermoSoft heating elements are recognized by Underwriters Laboratories and ETL/Intertek, and ThermoSoft products using FiberThermics® technology are tested and listed by recognized organizations including UL and ETL/Intertek These organizations evaluate electric heating products against established electrical and safety standards used throughout North America and internationally.  For homeowners, builders, installers, and architects, independent testing provides added confidence in the performance and safety of ThermoSoft electric radiant floor heating systems.  The Bottom Line  Most electric floor heating systems rely on metal wires or carbon-based heating elements. ThermoSoft FiberThermics® uses patented electro-conductive textile fiber technology with thermal self-fusing properties.  That difference matters.  ThermoSoft FiberThermics® electric floor heating is designed to be:  • Softer and more flexible • More evenly heated • More durable • More comfortable • Built with patented self-fusing thermal cut-off protection • Supported by ThermoSoft’s patented connection technology • Exclusive to ThermoSoft radiant floor heating systems  After nearly 30 years of innovation and more than 2 million customers, ThermoSoft continues to prove that electric radiant floor heating can be smarter, safer, and more comfortable.  FiberThermics® is not just another way to create heat. It is ThermoSoft’s patented electric floor heating technology, and it is one more reason ThermoSoft remains a leader in radiant floor heating.  

Your Floor Choice Is Only the First Step to Your Warm Comfort When planning an electric heated floor, most people start with the finished floor itself: laminate, vinyl plank, engineered wood, hardwood, or another surface.  That makes sense. It is the part you see and walk on every day.  But the floor type is only part of the decision. How that floor is installed matters too.  Some floors click together and float over the underlayment. Some are glued down. Some are nailed or stapled into place. Others use a combination of adhesive and fasteners.  Each installation method affects which electric radiant floor heating solution is right for the project, how the electric heating mats are laid out, and, in some cases, which direction the heating mats need to run.  Before choosing an electric heated floor system, it helps to understand the basic flooring installation types. Common Flooring Installation Types Installation Type  What It Means  Common Examples  Floating  The floor is not glued, nailed, or stapled down. The pieces usually click or lock together and rest above the underlayment.  Click-together laminate, floating vinyl plank or some engineered wood floors  Glue Down  The floor covering is installed with adhesive and bonded to the surface below.  Glue down vinyl plank, glue down engineered and solid wood, some commercial flooring  Nail Down  The floor covering is fastened to a wood subfloor using nails or staples.  Solid hardwood, some engineered hardwood floors  Nail Assist  The floor uses adhesive along with nails or staples.  Some engineered wood, especially wider plank floors  Glue Assist  The floor is primarily nailed or stapled, with adhesive also used as part of the installation.  Some engineered wood, especially wider plank floors  The key difference is whether fasteners are part of the installation.  Floating and glue-down floors generally allow more layout flexibility because the finished floor is not nailed or stapled through the electric heating mat layer. Nail down, nail assist, and glue assist installations simply require consistent nail spacing to ensure that nails or staples do not penetrate the heating element within the mat.  If you are not sure which installation type applies to your floor, start with the flooring manufacturer's installation instructions. Those instructions should explain whether the floor should be floated, glued, nailed, stapled, or installed using a nail/glue combination method. If you have any questions about this, you can also speak with one of ThermoSoft's US-based experts. Note: This guide focuses on flooring such as laminate, vinyl plank, engineered wood, and solid hardwood. If you are installing a tile or stone, check out our electrically heated  ThermoTile® Mats.  If you are heating a concrete slab, explore ThermoSoft's electrically heated ThermoSlab® Mats.   WarmStep® Was Created for These Common Installation Types Once you understand the difference between floating, glue down, nail down, nail assist, and glue assist flooring installations, the next question is simple: which electric floor heating system is compatible with your project?  The good news is that you do not need a completely different electric floor heating system for each of these common flooring installation types.  US Manufacturer ThermoSoft® created WarmStep® to give homeowners, contractors, and flooring professionals one universal electric radiant floor heating solution for floating, glue down, nail down, nail assist, and glue assist applications. Powered by FiberThermics®, ThermoSoft's patented electric floor heating technology, WarmStep® is designed to support today's most popular floor types and installation methods.  Just keep in mind, for WarmStep® nail down, nail assist, and glue assist installations, mats must run perpendicular to the flooring boards/planks. This helps keep the fastener path clear and reduces the risk of nails or staples penetrating the heating element within the mat.  Ready to Plan Your Electric Heated Floor Layout? Once you have selected your flooring and confirmed how it will be installed, the next step is planning the electric floor heating layout.  To make planning easier, we created the ThermoSoft Electric Heating Mat Calculator. Simply enter your project dimensions, voltage, and installation type, and the Electric Heating Mat Calculator will provide a recommended WarmStep® layout for your space.  Instead of guessing which mats may fit your space, you can move from general planning to a more specific electric floor heating mat layout plan.   Have questions before you order? Contact ThermoSoft. Our US experts can help confirm the right direction for your electric heated flooring project. 

Expansion and Contraction As an organic material, wood has the properties of attracting and storing water molecules at room temperature. Because of these tendencies, wood will expand or contract in an attempt to match the relative humidity of the room. This expansion and contraction can in some cases present a threat to the longevity of the flooring. This is why it is important to maintain conditions that are suitable for wood flooring. With the help of dataloggers such as the Floor Sentry®, homeowners can greatly extend the life of their wood flooring. Wood Floor Components Your natural, wood-based floor is part of an overall system that consists of (1) the finished floor itself, (2) the subfloor that the flooring is installed over, (3) the ambient environment above the flooring (the inside environment of the room or building), and (4) the environment that the underside of the subfloor is exposed to (typically, a crawl space or concrete slab foundation). Threats to Your Flooring Wood flooring may be at risk of damage or catastrophic failure if exposed to unfriendly ambient conditions. This unwanted exposure can occur either from inside your home or building or from the underside of the flooring (what is often called the subfloor). If ambient conditions, primarily temperature and RH, go beyond safe limits for extended periods of time, significant damage to your wood flooring may occur. Types of damage may include cupping, splitting, crowning, etc. The Floor Sentry's purpose is to help prevent these serious wood flooring issues. What is the Floor Sentry? The Floor Sentry monitors the temperature and relative humidity (RH) of your wood flooring and your underlayment or subfloor. It serves as a data logging device that creates a historical record of temperature and RH. If either the temperature or the RH falls outside the desired range for proper floor care, the Floor Sentry alerts you by automatically delivering notifications wirelessly to your mobile device. Just like your mobile device, the Floor Sentry is Bluetooth-equipped, so you must be within Bluetooth® range to receive Floor Sentry notifications for either temperature or RH-related issues  Installation of the Floor Sentry Create a space for the Floor Sentry in the underside of the wood floor plank using a router or similar device. Use the included template card to determine the correct cavity size and depth. Remove the release paper covering the butyl seal on the Floor Sentry and apply the device so that the butyl seal bonds with the wood inside of the cavity. Using the Floor Sentry Download the free Wagner Sentry app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded, you can begin monitoring the temperature and RH in your flooring. You can also set alarm thresholds to capture spikes and begin receiving notifications for unfavorable conditions. Once installed the, the Floor Sentry will give you around 8 years of constant temperature and RH monitoring  Heating Wood Flooring If you're looking to take your flooring to the next level, consider heated wood floors. Experience the comfort of warm wood floors with the WarmStep® electric heating system. WarmStep is a 100% green heating solution, that unlike gas furnaces, has no negative impact on the environment. Since heat is distributed evenly from the floor, it provides a feeling of comfort at lower temperatures which reduces energy consumption. WarmStep mats have a tailored heat output of 8-10 W/ft²  to safely heat wood flooring. The system is controlled by a floor heating thermostat with a wood floor heating setting designed to keep floor temperatures in an optimal range. As with any wood flooring installation, we strongly recommend using a datalogger such as the Floor Sentry (available through ThermoSoft) for additional protection. For more information, read the following blog "The Future of Floor Heating is Here-WarmStep". Wrap Up Whether or not you choose to heat your wood flooring, you should always install a datalogger to alert you to potential harmful conditions. The Floor Sentry not only monitors and sends alerts but also creates a historical record for future reference. The Wagner Sentry app allows you to set thresholds and receive alerts directly from your mobile device. Enjoy the peace of mind that your flooring is protected with the Floor Sentry.  Website- Floor Sentry Website- WarmStep Mats In-Floor Heating | ThermoSoft Why ThermoSoft's Floor Heating Systems 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. Benefits of ThermoSoft Floor Heating Available for All Types of Flooring: Tile, Laminate, Solid and Engineered Wood, Vinyl, Cement Slab, and Carpet Exceptional Comfort: Warms rooms and not ceilings, Uniform, ideal heat pattern, Say goodbye to drafty rooms, Invisible and silent, Individual room control Cleaner, Healthier, Maintenance-Free: No dirty vents or ducts, No more drying out your air           Energy-Saving: 100% Efficiency, More comfort, less energy, Use less energy by needing less heat Easy to Install: Designed with installation in mind, Tools already in your toolbox, Simple hookup, We're here to support you ThermoSoft never compromises on your comfort or safety, so why would you? Start enjoying each space more than ever with ThermoSoft floor heating systems. Visit us online or contact Thermosoft today. 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! Visit Heating Products by ThermoSoft 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!