Kitchen floor heating is prevalent in modern-day kitchens. The kitchen is a family room that needs to be functional and comfortable for everyone. Hence it is the perfect room to use underfloor radiant heating systems over the traditional heating systems that are noisy and require more space. But you may wonder how heated kitchen floors work or how is the heating system installed? The best thing about radiant floor heating is that it evenly heats the floor, is noise-free, and is more energy-efficient.

The warmth usually rises evenly from below the floor, keeping the temperature of the room uniform from the bottom to the top, and you also don’t have to worry about your toes getting cold as you use your kitchen. Additionally, there is no dusty blowing air and airborne particles since there is no forced air like traditional heating systems. That also means fewer allergens in your kitchen.

According to radiant floor heating experts at https://www.floorheatingsystemsinc.com/heated-kitchen-floors/, there are two primary types of radiant floor heating systems that you can install in your kitchen. Let’s look at them.

Electric radiant floor heating

Electric radiant floor heating is a popular option among many homeowners, and it uses electric resistance cables to heat the floor. The most common installation method features cables embedded in thin mats that can be installed beneath any floor type, such as tile, stone, engineered wood, or laminate floor types. 

The best solution is to install a full-size heating mat in a high traffic area like a kitchen floor. The mats are usually connected to a thermostat controller that allows you to adjust temperature settings or use a time to indicate when you want your floor to be warm. They can also be customized to fit around drains and vanities as long as you hire the right installation company.

Some manufacturers even manufacture heating mats that you can install between floor joists to add radiant heating from below without removing the existing floor. Insulation is then added below the mats to keep the heat from dissipating downward. The mat heats up and warms the finished floor evenly.

Hot water radiant floor heating

Hot water radiant floor heating is also known as hydronic heated floors. This system uses heated water that circulates through cross-linked polythene tubing, known as PEX tubing. The tubbing is usually embedded in extra thick plywood subfloor panels with pre-customized channels for holding the tubing in place. However, this plywood method is not compatible with nail-down facing flooring such as hardwood flooring types.

Hot water radiant floor heating is connected to a hot water heater that circulates the heated water below your floor to keep it warm. It also comes with a thermostat where you can adjust the temperature. The hydronic heated floor system is closed, which means it is not connected to the hot water system you use for your bathroom, cooking, and washing. It can also be installed between floor joists on existing floors.

conclusion

Installing a heated kitchen floor is very advantageous as it keeps the floor evenly warm all the time, provides better air quality, keeps you comfortable, and saves you more energy costs.