Make Your Own Electric Radiant Floor Heat???

17 years ago

We are remodeling our kitchen and since we're replacing the flooring in the kitchen and bathroom, I thought it would be nice to install electric radiant floor heat. I priced out Nuheat and DH nearly had a heart attack.

He thinks that it's a fairly simple system and that one should be able to just purchase the proper thin electrical wiring with the right resistance and install that on the floor and connect it to the Nuheat thermostat. We did a search on the internet for any available information and can't find anything.

Is he just crazy? Is there something more than just buying thin wire with the right resistance and weaving it on the floor? Or is he right? And if so, has anyone done this before and didn't burn the house down?

Comments (11)

fsq4cw
17 years ago
My first piece of advice would be to check with your insurance company to see if youÂll still be covered should your house burn to the ground as a result of the DIY project. If they say yes, get it in writing. Beyond that, keep a fresh battery in your smoke detector.

SR
rabadger
17 years ago
Don't try it. A lot of engineering goes into that stuff.

If you want radiant that you can do yourself with just some help for the final hook up and start up try pex under the floor staple up.
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fqp25
17 years ago
Stop your husband!!! That is very dangerous. I don't think there are Electrical Engineers that would try that in their own house. There is a reason you can't find "how to do it on the Internet". There is child pornography on the web, but not how to make your own electric heater.

Please don't let him try. If you buy a "real electric radiant heat source, make sure it has a "UL" rating. this will ensure the product has been tested by Underwriters Laboratories, and is safe for use in your home.
bus_driver
17 years ago
Check out the offerings of "tu_mirko' on eBay. He has his contact information in the listing. He has many items not listed on the auction. I bought from him at about 1/3 the price of the "big name" products. Yes, the resistance wire is available and can be done as you describe. But the length of the wire must not be changed at all by the installer. Such installations are not code violations.
bus_driver
17 years ago
Here is some general information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Electric radiant
blacknumber1
17 years ago
Just put a couple oven heating elements under your floor, should work fine.
fqp25
17 years ago
Just set a bonfire in your basement. That should do the trick, with the same results!
pjb999
17 years ago
I agree that it's not something to be trifled with, and I'd also suggest you consider this: are you talking about the pad type that sits under your vinyl/tiles etc, or the stuff that's actually run through concrete, in a permanent slab?

If it's the latter, I think it's recommended practice to lay duplicate cable, so that if/when the primary wires fail, you have backups, as the only way to fix it is to replace the concrete, not always practical or easy.

I also wonder if the thermostat (if that's all it is and not a controller) is going to be obtainable without buying the whole system, if it's specialised at all.

Anyway, anything not 100% UL approved, is going to make your insurance invalid no doubt.
sassafrassdc
17 years ago
We're doing a basement renovation project, creating a rec room/guest room and new full bath. We do have some forced air heating in the big room, but want some additional heating that can be used to supplement the forced air so that we don't have to crank up the furnace in other spaces to make the basement temp bearable.

We're hoping to install it over Marmoleum in the big room and ceramic tile in the bathroom.

Some questions I hope someone might have insight on:

-- Brand: We've had NuHeat and Warmly Yours recommended to us. Comments on either company, or another suggestion? Or suggestions on how to choose between companies?

-- Coverage: We're hoping we don't need to cover the whole floor in the 13x22 ft big room. Any comments on the effectiveness if just a smaller area is covered in a large room?

-- Appropriate product for under Marmoleum: any comments on use under Marmoleum? Is heating the glue going to produce serious off-gassing?

Many TIA!!!

Jess
bus_driver
17 years ago
"We're hoping to install it over Marmoleum in the big room and ceramic tile in the bathroom." I suppose that you really meant "under". Skimping with coverage of the heat is a terrible idea. I personally would not use it under "Marmoleum", but if you do, get prior assurances from the flooring manufacturer that it will be satisfactory. I do not like most of your ideas- at least not if they were for application to my premises.
shifrbv
17 years ago
Bologna,

I installed 4000 heating wire in my house.

Most US based "value added" companies like NuHeat is a ripp-off plain and simple.

You can get some cool heating wire from Spain, India, China.
It is probably same wire most value added resellers use anyway. Total cost - $0.10/ sq ft. They already premade to right lenght with soldered extensions. Shipping is pricy - $90USD. But hey I saved 4K

I had similiar posting month ago on the flooring forum. Most posters defended NuHeat saying "support", plus they know they customers. Bologna.

As for thermostat, I picked AUBE. NuHeat rebrands that too... For double and tripple the price. Electrical supply house had it $60 including temperature sens.

http://www.aubetech.com/products/list.php?noLangue=2&noFamille=1&app=6

Make Your Own Electric Radiant Floor Heat???

Comments (11)

fsq4cw

rabadger

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