Hicksville, N.Y.—As more consumers learn about the benefits of radiant heat, more are getting it installed in their homes. And, with winter upon us, some are doing it sooner rather than later by including the various new technologies available on remodeling jobs. As heated floors become more affordable by way of new technology, they, of course, are becoming even more popular. Bathrooms continue to be the favorite room for radiant heat, with tile and stone being the most popular type of floor consumers would like to warm up.

According to John Rose, president of NuHeat, a firm featured in Floor Covering News last year ( FCNews, July 7/14, 2003), radiant floor heating is a barefoot luxury, as many homeowners have already installed heated towel racks in their baths. Almost 50,000 homes in North America have NuHeat floors, which utilize heating mats made of electrical wires controlled by a thermostat. The cost to install the NuHeat mats in a 3X7-ft. bathroom is approximately $500, done mostly during construction or renovation. The following is a compilation of some radiant heating companies doing business in this fast-growing category, and the technology they employ: EasyFloor System.

Manufactured by The FlorHeat Company, the EasyFloor Radiant Heating system is a breakthrough product de sign with an installation system that is simple to install and so flexible, noted Charles Krupka, FlorHeat’s president and CEO. Using a combination of PEX tubing, metal heat reflectors and Coverstone, the EasyFloor radiant heating system is an easy-to-assemble, snap-together system that goes together like toy building blocks and is designed for all types of floor coverings. “You can easily form this new, radiant floor heating system to fit any room configuration,” he explained. “The EasyFloor system is so easy to install and so energy efficient that architects, engineers and contractors quickly grasp the significant breakthrough achieved in this innovative, new design. The system can be used equally well in new home construction, existing homes or commercial buildings.” For more information on the EasyFloor radiant heating system, call 888/265-5455.

Nexans Radiant Heating. Orbit Manufacturing, a provider of high quality electric radiant heating solutions for residential and commercial applications, is now of fering its full line of durable, high-quality, Nexans radiant heating cable, which is designed for interior floor warming and space heating, as well as exterior snow and ice melting applications. Nexans cable provides a durable, maintenance-free, economical solution for a wide range of warming needs, noted Terry Allen of Orbit. “For interior use, Nexans cable may be used for wet bed or slab installations, and with any type of flooring material including tile, hardwood, laminates and carpet.

Exterior applications for Nexans cable include ground surface snow/ice melting under concrete, brick, pavers or asphalt, as well as ice melting for roofs and gutters.” Nexans cable is manufactured using a high quality polyethylene-covered copper conductor wire core. A corrugated copper ground wire is then added, covered by a metallic sheath. The entire assembly is packaged within a rugged PVC covering that provides protection against the elements. For interior floor warming, Nexans cable is provided in ready-to-install sets ranging from 300 watts to 2,000 watts, to accommodate installation areas from 16 square feet to 225 square feet. Customized cable lengths are also available for larger applications. For more information on Nexans Radiant Heating cable, call 215/453-9228.

Radiant Floor Warming. This company utilizes state-of-the-art technology to place heated comfort under tile, stone, wood, vinyl, wall-to-wall carpeting or any surface approved for under-floor warming systems. Radiant uses an S-shaped heating element mat that distributes heat evenly and efficiently. The warming system is designed for use in kitchens, bathrooms, dining areas, atriums, sunrooms and basements, to name a few. Radiant Floor Warming is easy-to-install, maintenance-free, with reliable technology that will provide years of comfort, noted John O’Brien, the company’s director of sales and marketing.

“A simple, S-shaped heating element is installed beneath the flooring of your choice with easy connection to standard household electric. The system uses a simple wall-mounted thermostat and timer that provides the level of warmth and comfort you want, when you want it. A woven mat design ensures error-free installations and a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty further proves the reliability of the system.” Radiant Floor Warming’s new Web site, www.radiantfloorwarming.com, provides detailed descriptions of the company’s services and contact information. The company has also published a new, four-color brochure that features helpful text and diagrams while explaining the heating system in detail and answering questions one might have with installation, specifications and the simple mechanics of a warm tile or stone floor. For more information on Radiant Floor Warming, call 203/228-0209.

Warmup. A leader in the undertile heating market in Great Britain, Warmup has brought its undertile heating system to the United States as the company is now operating nationwide out of Connecticut. Using experience gained during 10 years in the industry, Warm-up has the ideal solution for dealing with customers’ cold feet, the main objection against ceramic tile or stone flooring, noted Barbara Evans of Warmup. “The innovative heating element, as thin as nickel, won’t affect floor levels and its flexible design means that it can be laid in the most awkward of rooms, whatever the layout,” she said. “Warm-up’s intention is to simplify the often over-complicated process of radiant electric heating. There is no need to dig up existing flooring so it is a great choice when remodeling bathrooms or kitchens and for new additions such as sunrooms. Tape the heating element to the floor and tile over it—it’s as simple as that.” For additional information on the Warmup heating system, call 860/284-0103.

Warmly Yours. The TempZone radiant heating system by Warmly Yours is a warming system that can be used with all types of floorings including ceramic tile, hardwood, carpet, stone, vinyl, cork, linoleum, laminate and concrete. A Temp-Zone radiant heating system can be conveniently installed under tile or stone to add warmth and comfort to cold floors, or entire rooms, noted George Selvais, general manager. The system’s low 3/32-in. profile will not impact floor height and can be directly imbedded into the thinset cement or adhesive used to set your tile or stone.

“With the TempZone system, the customer will gain the space traditionally taken by floor vents or supplemental heating units, and installation can be performed by a standard tile or stone setter, requiring only an electrician for final thermostat hookup and system check. The thermostat provides complete control over the customer’s personal comfort, warming floors on command before she enters a room, and turning the system off when it is no longer needed.” With another system, Environ II, Warmly Yours offers an aluminum foil that simply lays between the pad and the carpet, or between the pad and the floating floor (laminate or engineered wood), to make a radiant floor heating system that can easily be sold and installed by the specialty floor covering dealer, he noted. For more information on Warmly Yours and its systems, call 800/875-5285.

Wirsbo. This Scandinavian-based company, which has its North American headquarters and manufacturing facility in Apple Valley, Minn., introduced the world to PEX tubing for radiant floor heating and hot and cold portable water systems in Scandinavia in the early 1970s. “Unlike some of our competitors, Wirsbo PEX tubing products are engineered to withstand the harsh stresses of hydronic radiant applications,” said Joe Pauley, president of Wirsbo. With its crosslinking method, Wirsbo radiant heating systems operate by circulating warm water through PEX tubing which can withstand high temperature and pressures.

Wirsbo radiant heating systems are installed in homes, churches, warehouses, day care and nursing centers, hospitals, parking lots, football and soccer fields and office buildings. Wirsbo radiant floor systems offer a unique and affordable alternative heat source, Pauley noted, as they radiate heat to furnishings, floors and occupants in the same way the sun radiates heat to Earth. “This heating method keeps people comfortable at a lower thermostat setting, eliminates dust and germs asso ciated with forced-air systems and saves money on monthly fuel bills.” Wirsbo radiant floors can be installed under virtually any type of floor covering in residential or commercial installations and new and remodeling projects. “Radiant heating is the fastest growing segment of the North American heating industry,’ said Pauley.

“It’s becoming more popular because radiant heating systems are comfortable, energy efficient, clean, quiet and invisible.” The company’s award-winning proPanel product is a fully-assembled, fully-wired and fully-piped system. With built-in flexibility, contractors can use a stand-alone proPanel for a small application or connect multiple panels together to meet the needs of a more demanding application. “Wiring is effortless as a modular communication cable simply attaches one panel to the next,” said Pauley. “No additional controls or wiring is required. Being easy to mount, contractors save time and money.” For additional information on Wirsbo and its products, call 800/321-4739. —Louis Iannaco