Q&A

Q1) We plan to have carpet in several rooms of our new home heated with Infloor®. Are there any special carpet installation requirements we should be aware of?

A1) Carpet and Infloor can work beautifully together, but keep in mind that carpet requires hotter water to be run through your system (which can reduce system efficiency). Be sure to use low R-value carpet and carpet cushion (Infloor Carpet Cushion) to allow proper heat transfer from the floor. An ideal carpet cushion is available through Infloor. To order, talk to your local Infloor installer, call 1-800-588-4470 to talk to your regional distributor, or check with your local carpet dealer to discuss the different types of padding available for Infloor heating.

Q2) We have selected a variety of rustic stone floor coverings, none of which are as smoothly finished as traditional ceramic tile or marble. We love the look, but are they compatible with Infloor?

A2) Yes!  Feel free to be as creative as you want to be. All stone-type floor coverings from traditional ceramic and marble to rough-cut slate and granite provide good heat conductivity, maximizing the benefits of Infloor heat.

Q3) We’re building our new home with Infloor heating and wood flooring in most of the main floor rooms, but we’re not yet sure whether we’ll use solid hardwood or laminate flooring.  Do you have information on installation options?

A3) You bet! Generally speaking, wood floors can be installed using a floating floor, glue-down installation method, or a wood sleeper system.  Nail down flooring can be used, though, if you plan ahead and design your system for it.  If, however, you’re using InfloorBoard, InfloorBoard 2 or Warmboard, you will want to look at the installation manual to see specific installation recommendations.  Be sure to check with your wood flooring manufacturer for their recommendations and limitations.

Q4) What about air conditioning?

A4) Infloor does not support or recommend using a radiant heating system for cooling purposes.  While this is possible, it can lead to many problems, including condensation on the floor, ruining your finished floor.  When air conditioning is needed, most often a separate air-conditioning system is installed. This could be a simplified central system or a split system with strategically placed units. If done correctly, your air conditioning can be zoned. Using zoned cooling and placing air registers in the ceiling (where they should be) can and will result in summer energy savings.

Q5) What is the possibility of my Infloor® System freezing? Should I put anti-freeze in the system?

A5) Anti-freeze isn’t needed in most systems unless the system will be shut off for extended periods of time under freezing conditions (in a cabin or second home, for example). Most often, the system is left running at a lower thermostat setting when the building will be unoccupied for short periods of time, so no anti-freeze is necessary.

Q6) What kind of construction applications may I install the tubing in?

A6) Tubing may be installed in any kind of application.  Each application will work best with one or more types of installations, whether in concrete, Infloorboard, Infloorboard 2, Warmboard, run in emission plates under a floor, attached to existing concrete, or stapled to a wood subfloor and covered with an approved underlayment or tile bed. 

Q7) Will the load-bearing capacity of the floor need to be increased when Infloor Heating is used?

A7) Usually, no.  Approved underlayments weigh the same as typical tile beds. The structural floor should be adequate to withstand typical design loads, so in most cases, the load bearing structure will not need to be altered to accommodate Infloor Heating.

Q8) How much more efficient is a radiant heat system than a forced air system?

A8) A typical forced air system requires 45-50 BTUs per square foot to maintain the temperature in a standard home (This does not account for the efficiency or inefficiency of the heat source).  The same house will only require 25-30 BTUs per square foot if using a radiant floor system (except under-subfloor applications, which tend to be in the 30-40 BTU range).  Additionally, many people find that they can set their thermostats several degrees cooler with a radiant heat system while maintaining the same level of comfort.

Q9) Can a heat pump or geothermal system be used in conjunction with a radiant heating system?

A9) Yes, heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps can provide some of the most efficient heating available.  They can even be tied into a solar thermal system to provide ultra-efficient, ecologically friendly heating.

Q10) I can’t decide between a Solar Photovoltaic system and a Solar Thermal system.  Do you have any input?

A10) Solar Photovoltaic cells are incredibly useful and can be implemented in any number of applications.  Solar Thermal systems, though, are more efficient and are generally less expensive to install.  Because of the nature of light, more energy can be harnessed when converted to heat than when converted to electricity, so a solar thermal system will typically provide more energy per square foot than a comparable photovoltaic system.  For ultimate efficiency, you can use both a photovoltaic system and a solar thermal system to provide both heat and electricity.