Should You Install Electric Floor Heat Under Cabinets

Electric systems are usually controlled with programmable dual sensing thermostats that combine input from a floor sensor with a room temperature thermostat.

Should you install electric floor heat under cabinets.

The heat is made possible in two ways. To keep the floor flush consider installing a different cheaper type of flooring underneath cabinets and appliances or even plywood risers. Types of radiant heat. First it s important that the cabinets are the standard 36 inches above the floor and it s important that the appliances are at this same height so that there aren t issues later if when you want to change the appliances e g.

A bathroom size warm floor retrofit will cost 400 to 700 including the cost of the new tile. If you re installing radiant floor heat in an existing room you ll need a dedicated 15 to 20 amp gfci protected circuit to power the system and an excuse to lay a new tile floor. Some wires are designed to double as thermostats simplifying installation. The potential of mismatched flooring one downside of installing risers or different flooring is that you add a complication if you wish to change the kitchen footprint in the future.

Why it s better to install the hardwood floors before the cabinets. Either through pipes carrying hot water embedded in or directly below the floor or via electric mats in or below the floor. Electric systems are thinner and good for retrofits. This in floor heating system consists of one thin continuous cable heating element woven into a mat that you install under the tile.

Also remember not to put radiant heat under cabinets that will have food in them because the warmth is not good for stored food such as potatoes and onions. You would not want your dishwasher to be trapped underneath the floor and. If you re remodeling it s a good time to satisfy both requirements.