Floor heating is an affordable convenience that provides added comfort to any home, as well as the practicality of low cost environmental heating during off-peak time to a given room or home. This is a feature that is more often overlooked during the planning of a room remodel or during building stages of the home. There are three basic types. 

(1.) In-slab; consisting of uninsulated wire mesh with power cables attached prior to pouring the slab flooring.

(2.) In-screed: wire attached to concrete or aggregate sub-floor, then covered with a screed (mortar mix of cement and sand), prior to laying ceramic floor tile.

(3.) Carbon Film: Thin, wire-laced strips, attached to timber flooring. Ideal for floating floor panels and most carpets.

The most commonly utilized system would be the in-screed or under-tile systems, where wires or wire laced membranes are attached to an aggregate floor, then covered with a layer or mortar or even thinset before ceramic tile is glued.  This option offers a low wattage approach, designed to warm ceramic tile in a bath or kitchen setting, whereas other floor systems may be used to actually provide ambient temperature control for large rooms or an entire home. They also come with sub-surface temperature probes and thermostats which may be preset for use during off-peak wattage times. It is designed to accommodate lower wattage rates for the higher wattage floor heating systems. 

There may be consumer concerns relating to proper installation and maintenance. During installation, care should be taken to assure that spacing of wires is consistent with even wattage flow throughout the entire surface.  The thermo-probe, which is wired to the thermostat should be placed between the wire rows so as not to give a false reading.  For example, placing the probe to close to the heating wire would produce a higher temperature reading, thereby telling the thermostat to shut down feed voltage before the surface is comfortably warm. 

In the case of in-slab and in-screed (or under-tile) methods, the system should not be turned on for two weeks, allowing the slab or screed surface to properly cure.  And of course, even before the wires are covered with mortar or thinset, the system should be tested for proper function. Especially after installation, since in some cases wires are attached to a hard surface with straps, where damage can occur during this process. The only maintenance issues would be related to repairs and work being conducted in which a hole might be drilled in the vicinity of the floor-coil. 

Other then these issues, floor heating when properly installed is virtually maintenance free and provides safe, affordable comfort for years.