Vinyl flooring is known to be waterproof, easy to maintain, and adds to the beauty of a home. Little wonder most homeowners these days opt for vinyl flooring. Also, the flooring is slip-resistant, making it a good choice for homeowners with kids.
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Can You Put a Heated Floor Under Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Yes. You can put a heated floor under vinyl plank flooring. According to the rest of a test carried by some flooring experts, underfloor heating has no negative effect on vinyl flooring. There was no noticeable sign of discoloration or shrinkage on the vinyl flooring during and after the text. In other words, it is safe to use a heated floor under vinyl plank flooring.
How to Install Radiant Floor Heating Under Vinyl Flooring
It is best to hire a professional to handle the installation process. But if you are running on a budget and need to DIY the process, these are the steps to follow:
Get the Subfloor Ready
It is assumed that you have an installation plan in place at this point. The first step in the installation process is to get the subfloor ready. Clean off debris from the subfloor. Find areas where you don’t want self-leveling cement to flow into and dam off the areas. That includes the entryways or air vents. Finally, do a floor marking to mark the area where the heater will be places following your installation plan.
Final Test on Heating System
Run a final test on the heating system you want to install to ensure it works perfectly. You can use a digital ohmmeter to run the test. We recommend using any of the following digital ohmmeters to run your test.
- Kaiweets Digital Multimeter TRMS 6000 counts
- Digital Insulation Resistance Tester 5000V
- Digital Multimeter TRMS 6000 Counts
- Digital Auto-Ranging Multimeter Kaiweets 4000 Counts
- Etekcity Digital Multimeter Amp Volt Clamp Meter.
Install The Heating System
Install the heating system using your installation plan. After installation, ensure you use duct tape or hot glue to secure the heating roll to the subfloor to avoid floating. It is best to do this for every 7 inches roll.
Fix the Sensor Wire
The sensor wire is designed to send temperature signals from the sensor to the control unit. The importance is to ensure the temperature from the heating system doesn’t pass the required temperature gauge. To install a sensor wire, first, test the wire using the digital ohmmeter to ensure an accurate reading. Then lay at least 7 inches of sensor wire between and parallel to the heating system. Use hot-glue to hold the wire in place. Ensure the wire doesn’t cross the heating system.
Follow this through with fixing up the cold lead wire. You need to run the wire above the subfloor to the thermostat. Secure the wire with hot glue and ensure not to cross over the heating wire in the process. After both installation, test both wires using your digital ohmmeter to ensure they both function accurately.
Place the Heating System in Self-Level Cement
To get a smooth flat surface after installation, you’ll need to place the heating system in a self-leveling cement. It is recommended to do this in a 3/8 inch layer of self-leveling cement.
Install your Vinyl Flooring
There are different methods available for vinyl floor installation. But it is best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and install the vinyl flowing. After the installation, get the services of a licensed electrician to connect the thermostat to the heating system on the subfloor.
Factors to Consider When Installing Floor Heating Vinyl Flooring:
We have mentioned earlier that flooring heating can be installed on vinyl flooring. But there are some tips you have to bear in mind while installing the floor heating system to ensure you don’t damage your flooring. These tips include the following:
Get a Heat Loss Calculation
It is very essential that you get a heat loss calculation before you choose a heating system. This will help you know the perfect system to choose for the correct output. Not just that, a thermostat comes in handy when setting the heating system. It helps regulate the temperature in the room and give you the warmth you crave.
Choose The Correct Heating System
There are different heating systems available out there. When choosing a heating system, you have to ensure you choose one that provides enough heat output to give your room the warm feeling you want. This is why getting a heat loss calculation is important before you choose a heating system.
Temperature Gauge
When using a floor heating system on vinyl flooring, ensure the temperature doesn’t exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 27 degrees Celsius (For Canadians). Exceeding the above temperate gauge can damage the vinyl flooring in the long run. Ensure you confirm the manufacturer’s heat restriction specifications before you proceed with the installation.
Heat Transfer
To ensure effective heat transfer, the overlay, underlay, and every other thing about the heating system have to be within the required limit. These are some of the limits you have to bear in mind.
- U-Value Not less than 4.0
- RSI Not over 0.25
- Tog Not over 2.5
- R-Value Not over 1.42
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Flooring For Radiant Heat
The best flooring types for radiant heat are stone and tile floors. This is because of the following reasons. First, they don’t expand and contract when exposed to heat. Secondly, they are good heat conductors. Finally, they don’t crack when subjected to heat.