This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Plumbing and Mechanical (pmmag) logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Plumbing and Mechanical (pmmag) logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
    • Product Focus
    • Truck of the Month
    • Plumber of the Month
    • Tool Tips
    • PM Profile
    • Ad Index
    • Bookstore
  • Market Sectors
    • Plumbing News
    • Mechanical Systems
    • Radiant/Hydronics
    • Solar Thermal/Geothermal
    • Green
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • Water Quality
    • Technology
    • Codes
    • Business Management
  • Columnists
    • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
    • Al Levi: Managing your business
    • Dan Holohan: Heating Help
    • Kenny Chapman: Blue Collar Coach
    • Adams Hudson: Marketing Strategies
    • Jim Hamilton: The Bottom Line
    • Ray Wohlfarth: The Boiler Room
    • Nicole Krawcke: Editorial Opinion
    • Julius Ballanco: Plumbing Primer
    • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
    • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
  • Blog
    • The 7-Power Contractor
    • PM On The Road
  • Radiant & Hydronics
  • Multimedia
    • PM AHR Expo 2019 Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • PM Network Videos
    • PM YouTube Channel
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • Showrooms
    • eBooks
  • Products
  • More
    • History of Plumbing
    • Industry Calendar
    • Classified Ads
    • Industry Links
    • Radiant Comfort Report
    • Green Plumbing & Heating
    • PVF Outlook
    • PB Outlook
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eNewsletters
    • Subscribe to Plumbing Group eNewsletters
    • Market Research
  • Directories
    • RCR Buyers Guide
    • B.I.G. Book
    • Rep Locator
  • Contact
    • Advertise
Home » Special Bathroom Suite Series: Part Four
The Electric Bathroom

Special Bathroom Suite Series: Part Four
The Electric Bathroom

July 1, 2005
Steve Smith
Reprints
No Comments
Electric radiant floor systems are especially useful for retrofits, tough-to-heat areas and secondary heat source applications.

While we've written plenty about plumbing products in our Bathroom Suite Series, it's best to wrap up the series by pointing out the obvious: People either don't have many or any clothes on in the bathroom.

Consumers want a warm floor and a warm towel or two in order to enjoy the full measure of today's bathrooms.

Wet Heads may want to consider providing that warmth with electricity rather than water. Hydronics may wear the crown when it comes to providing the primary heat for a whole house or large rooms. But talk of three-quarter horsepower circulators, sophisticated microprocessor controls, complex design strategies and multiple zones may be a bit much when someone just wants warm feet to start their morning.

Let's take a look at some of the ways electric radiant floor systems might be especially useful for retrofits, tough-to-heat areas and secondary heat source applications regardless of season. We'll also follow up with using electric towel warmers for the bathroom, too.

Electric Floors

Think Small: The average size master bathroom may require only 50 sq. ft. of heated space to provide floor warming, says Tracy Hall, national sales manager, Watts Radiant's HeatWeave. And what's ideal for small spaces is ideal for small budgets, too.

“To install a new hydronic system, it takes a similar number of parts and accessories to do 50 sq. ft., 500 sq. ft. or 5,000 sq. ft., but the cost per sq. ft. drops as the area increases,” Hall explains. “Hydronic systems for small areas just don't make economic sense. For areas less than 1,000 sq. ft., and certainly less than 500 sq. ft., electric is an easy and cost-effective way to get a warm and comfortable floor.”

Hall says a rule of thumb for bathrooms is that 50 percent of the wall-to-wall area will be heated since half the floor space is taken up by vanities, shower enclosures, tubs and toilet. As a result, an electric radiant floor system is installed in the “walking space.”

Also, think small in terms of profile as well. Typically, an electric radiant heat system adds 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch to floor height. Comparably - unless it's an installation of a hydronic system below the subfloor - an over-the-subfloor hydronic application usually adds 1 1/2 inches to the existing floor height, whether using a concrete/gypsum thin-slab or a wood sleeper system.

Ideal Supplement: Electric radiant is an ideal supplemental heat source for primary hydronic or HVAC systems. And, in the spring and fall “shoulder seasons,” electric radiant heat can often be used as the primary heat source for the bathroom. This application is especially useful when homeowners want heat for the master bathroom, yet not for the rest of the house.

In a similar fashion, many problems can be solved easily with an electric radiant system. For instance, electricity can go places warm water can't - such as retrofitting a remote bathroom, providing for a new home addition, or otherwise providing warmth to floors that are inaccessible from below for staple-up applications.

In Sunbelt states, electric radiant floor systems mesh nicely with forced-air systems. Most homeowners won't spend the extra money for entirely separate heating/cooling systems, so electric radiant can provide a warm floor and a much more comfortable bathroom for the occupants.

Installation Matters: Most suppliers of electric heat technology offer electric mats, wire spools or both. Many systems are readily available for quick shipment, right off the shelf. In most instances, installation of spooled products are a bit more involved, but have a lesser cost. Ultimately, though, they feel the same to the consumer.

Typical installation involves attaching the mat, or wire, to concrete or a backboard overlay, then using thinset mortar or a thin, self-leveling concrete overlay. Some products can also be used under existing floors, applied between floor joists, then insulated from below.

Cost Concerns: One of the common questions posed to installers is, “How much will this add to my electric bill?”

Hall says a 50-sq.-ft. heated bathroom floor will typically add about $5 per month to a homeowner's electric bill, and may reduce the gas/oil bill by $3 per month due to the electric floor system adding heat within the insulated envelope of the home.

Electric Towel Warmers

The flexibility of electricity to warm floors also follows through to warm towels, according to Owen Kantor, vice president of marketing and sales, Runtal North America.

“Anyone can use an electric towel warmer regardless of what other energy they use to heat their home,” he says. And regardless of what the calendar says, too. “They offer four-season comfort no matter where you live. Homeowners in sunny climates can also use them to dry out the towel to get rid of mold and mildew.”

Kantor also always hears questions about the “high” cost of electricity.

“Our largest units run at 6.4 amps,” he adds. “That's half of what a hair dryer requires.”

At this year's Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, we saw a couple of new developments regarding electric towel warmers:

  • Myson has a new “Smart Thermo Control” in the new Cosmopolitan line and ECO towel warmers.

    “It's like having cruise control for your towel warmers,” says Ray Farley, vice president, Myson Inc. The new control is a self-regulating programmed temperature control. Farley says the device is set at the factory to never exceed 135 degrees F. Once the unit attains that temperature, it reduces power consumption by 30 percent to save energy. As a result, the towel warmers can never get too hot, and do not need a thermostat. The device is UL-approved.

  • Engineered Glass Products was a new exhibitor to the show. As a result, its Thermique™ towel warmer was voted the “Best New Bath Product.” The company uses a patent-pending transparent, thin film conductor, interconnects and control to provide the warmth. The glass towel warmers were among the company's first products designed with the technology.
  • pm-subscribe

    Recent Articles by Steve Smith

    2009 Rep Of The Year - Wales-Darby Inc.

    Zoo Animals Love Radiant Heat - Part I
    How To Make Humboldt Penguins Happy

    Radiant For The Outside

    INSIDE Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

    Standing With Tab

    Steve Smith was editor of Plumbing & Mechanical from 1996-2009.

    Related Articles

    SPECIAL Bathroom Suite Series Part III<br>The Innovation Cascade

    SPECIAL Bathroom Suite Series Trading Up In The Bathroom

    'Universal Design?'<br> 'ADA-Compliant?'<br> 'Assisted-Living?' <br> How About Just Calling It 'Easier To Use'

    Functional Luxury

    You must login or register in order to post a comment.

    Report Abusive Comment

    Subscribe For Free!
    • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
    • eNewsletters
    • Online Registration
    • Subscription Customer Service

    More Videos

    Popular Stories

    Space-saving

    Preventing scale damage in tankless water heaters

    The Glitch.jpg

    The Glitch and Fix: Keep the cost down

    Pre-fabricated snow melting

    Radiant: More than just a luxury home building option

    Siggy_single coil

    Single coil solution

    exhaust line

    Dave Yates: Dominoes

    PM-Rectorseal-Quiz-360x184


    PM-COTY 2019

    Events

    December 30, 2030

    Webinar Sponsorship Information

    For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

    View All Submit An Event

    Products

    2020 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator

    2020 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator

    See More Products

    PM_Top20Products360

    Plumbing and Mechanical

    Plumbing & Mechanical December 2019

    2019 December

    Check out the December 2019 edition of Plumbing & Mechanical: 2020 B.I.G. Book, John Siegenthaler on geothermal water-to-water heat pump system design and installation, maximizing efficiency on small-diameter piping projects and much more!
    View More Create Account
    • Resources
      • Reprints
      • List Rental
      • Contact Us
      • AEC Store
      • Blogs
      • Radiant & Hydronics
      • Industry Links
      • Market Research
      • Custom Content & Marketing Services
      • Privacy Policy
    • Want More
      • Connect
      • Survey And Sample
    • Plumbing Group
      • PM Engineer
      • Supply House Times
    • Advertise
      • Advertise
      • Plan for 2020!

    Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

    Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing