The HeatTech 30sqft Radiant Floor Heating System is our best radiant floor heater and it has been rated for use on 120 volts. The heating system measures 30 square feet and it comes with a thermostat that is programmable and has a floor sensing feature. Moreover, it is certified and UL listed in the USA and Canada and it covers up to 150 square feet of flooring space. The cable has a spacing of 3 inches and the mat measures 18 feet in length and 20 inches in width. It does not need to be stapled due to its flat design and adhesive backing which fits under the tiles well.
Our step-up pick is the HeatTech 100sqft Radiant Floor-Heating Cable Kit and it is UL listed for the USA for safety. It has 3 inch spacing for the cable at 100 square feet while it has 4 inch spacing for the cable at 135 square feet and it also has 2 inch spacing at 64 square feet. The cold lead measures 10 feet while the cable length is up to 400 feet. Being rated for use on 120 volts, it has an output of 1,200 watts with 3 watts per feet and has an amperage of 10 amps.
The budget pick is the GudCraft Tile Radiant Floor Heating System and it comes with a circuit breaker that is ground fault. It also has zero electromagnetic field and it does not interfere with any other electronic device that you may have around the house. It runs at a power of 100 watts which makes it budget saving and it is rated for use on 120 volts which can cover up to 8 square feet of area.
A Little Background
Floors in the winter can really get cold. Even if you are in a warm area, floors are the easiest to adapt to any temperature and they usually get cold faster and are hard to warm up. The reason why the floor is very hard to heat up is because it is usually made up of cement or concrete and more so if you use tiles or similar super cold absorbing material for your flooring. Even if you do have carpets that top off your cold floor, this is most likely nothing compared to when you can heat up the floors. Sometimes, carpets do help but even with carpets around, sometimes, the ground is just too cold for you to walk on even with shoes or slippers on. In addition to that, warming an area seems a bit daunting if your floor is still kept cold due to the unnerving temperatures outside your house.
The best solution to save up energy is to use a radiant floor heater to include in your heating system. Because it does not act like a regular heater, it is more consistent in heating up a whole room. A radiant floor heater makes use of the ground as a heating platform in which a specialized mat will be laid down beneath your rug so that you will feel radiant heat all over the room. Depending on the size of the room and the size of your mat, you will find a radiant floor heater that will best fit your space and living area. Some offices and residential homes already use a radiant floor heater instead of largely depending on their already existing heating system so that they can conserve energy in the long run.
Installing a radiant floor heater can be a bit of a hassle but your energy bill will thank you so much. The main thing that you should consider as why you will want to buy a radiant floor heater is because it can save you pennies and cents in the long run when it comes to energy consumption. These radiant floor heaters will only operate less than 800 watts or so when it comes to power and they can provide slow but sure floor heating that does not make use of vents or powerful motors and help radiate heat evenly throughout any room or living space. This makes them a very effective innovation when it comes to heating up any room or office during the winter and cold months.
Contrary to vent systems that can cause allergies, a radiant floor heater does not use vent systems and heats up evenly throughout a room. The obvious benefit of using a radiant floor heater is that allergy sufferers will not have to go through air vent systems that induce air propulsion all throughout the room but will also blow up allergens in their faces, which can be bad for people with allergic rhinitis or hay fever. The main reason why these people want a radiant floor heater is the fact that heating comes slowly from the ground and rising up in the air slowly but surely and ensures an even heating that does not cause allergies and does not cost you too much when it comes to power consumption. A radiant floor heater is made to address the problems of air vents on allergy sufferers in general.
Some people think that a radiant floor heater can be costly, but it will be a great investment for heating up any commonly cold space in the future. Because you have to work with a mat to install a radiant floor heater and set up a thermostat to make some daunting connections, it may be true that you would need to get an experienced electrician to set up a radiant floor heater in your living space, but the costs are definitely worth the installation and the setting up of the system, as a radiant floor heater will not consume you big energy bills at all. This is why more and more people today are switching to radiant floor heater usage when it comes to heating up their office or home. However, take note that because a radiant floor heater only heats up slowly, it is only meant to be a supplemental source of heat and does not take the place of bigger heating machines you have in your house, because it only consumes smaller wattage of power.
How We Picked
When we chose the best radiant floor heater, we considered the following:
The size of the mat of the radiant floor heater matters, as well as the coverage area. A radiant floor heater should be able to cover a lot of square feet or area so that you will have more value for your money. You can check out the dimensions of a radiant floor heater so that you will know if the radiant floor heater will fit your bedroom, bathroom or anywhere you want to place the radiant floor heater to heat up your floors successfully during the winter.
If the radiant floor heater is UL listed or passed other certification, it is a great buy. A radiant floor heater that is UL listed means it has passed the safety and security standards when it comes to heating and electricity. Safety is the number one issue that you should consider when it comes to any heater, and a radiant floor heater is no different. In addition to that, the radiant floor heater can be also listed in other certifications and may be also endorsed by your local or national Department of Energy when it comes to energy saving purposes and safety.
A super slim radiant floor heater is what you will want so it is easy to hide and conceal. You will typically find a radiant floor heater that measures 1/8 inch in thickness or less than that because this makes it easier to hide the radiant floor heater from sight and under the rug. The radiant floor heater should not significantly raise the level of your rug or flooring so that it will be super slim but super effective when it comes to its radiant heating power in general.
The cable spacing of the radiant floor heater also matters. You will most likely find a radiant floor heater that has 3 inch spacing because this makes it more effective when it comes to heating up any flooring or area given to heat up.
You should look for a zero EMF (electromagnetic field) radiant floor heater which does not interfere with any home appliances. This is very important since a radiant floor heater does not use conventional heating processes. A zero EMF is very important but you will find a lot of radiant floor heaters out there that have zero EMF or if ever, very low EMF so that they don’t collide with your televisions, etc.
The power consumption and heating power of a radiant floor heater should be considered. You will definitely find a lot of radiant floor heaters out there that only consume less than 800 watts of power which makes them truly energy efficient and yet very effective when it comes to heating up any given room or space. A lot of radiant floor heaters out there are rated for use in 120 volts by American standards, though.
The ease of installation for any radiant floor heater is important, since it has been given that a radiant floor heater is never easy to install. Even if a typical radiant floor heater is quite hassling to install, there should be a few conveniences such as an adhesive back of the mat so that even simple DIY home owners can install them by their own without the need for a technician to do things.
Know where the radiant floor heater is best used for – on what type of flooring. Most radiant floor heaters are designed for heating up tiles, wood floors and concrete, since these are the types of flooring that will definitely get cold during the winter, or worse.
Know if the radiant floor heater includes a thermostat or you need to buy one. The best radiant floor heaters will definitely include a thermostat but at a higher price while some are budget options although you need to buy your own thermostat, which can either be programmable or fixed. Occasionally, some additional accessories may be included if you are going to buy a radiant floor heater that is a full kit.
Our Pick
HeatTech 30sqft Radiant Floor Heating System
Our best radiant floor heater is the HeatTech 30sqft Radiant Floor Heating System and the mat measures 18 feet in length and 20 inches in width. The cable has a spacing of 3 inches and it is rated for use on 120 volts. As for the coverage area, the floor heater covers up to 150 square feet of flooring space and it measures 30 square feet. Also, it comes with a thermostat that is programmable and has a floor sensing feature and it does not need to be stapled due to its flat design and adhesive backing which fits under the tiles well.
Being certified and UL listed in the USA and Canada, the HeatTech Heating System’s material is made from cold lead that is single armored. What’s more, the system output of the radiant floor heater is 12 watts per square feet or 41 BTUs per square feet.The heating wire should not be cut but the mesh can be cut. It makes use of a single thermostat and it has zero EMF or electromagnetic field.
The HeatTech 30sqft Radiant System runs with 360 watts of power and 3 amps and it is super ideal for use on vinyl floors, wood, laminate, tiles (porcelain or laminate), marble floors, granite, stone, mud rooms, saunas, bathrooms, kitchens, apartments, condominiums, residential homes and others. Being backed by a 25 year warranty, the floor heater comes with a user’s manual, the heating mat and thermostat with floor sensor and it does not raise the floor because of the fact that the heating cable has a thickness of only 1/8 inches.
Being very easy to install, the HeatTech Radiant Heating System does not require controls, circulators and boilers to install and the cold lead wire measures 10 feet in length to connect to the thermostat. Being an energy efficient radiant floor heater, it is ideal for areas that are rectangular shaped or have angles, turns and corners.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
A minor issue regarding the HeatTech 30sqft Radiant Floor Heating System is that some users would have wanted a CGFI for the thermostat that was included.
Step-up Pick
HeatTech 100sqft Radiant Floor-Heating Cable Kit
The HeatTech 100sqft Radiant Floor-Heating Cable Kit is our step-up pick and it has 4 inch spacing for the cable at 135 square feet. Being UL listed for the USA for safety, it has amperage of 10 amps and the cold lead measures 10 feet. It has 3 inch spacing for the cable at 100 square feet and has 2 inch spacing at 64 square feet and has an output of 1,200 watts with 3 watts per feet. The cable length is up to 400 feet and it has been rated for use on 120 volts.
The heating cable measures less than 1/8 inch in thickness and should not raise any floor. Moreover, the included thermostat can be programmed up to 7 days. The HeatTech Radiant Floor-Heating Cable Kit uses AUBE digital thermostat which senses the floor’s temperature and the cable set can cover 100 square feet of area. In fact, the heater for your floor can be used in apartments, kitchens, marble floors, granite, stone, tiles, bathrooms and showers.
With its ease of use, it does not require drilling or wiring when connecting to the thermostat. It is in fact, very easy to install and will give you comfort once it’s been set up and you can also use other floor sensing thermostats with this unit. Do know that for every 200 feet of cable, 25 feet of roll is needed. The HeatTech Heating Cable Kit is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty of 25 years and it includes a user’s manual, cable guides, heating cable and thermostat with floor sensor.
Budget Pick
GudCraft Tile Radiant Floor Heating System
Our budget pick which has been rated for use on 120 volts is the GudCraft Tile Radiant Floor Heating System which comes with a circuit breaker that is ground fault. For coverage, it can cover up to 8 square feet of area and it does not interfere with any other electronic device that you may have around the house due to the fact that it has zero electromagnetic field. It runs at a power of 100 watts which makes it budget saving.
The heating element measures less than 1/8 inch in thickness so it does not raise flooring height. It is a crowd favorite in radiant floor heaters. The element spacing is from 6 to 7 inches across any area and it can last up to 50 years. The GudCraft Floor Heating System is backed by a 1 year limited warranty.
Best Portable Radiant Floor Heater
SpeedHeat Rugbuddy 470 Under-Rug Space Heater
A radiant floor heater that spans 7 by 5 feet in dimensions that you will love is the SpeedHeat Rugbuddy 470 Under-Rug Space Heater which consumes only 500 watts of power with only 6 light bulbs. It is super safe to use without the risk of overheating, fire or shock and it does not emit carbon monoxide, which makes it super eco-friendly.
As a matter of fact, the SpeedHeat Rugbuddy only takes a few pennies to run daily (3 to 4 cents a day) and it safely hides under the rug without getting noticed. This is a supplemental heating system that is energy efficient and it has zero EMR/RF. It also uses a GFCI plug which not only makes it safe but can also be used in damp places such as the bathroom as it is completely waterproof in its design.
Moreover, the SpeedHeat Rugbuddy 470 Heater has a patented heating technology and it is very thin and unnoticeable at only less than 1/16 inch. Being certified by the IEC and NEC for safety as well as the US Department of Energy, the floor heater is currently backed by 5 years of warranty for labor and the only thing you need to provide is a thermostat.
Ideal Radiant Floor Heater for Laminate
Tepidus Mat WL Electric-Radiant InFloor/Under-Floor Heating-System
For laminate floors and wood floors, you can go for this radiant floor heater, the Tepidus Mat WL Electric-Radiant InFloor/Under-Floor Heating System, in which the air quality is improved because of its heating capability that does not require you to use allergen spreading vents. It is able to distribute radiant heat throughout any place or spot and brings warmth to any chilly floors and the floor ehater measures a length of 9 square feet.
It is rated for use on 120 volts and consumes only 15 watts of power, making it truly energy efficient. The Tepidus Mat Under-Floor Heating System is an ideal DIY radiant floor heater due to the self adhesive and mesh design.
Best Soundless Radiant Floor Heater
Nuheat F1809 Floor Heating 72″x36″ Standard-Mat
The Nuheat F1809 Floor Heating 72″x36″ Standard-Mat is rated for use in 120 volts and measures 72 by 36 inches. It uses a clean and soundless system in heating up any room or space and it is a radiant floor heater that is relatively easy to install. The radiant floor heater only requires a thermostat (programmable or non-programmable). Overall, the Nuheat F1809 Floor Heating Mat can save you a lot on your energy bill and it is super slim at only less than 1/8 inch in thickness for convenient heating and hiding.
Ideal Radiant Floor Heater for Wood
Happy Man Floors Underfloor Radiant Heating Mat
For wooden floors, the Happy Man Floors Underfloor Radiant Heating Mat can cover up any area within 10 square feet and it is also safe from EMF or electromagnetic field. It conforms to the NEC and is UL listed and it also uses a circuit monitor so that the heating wire will be monitored to keep it from getting damaged during the installation.
The Happy Man Floors Heating Mat can work on wood floors, marble, stone and tiles due to the self adhesive mesh surface and the included heating cable is very tough and very flexible. It has been rated for use in 120 volts and it also includes a thermostat and an alarm. The Happy Man Floors Radiant Heating Mat is a great DIY radiant floor heater to install and it greatly saves energy and money. The radiant floor heater runs at 1.0 amp while the mat spans at 18 inches in width.
Radiant Floor Heater with Nylon Outer Layer
ThermoSoft Electric Radiant In-Floor Heating System
The ThermoSoft Electric Radiant In-Floor Heating System can cover up to 15 square feet of area in any shape possible and this radiant floor heater has zero electromagnetic field (EMF) and does not interfere with any home device. The armored lead wires measure 10 feet and are easy to install and already attached to one of the mat’s end and it also uses a nylon layer that is mechanical resistant as well as alkaline and acid resistant.
Being made up of 4 insulation layers for better heating power, the ThermoSoft Heating System runs at 180 watts, rated for use in 120 volts and has an amperage of 1.5 amps. It is backed by a surprisingly convenient lifetime warranty. As a matter of fact, it can be used for wood floors, tile floors and the like. Being a UL listed radiant floor heater for safety and quality, all you need to provide is a thermostat.
Ideal Radiant Floor Heater for Large Operations
SunTouch 120045WD-BKIT WarmWire Radiant Floor Heating
The SunTouch 120045WD-BKIT WarmWire Radiant Floor Heating comes with a programmable thermostat and it has 3 inches spacing that consumes 12 watts/SF. The included cable spans at a length of 176 feet and this radiant floor heater is ideal for large areas within 45 square feet.
What’s more, the WarmWire has a thickness no more than 1/8 inch with great durability and the WarmWire is also resistant to impact. Overall, the SunTouch WarmWire Radiant Floor Heating gives you 17 percent fewer turns during installation. It is rated for use in 120 volts and it also has zero EMF.
The metal foil shield is cut resistant to give you more protection on the go while the heater can even be used in showers. Being made in the USA, the SunTouch Floor Heating backed by a 25 year warranty and it includes a tape, LoudMouth, sensor wire, coil strap, WarmWire spool and user’s manual.
Ideal Radiant Floor Heater for the Bathroom
HeatWeave 1200916U2HW 120-Volt UnderFloor Warming Mat
This radiant floor heater, the HeatWeave 1200916U2HW 120-Volt UnderFloor Warming Mat, measures 9.5 feet in total length and 16 inches in width and it has zero EMF or electromagnetic fields. Being rated for use in 120 volts, it is also available in other sizes. Just install by easily stapling between floor joists.
Being listed and certified by UL standards for safety, the HeatWeave UnderFloor Warming Mat uses Dual Wire technology and it is an energy efficient radiant floor heater which definitely helps to keep your floors dry. It is ideally used in the bathroom and the only thing you need is a thermostat.
The Competition
There weren’t a lot of radiant floor heaters out there yet because it is quite hassling and expensive to install. Nonetheless, these were the best radiant floor heaters we can gather for safety and quality.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the benefits of using radiant floor heating on your home system?
A: According to This Old House , a radiant floor heater gives you constant warming temperature and it does not steal body heat with its heating capability. It also gives you thorough thermal radiation and they are generally more energy efficient than most heating systems.
Q: What are the things you need to consider when choosing a radiant floor heater?
A: According to DIY Network , there are 3 types of radiant floor heaters. Radiant air floor heaters are used for offices and commercial buildings because they only give you average amount of heat while hydronic floor heaters are economical and more used for residential homes. On the other hand, electric radiant floor heaters are more expensive but give you unprecedented heating power on any home or establishment.
Do know that when installing, you should create a sub-base first by excavating a proposed heating area. You should give an insulating area and then rebar to the floor system space and then tie up a plastic tubing to the rebar and the top off with a slab foundation using concrete on the floor.
Wrapping It Up
To sum it all up, the HeatTech 30sqft Radiant Floor Heating System is our best radiant floor heater designed to keep tiles, wood and cement floors heated up during the winter and save you more on your heating bill in the long run, without the risk of allergens in the air due to vent systems.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.