How To Install Electric Radiant Heat Under Tile

Installing Heated Floors Nether Your Tile Can Be Daunting

In this article, we will explain the major steps on installing our QuietWarmth Peel and Stick Radiant Estrus Film for Tile and Glue-Down Floor. Not only is QuietWarmth great for DIY consumers, but it is also budget friendly while offer oestrus for your family.

Installation Video:

To start you lot tin can view our full installation instructions by clicking on the following epitome.

Full Installation Guide

Preparing the Job Site

i. Ensure the job site is clean earlier working with the QuietWarmth® Peel & Stick Radiant Heat, gratuitous of any nails,
screws and other sharp debris that could damage the mats.

2. Tile flooring installations must see subfloor requirements set along by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA).

What You Will Demand

QuietWarmth® Pare & Stick Radiant Oestrus mats
Thermostat: An approved thermostat
GFCI Breaker (if not role of the thermostat)
Junction Boxes: Minimum of two boxes required for each room or area. One box (2×iv inch) required for thermostat, one box (four×4 inch) required for electric connections.
Tools: Digital ohm meter (multi-meter), wire stripper, screw driver, wood chisel, knife
Tile installation products (3/8" x 1/4" or greater plastic trowel, mortar, backer lath, tile, etc.)
12/2 Romex

Electrical Installation

Footstep 1. GFCI Installation

QuietWarmth® Peel & Stick Radiant Rut mats must exist protected by a Course A footing fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). This can be done either past the internal GFCI in the thermostat (every bit long as it direct controls the mat), or by a GFCI protected circuit billow. Never double protect the excursion with a GFCI at the thermostat and at the circuit breaker box. Follow all local building and electrical codes. Typical Amperage Requirement: 120 VAC QuietWarmth: 0.1 amps per foursquare foot, or 10 amps per 100 square foot of mat.

Step 2. Install Additional Ability Modules

Depending on the amperage requirements of the mat(s), one or more than secondary ability modules may exist required. A power module is a relay or non-controlling thermostat and must be treated equally such. Information technology allows the expansion of the controlled expanse that the master thermostat tin can control, but information technology must be placed on it's own 20 amp dedicated circuit and do not load the thermostat control with more than 15 amps. The National Electrical Code specifics that each branch circuit used in conjunction with a heating system must be for the exclusive apply of the heating system. Practice not connect lights, outlets, etc. to whatsoever co-operative circuit used with the QuietWarmth Tile Heat.

Step 3. Install Electrical Boxes

Install Junction box for the control device (thermostat) according to the manufacturer's instructions. This box should be located, unobstructed, on an inside wall so that the device reads accurately.Install a 4×4 inch junction box for making electrical connections betwixt the mats and thermostat.

Step 4. Bottom Plate Piece of work

Drill or saw holes at the lesser plate. One hole is for routing ability leads or conduit and the other is for the thermostat sensor. These holes should be directly below the electric box(es). Information technology is recommended that you drill or saw holes at the lesser plate. You lot may also use a notch technique equally an alternative.

Stride 5. Install Power Lead Conduit

Route the ability leads from the thermostat down the wall crenel through opening in the bottom of plate to connect the mats.

Footstep 6. Install Thermostat Sensor
* if thermostat comes with floor sensor

A floor sensor comes with the recommended thermostat command. The sensor wire tin exist installed without a conduit or in a conduit separate from the electrical power leads if conduit is required by code. Open a 2d knockout in the bottom of the thermostat box. Feed the sensor (and conduit, if including) through the knock-out, down the wall cavity, through the opening in the bottom plate. Temporarily tape the sensor to the slab or subfloor in a location approximately 6" to 12" from the wall—final location of sensor later mat installation will be taped down at the border of or in between 2 mats so that the sensor is not directly above a heating mat. Butt the sensor up confronting the side of the mat for best results. Notation: The sensor is located in the thermostat packaging.

Step vii. Rough in the Wiring

Install appropriate electric wire (usher) from the power source and breaker protection to the thermostat following all codes. Get out 6" to eight" actress wire at the thermostat box.

Installing the Mats

Step 1. Inspect and Test Heating Mats

Verification that the heating mats were received in operable condition is important prior to installation. When the heating mats are removed from the shipping box, test the resistance using ohm meter and record the information. If the resistance reading varies more than than ±3% from the recorded readings on each mat, do non install the mat and contact your supplier for assistance.

Step two. Preparing the Stable Sub-floor

Articulate the floor of all debris, nails, etc. so the floor is smooth, clean and dry.

Cut & Customizing

Pace 1

Cut the mat to the required length Information technology is important to merely cut BETWEEEN the Blackness Stripes. Practise Non cut into them as this volition cause the GFCI to trip.

Pace 2

Terminate the cease with greenish insulating discs Cutting back one black heat stripe from both ends of the panel making sure not to cut into black stripe. Fold one Kapton Insulating Disk, (Green dots supplied in kit) on the ii silver jitney bar endings on the panel on the opposite side from the thermostat location. Green insulating deejay must be folded over the acme and bottom of silver jitney bar. Make certain the green kapton deejay is covering the bus bar and the black ink expanse exactly as in the figure.

Pace 3

*This step must exist done regardless if you are cutting the mat or not. Otherwise it will lead to nuisance tripping of the GFCI and void the warranty.

Sealing the heater by removing the liners.

Fold back and pucker the top "flap" on each end of the heating panel(s).

Skin back the bottom release liner on the within of the flap and adhere the heating chemical element by pressing down firmly.

Once the heating element is adhered to the lesser of the flap carefully peel dorsum the upper release liner and press down to seal the edges of the membrane.

Brand Sure TO Press OUT Whatever AIR BUBBLES Every bit You lot ARE ADHERING THE TOP FLAP TO THE Bottom.

Proceed with the rest of the steps for installation on the following pages.

Check the resistance reading once more to the new customized size.

Stride 3. Laying the Mats

Connexion leads from the mats are 15 feet long, and can exist cut to desired length to connect at the junction box. The heating mats should be laid and then the connection leads are running to the wall of the room where the thermostat/junction box is located. The post-obit steps will guide in the installation of the mats:

ane. With the release liner nonetheless on, position all the mats into place. Make sure the leads are within accomplish of the junction box and that there are no obstructions or floor penetrations in the way. Brand sure the position of ALL mats is satisfactory before the next step.
ii. When all the mats are in proper position, roll the stop with the connections back far plenty to peel back approximately 12" (30cm) of the release paper to expose a portion of the adhesive surface.
3. Press this exposed section of the mat onto the surface and and so gyre the other cease back to the bespeak where the release paper was removed.
4. Begin pulling the release liner off and hand smoothen the mat into position equally it unrolls to attain a positive bond while avoiding trapping air bubbling.
5. For adjacent mats, follow the same procedure starting with alignment of the side by side mats in a butt joint mode. Do not overlap mats.
six. Pare off quick release liner and ready mat in place, leaving clearance to walls or partitions at the connector cease for wiring and final connections.
seven. Make sure to seal the flaps on each side of the mat(s). Come across page 10, Stride 3 for directions.

Step four. Install the Thermostat Sensor

As the mats are installed, locate the thermostat sensor probe. Sensor probe tin be held in position with a small amount of record. The sensor should extend approximately six" to 12" from wall adjacent to the mat shown. Be careful not to locate the sensor near other heating sources such every bit a heating duct below the flooring.

Step 5. Connect the Electrical Leads
Now, depending upon your wire lead installation, road the lead wires from each of the individual mat forth the base of operations of the wall and upwardly to the junction box. Depending on the thickness of the mortar bed, you may also demand to chisel a space nether the indicate where the wires connect with the mat in order to recess the connectedness. Exist extremely conscientious not to harm the heating mat or connexion.

Annotation:
The thermostat sensor is thicker than the heating mat. If thin-setting over backer board or slab, saw a groove to recess the sensor to the level of the mat. Employ duct tape to secure the sensor in the groove. Do not damage the sensor. Ensure the sensor is set down so it is level with the mat and not on superlative of the mat. Thermostat Sensor Sensor located 6-12" from wall

A visual and electrical check must be performed on the heating mats prior to activation.

Visual Inspection

Likewise perform a visual check to expect for whatever signs of impairment to the mat or electric leads that may have occurred during installation. When visually checking the mats, await for any signs of impairment, wear, or scratching that might take occurred during installation. If any portion of a mat appears damaged, supersede the entire mat. If damage is found, call the technical hotline at 888-WARM-PAD or email [electronic mail protected] for advice and/or replacement aid.

Continuity/Resistance Check

Following installation, a 2d resistance check across the supply leads of each mat using a digital ohm meter must exist made to observe whatsoever brusk or open circuits that may take resulted from the installation process. If the resistance check is the aforementioned equally the original reading shown on the mat label, the mat is installed properly and no farther testing is required.

If the resistance readings are not inside ±three% of the indicated value on the mat then call 888-WARM-PAD. If the resistance is Goose egg: This indicates a brusque circuit. Cheque the path that the wiring is taking and make sure that no wires are pierced or otherwise damaged. Mats with damaged non heating leads must be replaced.

Exam for Heating

1. Install control device and connect to electrical console box. Install and wire the control device according to manufacturer'due south instructions.
ii. Wire the heating mat(s) to junction box, and wire the junction box to the thermostat according to the manufacturer'southward instructions.
3. Turn on the breaker and arrange the thermostat so that it is calling for heat. Refer to the installation sheets provided with the controls for proper setting. After all controls are installed, practise not energize the arrangement, except to briefly test operation of all components.
4. After the system has been on for several minutes, run your paw over the heating mats to ensure that they are warm. The estrus is a gentle heat and will only heat upwards slightly until the floor is installed. It will not go hot to the touch. Just a slight warm feeling. The organization should now operate as designed. Please leave the instruction sheets for the thermostat in a safety place for hereafter reference.
5. Once heating has been verified, turn off the organization.

Terminal Floor Installation

The mats are now ready for tile installation using a latex modified thin-ready with a maximum thickness of 3/8" subsequently the tile is embedded. It is recommended to use a plastic notched trowel to help prevent damage to the heating mat surface. Take care during the troweling procedure to non nick or cut into the mat or cold atomic number 82 wires. A continuous circuit monitor alarm tin be used to alarm you if the cold atomic number 82 wires have been cutting during the installation. Damaged common cold leads can lead to GFCI tripping issues and/or the mat not working. It is all-time to be sure you haven't damaged the cold leads earlier the floor is installed.

Nosotros recommend working with professional person floor installers to make sure proper materials are used and proper installation techniques are followed. Install the floor covering according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use a digital ohm meter to check the rsistance of the mat(s) and sensor(s) earlier, during and after the installation of the finished floor roofing. Record the reading of QuietWarmth® Peel & Stick Radiant Rut on the Heating Organisation Checklist & Warranty Registration Form, continuing to bank check for short circuits acquired by nicks or pinches. If possible, have photographs of the mat installation before installing the flooring.

Tile, Stone, and Marble Installation

When installing QuietWarmth® Peel & Stick Radiant Heat under tile, stone, or marble, nosotros highly recommend Tile Counil of North America (TCNA) guidelines or ANSI specifications for minimum standards of installation. We recommend latex-modified or epoxy modified mortar and grout, instead of water-based multi-purpose materials.

Use full coverage of thin fix with no voids. Spot Bonding (Dot Mounting), and leaving large voids, is unacceptable and will atomic number 82 to a crunching dissonance where the rut mats are installed. Thin set must exist installed following TCNA/ ANSI standards. Spot bonding of tile that but gives partial contact leaving large voids is not an adequate method for tile installed on floors with thin-set mortars.

Select the proper size PLASTIC trowel for the installation of tile or stone. We recommend a minimum iii/8" x 1/four" trowel. This trowel works best for most ane/4" tile.

If you lot need more information on tile installation, contact TCNA at (864) 646-8453 or visit their Web site at www.tileusa.com.