What is the primary usage of Warm Tiles?

Warm Tiles is a network of cables placed in the mortar just below your tile, marble or slate floors to remove the chill.

What are the voltage, amps, and wattage requirements?

The Warm Tiles system is designed for 120V or 240V applications in North America. The current draw of the largest size cable is 10.7 amps. The system can be installed to dissipate either 12 Watts per square foot (when using the Standard 3" spacing) or 16 Watts per square foot (when using the Alternating 3"/1.5") spacing.

What is the warranty on the product?

There is a fifteen (15) year limited warranty on our Warm Tiles cables. Warranty details are provided in the instructions with each product or you may view the PDF version by clicking on the link below.

Warm Tiles Warranty

What types of flooring may use a Warm Tiles system?

Warm Tiles is designed for marble, ceramic, concrete, tile, slate, paver (brick, stone, etc.),laminate and engineered wood* type floors. It is NOT designed for wood, carpet, linoleum, or vinyl tile floors. Warm Tiles cable MUST be embedded in "cementitious material" (e.g., mortar). *For use under engineered, floating wood floors only. Not approved for nail down installations.

How long does it take Warm Tiles to warm a floor?

From the time the cables are turned ON it usually takes about half an hour to 2 hours to warm the floor, depending upon floor material and thickness.

How warm can I expect my floor to get?

The surface temperature of the floor depends upon several variables: the spacing between adjacent runs of cable, the depth from the cable to the tiles' surface, the total thermal mass of the floor, and the temperatures of the room and area beneath the floor. For this reason, the temperature range will vary from installation to installation. Generally, Warm Tiles cables will warm a floor to a maximum of about 90 degrees F.

Will there be enough heat for the entire room?

Warm Tiles is not designed as a primary heat source for any room.

Can I add this to my current circuit or does it require a separate circuit?

We recommend that the heating cable be the ONLY load on the electric circuit supplying power to the cable. Always check with your local electrical inspection agency prior to installing Warm Tiles.

Does this product need to be installed by a professional?

Warm Tiles is simple to install. Any skilled Do-It-Yourselfer with adequate knowledge of flooring and electrical wiring can install your own floor warming system. Just read the comprehensive installation instructions found in your floor warming kit and follow the steps.

How do I figure the size of cable that I will require to warm my floor?

You will need to measure the area of the floor that you intend to warm in square feet. When figuring square footage, do not include areas under toilets, vanities, plumbing fixtures, or inaccessible areas. Allow at least 1 inch from toilets or other fixtures. Measurements should be as accurate as possible. Once you have determined the square footage to be warmed, you can select the appropriate size Warm Tiles cable system.

Note: If you are considering installing Warm Tiles under a shower area, check local electrical codes to see if this is allowed.

Can I test the cable prior to installation?

Yes. A resistance reading can be taken with an ohmmeter. Insulation resistance can be verified with a megger. Do Not energize the cables prior to installation.

How is the cable installed?

Complete, detailed installation instructions are provided with every cable. Plastic strapping, provided with the cable, is stapled to the floor. The cable easily snaps into the strapping and is "laced" over the floor area to be heated. A cementitious mortar is then applied over the cables.

Can the cable be cut?

The length of heated cable CANNOT be altered. Cold leads, however, can be cut to desired length.

Should my application be insulated from below?

Placing insulation under your floor is not imperative; however, it will increase the operating efficiency of your Warm Tiles system by minimizing heat loss.

Can I install this cable in the walls of my bathroom?

No. The electrical codes (NEC in the US and CEC in Canada) do not allow heating cables to be installed behind walls.

Is a thermostat required for Warm Tiles cables?

A thermostat is recommended for all Warm Tiles installations. Easy Heat offers both 120V and 240V thermostats in two distinct models. The FTS Series thermostats offer comfort level programming options as well as a simple off position selector switch. The ET Series thermostat offers a simple on/off switch along with a temperature adjustment toggle and accept button. All Warm Tiles Thermostats have integral ground fault protection.*Per U.S. National Electrical code - installation in a bathroom requires that this device be installed on a circuit protected by a separate Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).

Is there a temperature range on the thermostat?

The thermostat can be set to various levels to maintain a constant floor temperature. You will quickly become familiar with your own comfort zone and its corresponding setting on your thermostat.

Can Warm Tiles cables be installed in showers?

Generally, Warm Tiles cables can be installed in tiled shower areas by installing the cables in a scratch coat using the standard method noted in the installation instructions. Then, a waterproofing membrane is installed over the cables to ensure that all water from the shower is directed to the drain and does not come in contact with the cables.

What happens if the cable gets damaged?

If the cable is cut or penetrated, the flow of current will be directed to the grounding braid surrounding the cable, thereby causing the ground fault protection to trip, which removes power from the cable. Depending on the type and severity of the damage, there is a possibility that a repair may be necessary.

How much does it cost to operate Warm Tiles?

Warm Tiles systems are very cost effective to operate. When used in conjunction with a setback thermostat, operating costs are about 1 cent per square foot of heated area per day. Note that the heat from a warm floor will disperse throughout the home and thereby offset home heating requirements.

Where did the idea for floor warming originate?

Well, it's thought that the early Greeks were the first to develop such a system but it was the Romans who put it to practical use with their hypocaust system. In many Roman buildings, mosaic tile floors were supported by columns below, which created air spaces, or ducts. At a site central to all the rooms to be heated, charcoal, brushwood and in Britain, coal were burned and the hot gases traveled beneath the floors, warming them in the process. The hypocaust system disappeared with the decline of the Roman Empire and "central heating" was not reintroduced until some 1,500 years later. The Romans were not alone in their development however, the ancient Koreans had their own system of floor heating. With temperatures in winter dropping to as far as 20 degrees below zero there was obviously a great deal to be gained by developing a system to keep warm. Since the 5th century they have built their homes with an "ondol" (which translates as "warm stone") floor. While similar to the Roman hypocaust system the ondol relies on warm water. This system is used in Korea to this day!

Can I bury the cable in concrete?

Yes, but the Warm Tiles cable must not be more than 3/4" from the surface of the floor.

Can I overlap the cable?

The cable MUST NOT touch, cross, or overlap itself at any point. This would cause the cable to overheat and require replacement.