Carpet Over Radiant Heat

Optionally if especially high point loads are anticipated on a floor it is advised that a thin layer of underlayment plywood be applied over ecowarm radiantboard prior to carpet and pad installation to protect the very tough pex radiant tubing.

Carpet over radiant heat. You need to use carpet sparingly with radiant heat because of this. If the carpet is thick then the r value is 2 1 a significant increase that will build a higher thermal resistance. Carpet is naturally an insulator which makes it more difficult for radiant heat. Carpets tend to absorb dust.

The designer and installer of radiant systems should be aware of these limitations in order to direct the building owner into making wise floor covering decisions to read more click the link above. Rubber pad allows the heat to transfer from the carpet better than any other type of padding. As with all radiant heating installations a thin slab foam rubber pad should be used in all cases. Carpet thickness often ranges from about 1 8 inch thick to 1 inch but there is some variation.

Like the padding radiant heat works better with thin carpet. The thickness generally correlates to. You can use a few area rugs over the flooring but avoid large. Radiant floor heating on the other hand is quite tolerant of carpeting although there are limitations.

The overall thickness of any materials above the heater needs to be taken into account too as this will ensure efficient heat transfer. Underfloor heating heats up objects rather than the air and does not cause air circulation. Furthermore the hot air from conventional radiators causes the air in the room to circulate. Carpet and in floor radiant heat work well together but it takes more coordination than usual.

This includes any underlays and overlays. It is the nature of the beast in floor radiant heat. What type of flooring should not be installed over radiant heat. As a result of this they circulate the dust and impurities.

The single most important choice you will make for your basement carpeting if you have radiant heat is the pad you select. To safely and effectively install wool over electric radiant floor heating it is best to have the wool carpet at 3 8 which will give it an r value of 1 575. Radiant floor heating with carpet underfloor heating is well suited for use under carpet provided that care is taken when choosing the carpet. While rubber pad costs more than other types of carpet padding it is inherently anti microbial and provides a great feel underfoot.

You don t have to rule carpeting out though. You always have the option of putting a rug over a hard floor.