System Selection Basics
Have questions regarding the proper selection of an electric floor warming system?
If you are new to floor warming, the steps outlined below will help guide you in the proper selection of a Warm Tiles® system.
For more detailed information pertaining to large floor warming installations that involve multiple kit use, multiple zones, or relay devices, please contact Technical Services for assistance.
Step 1: A Few Questions & Answers To determine which components are best for your radiant floor heating project, you will need to answer a few questions.
1. What voltage will this system be operating on - 120 Volt or 240 Volt?
- Warm Tiles® systems are designed to operate on 120 Volt or 240 Volt applications in North America.
- Either voltage is acceptable, but must be determined prior to making a selection.
2. Is the floor being heated above another heated room, or is it on a concrete slab or over a crawl space?
- For areas above another heated space, the cables are required to be spaced 3" apart. This is known as "Standard Spacing".
- For
concrete slabs, crawl spaces, or high heat loss rooms, the cables are
required to be spaced in an alternating fashion. First, 3" apart, then
1.5" apart, then 3" apart and so on. This is known as "Alternating
Spacing".
3.
Is the space being heated a relatively square or rectangular space with
few obstacles, or is it an irregularly shaped space with obstacles, and
several "ins-and-outs"?
- For relatively square or rectangular space with few obstacles, tile heating cable and mat systems are equally recommended.
- For irregularly shaped spaces, the unlimited design configurations of the cable system make it a perfect choice.
4. Other than temperature control, would you like to program the system to turn on and off automatically?
- All Warm Tiles® Cable and
Mat Systems are controlled with a Warm Tiles® thermostat. Thermostats
are available in programmable and non-programmable models.
- Programmable
models feature comfort-level programming options as well as a simple
off-position selector switch. Your may choose the pre-programmed
set-back mode to reduce energy usage and costs by as much as 50%.
- Non-programmable models offer a simple on/off switch and temperature control.
With
the above questions answered, you can now determine the Warm Tiles®
Cable or Mat System(s) needed for your project. Use Step 2a or Step 2b
depending on your choice of system.
Step 2a: Cable Kit Selection Basics
How do I know which Warm Tiles® Cable Kit to buy?
The
Warm Tiles® Cable system provides unlimited design configurations for
even the most difficult shaped room. The Warm Tiles® cable allows you to
install full floor warming coverage by lacing the cable on the floor
wherever you require a heated area. Our floor heating
systems comes with two different spacing options which enable these
extremely flexible cables to be installed virtually anywhere. In a
typical room above a heated area, simply space the cable
3”(7.61 cm) apart. For a room above an unheated area, on concrete slabs
or a high heat loss room such as a solarium, alternate the spacing from
3”(7.61 cm) apart, then 1.5”(3.80 cm) apart, then 3”(7.61 cm) apart and
so on. Simply snap the cable into the strapping included in your Cable
Installation Kit and follow the Cable Installation Instructions.
How do I calculate the area I plan to cover?
First, there is no need to install floor warming systems under base cabinets
or plumbing fixtures, within 2”– 8” (5.08–20.32 cm) of baseboards and
6” (15.24 cm) from the toilet flange.
Second, accurately
measure the length and width of the walkable heated areas of your room
in sections, as shown on the Warm Tiles® Cable Kit Room Layout Diagram below.
Add the walkable heated areas together to determine the total square footage of floor warming that will be needed.
Choose the correct system for your application by square footage from the Warm Tiles® Product Selection Charts for Cable Kits below.
 |  | Measure your space
| Example of Cable layout
|
Colored shaded areas represent where you would install your Cable System. A is 2'6" x 3’ = | 7.5 sqft
| B is (2'6" x 2’) ÷ 2 = | 2.5 sqft
| C is 3’ x 5’ = | 15 sqft
| A + B + C =
| 7.5 sqft + 2.5 sqft + 15 sqft = 25 sqft total heated area |
Select
Floor Warming Kit voltage, 120V or 240V, to match your power supply.
For areas larger than about 70 sqft (6.50 m2), the 240V kits may be more
economical. Use Standard 3” (7.61 cm) spacing for rooms above heated
areas. Use Alternate 3”, 1.5”, 3” (7.61 cm, 3.80 cm, 7.61 cm) spacing
for rooms above unheated areas, concrete slabs or high heat loss areas.
Step 2b: "SAM" Mat Kit Selection Basics
How do I know which Warm Tiles® SAM Mat Kit to buy?
The
Warm Tiles® "SAM" Mat System provides a quick and easy pre-fabricated
installation by using state-of-the-art cables mounted onto a self-adhesive mesh
backing. Warm Tiles® Mats are ideally suited for concrete slab or
multi-unit applications, as well as square or rectangular installations
where the mat fits the shape of the room. These standardized
rectangular mats help reduce installation time and labor costs. Custom
mats are available for a variety of shapes and areas. Simply adhere the
mesh to the substrate and follow your Mat Installation Instructions. How do I calculate the area I plan to cover?
First, there is no need to install floor warming systems under base cabinets
or plumbing fixtures, within 2”– 8” (5.08–20.32 cm) of baseboards and
6” (15.24 cm) from the toilet flange.
Second, accurately
measure the length and width of the walkable heated areas of your room
in sections, as shown on the Warm Tiles® Mat Kit Room Layout Diagram below.
Add the walkable heated areas together to determine the total square footage of floor warming that will be needed.
Choose
the correct system for your application by square footage from the Warm
Tiles® Product Selection Charts for Mat Kits below.

Colored shaded area represents where you would install your Mat System.
A is 20” x 6’ = | 10 sqft
| B is 20” x 6’ = | 10 sqft
| C is 20” x 3’ = | 5 sqft
| A + B + C = | 10 sqft + 10 sqft + 5 sqft = 25 sqft
total heated area. |
Product Selection Charts for Mat Kits
Select
Floor Warming Kit voltage, 120V or 240V, to match your power supply.
For areas larger than about 70 square feet, the 240V kits may be more
economical. All mats are 20” wide. Multiple mats may be used to
increase heated area of installation. All measurements are per
kit.
Warm Tiles® 120V Mat Kits
| Model No. | Mat Dimensions
| Coverage
| Amps* | SAM1010
| 20" x 6.67'
| 12-15 Square Feet
| 1.3 | | SAM1013 | 20" x 8.67' | 16-19 Square Feet
| 1.7 | SAM1017
| 20" x 11.33' | 20-22 Square Feet
| 2.2 | | SAM1020 | 20" x 13.33'
| 23-28 Square Feet
| 2.5 | SAM1025
| 20" x 16.67'
| 29-36 Square Feet
| 3.1 | SAM1033
| 20" x 22'
| 37-46 Square Feet
| 4.2 | | SAM1042 | 20" x 28'
| 47-54 Square Feet
| 5.3 | | SAM1050 | 20" x 33.33'
| 55-66 Square Feet
| 6.5 | SAM1062
| 20" x 41.33'
| 67-80 Square Feet
| 8.1
| SAM1075
| 20" x 50'
| 81-94 Square Feet
| 9.7
| SAM1087
| 20" x 58'
| 95-106 Square Feet
| 11.5
| SAM1100
| 20" x 66.67'
| 107-120 Square Feet
| 13.1
|
Warm Tiles® 240V Mat Kits
| Model No. | Mat Dimensions
| Coverage | Amps* | | SAM2010 | 20" x 6.67'
| 12-15 Square Feet
| 0.6 | | SAM2013 | 20" x 8.67'
| 16-19 Square Feet | 0.8 | SAM2017
| 20" x 11.33'
| 20-22 Square Feet | 1.1 | SAM2020
| 20" x 13.33'
| 23-28 Square Feet | 1.3
| | SAM2025 | 20" x 16.67'
| 29-36 Square Feet | 1.6 | | SAM2033 | 20" x 22'
| 37-46 Square Feet | 2.1 | | SAM2042 | 20" x 28'
| 47-54 Square Feet | 2.8 | SAM2050
| 20" x 33.33'
| 55-66 Square Feet | 3.1
| SAM2062
| 20" x 41.33'
| 67-80 Square Feet | 4.1
| SAM2075
| 20" x 50'
| 81-94 Square Feet | 4.8
| SAM2087
| 20" x 58'
| 95-106 Square Feet | 5.7
| SAM2100
| 20" x 66.67'
| 107-120 Square Feet | 6.5
|
Step 3: Thermostat Kit Selection Basics
How do I know which Warm Tiles® Thermostat Kit to buy?
Once you've chosen the Cable Kit(s) or Mat Kit(s) to cover your space, you'll need to add a Thermostat Kit for temperature control. Refer to the Chart below. Simply choose between a programmable or non-programmable model that matches your power supply and Cable Kit(s) or Mat Kit(s) voltage. The Warm Tiles® Thermostat Kit is designed for easy installation by a skilled do-it-yourselfer. However, you should always consult your local electrical inspection agency prior to beginning your installation. Refer to the Thermostat Installation and Operation Instructions in every Kit. Instructions vary between programmable and non-programmable models.
Product Selection Chart for Thermostat Kits
| Warm Tiles® Thermostat Kits | | Model No. | Voltage
| Programmable/ Non-Programmable
| Maximum Amperage
| | GTS-1 | 120 Volts
| Programmable
| 16 Amps
| | GTS-2 | 240 Volts
| Programmable | 16 Amps
| | ET-1 | 120 Volts
| Non-Programmable | 16 Amps
| ET-2
| 240 Volts
| Non-Programmable | 16 Amps
|
Other Manufacturers Thermostat Choices
|
Honeywell/Aube Thermostat
Kits
| | Model
No. | Voltage | Programmable/ Non-Programmable | Maximum
Amperage | | TH114-AF-120GA | 120 Volts
| Non-Programmable
| 15
Amps
| | TH114-AF-240GA | 240 Volts
| Non-Programmable | 15
Amps
| | TH115-AF-GA | Dual Voltage
| Programmable | 15
Amps
|
Step 4: Large Floor Warming Installations
For
larger spaces, more than one Warm Tiles® Cable or Mat Kit can be
attached to a single thermostat as long as the total combined amperage
of the kits do not exceed 16 Amps. If the heated area requires more than
16 Amps of load, you can choose to separate the area into more than one
zone, each with its own thermostat contol, or install a Relay Kit.
What are Relay Kits?
Relay
Kits are 24 Amp switches that are controlled by a single thermostat.
Like a thermostat, each relay can have two cable or mat kits attached to
it, but can handle up to 24 Amps of load instead of the 16 Amp load
maximum on a thermostat. When combined with the 16 Amp capacity of a
thermostat, up to 40 Amps of floor heating load can be controlled by a
themostat/relay combination. If this still doesn't cover the area you
want controlled by a single thermostat, add another relay for an
additional 24 Amps of load capacity. With a thermostat/relay/relay
combination, up to 64 Amps of load can be controlled by a single
thermostat. Keep in mind however that, like thermostats, relays require
an electrical circuit (usually 30 Amps each) to operate, and must be
connected to a thermostat and each other as per the instructions
included with each Relay Kit. This requires the ability to install the
appropriate electrical conduit during the rough-in process, or having
access during a renovation. As a final note, relays
are typically housed in a separate electrical box at outlet height, and
can be placed near the thermostat, or in any part of the room for ease
of connection.
We hope this information was helpful. For additional information, refer to the other sections of this website (Literature, Video Training, Tutorials, FAQ's, Troubleshooting), or contact us directly with your questions.
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