Renovating a bathroom is an involved and sometimes stressful process, but it is also an exciting opportunity. Not only do you have the chance to make this important space into a relaxing oasis, but you can make all kinds of improvements to give your work longevity. 
From options such as water-saving toilets to a more economical use of the space, a complete remodel gives you a blank canvas with which to create your dream bathroom. Should you consider adding a heated bathroom floor during this process? Since you may already plan to go through the process of gutting the entire space, replacing the flooring is probably on your to-do list. With the underfloor exposed, now is the perfect opportunity to install one of the many commercially available solutions for heated flooring.
Why Go with a Heated Bathroom Floor?
Heated floors are all about creature comfort. A heated bathroom floor will contribute a negligible amount to warming the entire home; it’s not about replacing your furnace, but making individual rooms more comfortable. That desire is why you might want underfloor heating for those times during the year when it’s cold both outside and indoors. The tiles in your bathroom can stay cold for a long time, even when you run the heat in the rest of the home. Whether you’re stepping inside in the middle of the night or hopping out of the shower, bare feet on a cold floor is an unpleasant experience for anyone. The gentle, even heating possible with these installations gives you a comfortable surface to walk upon throughout the winter, and it’s hypoallergenic. You might even like to continue using it during the rest of the year when air conditioning might make your bathroom a little chilly again.
Why Remodeling is the Right Time to Make the Change
A heated bathroom floor can use either electric coils or a fluid-filled series of tubes called a hydronic heater. To achieve the pleasant, gentle warming you want from one of these installations, they require a proper installation beneath the primary flooring material you plan to choose. Therefore, there isn’t a way to install such a system without removing the existing flooring. Because most homeowners don’t see underfloor heating as an upgrade valuable enough to install on its own, combining it with an already destructive process is the best course of action. When you already plan to remove the existing flooring in the bathroom, why not explore the various solutions available? Hydronics and electric heaters alike are relatively simple to install when you use a licensed and insured contractor to carry out the work.
How an Under the Floor Heater for Your Bathroom Works
First, let’s consider the electric option. The installer runs a series of thin wires or coils throughout the floor, lays a special material over the top, and then allows your flooring contractor to finish the work with new tiling. When you flip the switch for your radiant heating system, an electric current passes through these wires, creating heat through resistance. With some time, these wires will allow a gentle heat to radiate up through the flooring.
Hydronics work similarly, but instead of electricity, they use a series of tubes filled with warm water or, in some cases, a glycol-based mixture for better heat retention. Water heated elsewhere in the house flows through the tubes beneath the flooring and, through the same mechanism, lets your feet feel nice and toasty.
What Maintenance Do These Heaters Need?
Good news — the answer to this question is “not much at all!” Due to the closed-loop nature of hydronic systems and the built-in elements of the electrical system, there are not many things that can go wrong with the system itself. Over time, elements may begin to wear out, but these are very long-term concerns. Unlike with an air conditioner or furnace, there are no filters to change and no need to bring someone to your home on an ongoing basis to service your system. However, a periodic checkup is still wise. Take proactive steps to spot potential failures before they develop by considering an annual service visit from a technician trained and qualified to work on underfloor heating solutions.
Choosing a Qualified HVAC Contractor to Help with Your Remodel
Does the idea of stepping onto a pleasantly warm floor in the winter, rather than frigid tile, sound like a dream come true to you? With hydronic or electric underfloor systems, a heated bathroom floor is within your reach — and if you already plan to remodel, it doesn’t require any additional disruption in your daily life. To ensure that you enjoy the most long-term value from your installation, always seek service from a well-respected and highly experienced heating and cooling technician. The right team will assist you in identifying the right solutions and carry out a high-quality installation you can enjoy for years to come.