Radiant floor heating installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What radiant floor heating installation is

Radiant floor heating installation puts electric mats or hydronic tubing under finished flooring or in a slab, connects a thermostat and a heat source, and pressure tests the system before it is covered. It heats a room from the floor up, which many people find more even than forced air.

Signs you need it

  • You are remodeling a bathroom, kitchen or basement and want heat in the floor before the tile or the finish goes down.
  • A tile floor is always cold, and you want heat that does not rely on a vent.
  • A room has no room for a radiator or a register, but the floor is open for work.
  • You are pouring a new slab or replacing a subfloor, which is a good time to add radiant tubing
  • You want to heat a floor that you already have, by adding mats under a new tile or a laminate floor.
  • The room is hard to heat with the existing system, and you want a zone that is quiet and out of sight.

What the pro does

  • Check the subfloor or slab, the floor covering plan and the location of the thermostat and the heat source.
  • Lay the insulation under the mats or tubing, and fasten the mats or the tubing to the subfloor or the slab reinforcement.
  • Connect the tubing to the manifold and the heat source for hydronic systems, or wire the mats to the thermostat for electric systems.
  • Pressure test the hydronic loops or check the electric mats for continuity and insulation resistance before anything is covered.
  • Install the floor sensor and the thermostat, and set the limits for the floor temperature suited to the finish.
  • Cover the system with the approved screed, mortar or floor underlayment, and run a final test after the cover is set.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Electric mats or hydronic tubing, since each system has different materials and labor.
  • Area to be heated and the number of zones needed.
  • Heat source, such as a boiler, water heater or electric supply, which changes the connection work.
  • Whether the job is new construction, a slab pour or a retrofit under existing finishes.
  • Floor covering type, since tile, stone, wood and carpet need different preparation and limits.
  • Electrical service and the circuit for an electric system.
  • Manifold, pumps, controls and the thermostat needed for each zone.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The system type, the zones and the area covered in each zone.
  • Mat or tubing spacing, length and the material used.
  • The heat source connection or the electrical circuit, listed separately.
  • The thermostat, floor sensor and control items, with the model.
  • Pressure test or continuity test results, and when they are done.
  • Warranty terms for the system and the installation.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you use electric mats or hydronic tubing, and why for this room?
  • How will you pressure test the tubing, and will I see the test result?
  • Is the floor covering I plan compatible with the heat limits you set?
  • What is the thermostat and the floor sensor setup, and how is the floor temperature limited?
  • What heat source are you connecting to, and does it have enough capacity for the zones?
  • Who pulls the permits for the electrical or the hydronic work, and will it be inspected?
  • What warranty covers the mats or the tubing, and who handles a leak or a fault?

Red flags

  • The pro covers the tubing or mats before pressure testing or continuity testing.
  • The pro cannot say what the floor covering limit is or how the floor sensor controls the heat.
  • The pro uses a mat or tubing that is not made for the floor covering or the room.
  • The pro does not provide a layout drawing showing where the tubing or mats run.

What you can do yourself

You can clear the room, mark the planned zones and the thermostat location, and keep a copy of the layout drawing for future work. Do not cut, pierce or stand on the mats or tubing once they are laid, and do not cover them until the test is done. Electrical connections, the manifold, pressure testing and the heat source belong to a licensed contractor or electrician.

Licenses and permits

Radiant floor heating installation is commonly done by licensed contractors, and electric mats often require a licensed electrician while hydronic work may need a licensed plumber or HVAC contractor. Check with your state or local licensing agency for the requirements that apply to your project.

Radiant floor heating installation questions

Can radiant floor heat go under tile?

Yes, it is commonly installed under tile and stone. The tile and the adhesive have to be rated for radiant heat, and the floor sensor keeps the surface within its limit.

Should I choose electric or hydronic?

Electric mats are simpler and suit small rooms or retrofits. Hydronic tubing suits larger areas and works well with a boiler or water heater. The room size, the heat source and the floor covering decide which fits.

Can I add radiant heat to an existing floor?

Often yes, but the floor has to be raised or the mats fitted into the existing finish. A technician checks the height, the floor covering and the subfloor before deciding.

How do I know if a leak has happened?

Hydronic leaks often show as a drop in pressure, a damp spot on the floor or a wet area in the subfloor. Call a technician right away if you see any of these.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More heating and cooling guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request radiant floor heating installation