Operation
- What's the operating temperature range for a SunTouch floor warming system?
Radiant floors should not exceed 85° F at the surface. Past this point, you may experience discomfort. The best way to control your floor temperature is with a floor sensing control like a FloorStat. Most people like 80-85° F.
- Can I use a timer with my SunTouch radiant heating system?
Our FloorStat programmable controls include this feature.
- Can the SunTouch electric radiant floor heating system installed in my sunroom keep up with sudden temperature changes outside?
All slab-type radiant systems work best if you don't use an "on or off" strategy to control the temperature. Instead, use a modern programmable, floor sensing control that turns the temperature down (called a "setback") to a preset temperature when the floor is satisfied, but keeps residual heat in the slab to respond quickly when the floor starts to cool off. Each home is different, but start with a 5 degree F setback to see if the room responds the way you want. If not, you can adjust the floor temperature, setback temperature and lead time features of the programmable thermostat to get the performance you want. Try the SunTouch Programmable FloorStat and we think you will be very pleased. For smaller areas, say under 30 square feet, you might just want to install a non-programmable control and leave it on throughout the heating season.
- What objects can I put on top of my SunTouch warmed tile?
SunTouch can't be installed below built-ins, cabinets or walls, but rugs, hampers, scales and waste cans are OK when your finished floor is stone or ceramic. The area under the rug or other objects will get warmer, but won't cause any damage to the SunTouch or masonry floors. If you use any other type of flooring other than ceramic however, check with the floor manufacturer to make sure their product is suitable for a radiant floor and the objects commonly found on them.
- Can one control maintain temperature in two or more separate SunTouch floor heating mats?
You can connect up to 150 square feet of 120 VAC SunTouch to one FloorStat.
- How important is insulation to the performance of my radiant heated floor system?
It can be very important. If you are installing SunTouch in a bathroom over a frame floor, you would be smart to make sure the joists below the tile floor are insulated with fiberglass batts. Your floor will respond faster and you will waste less energy. If you are putting SunTouch on an existing slab, make sure you insulate any exposed edges with extruded polystyrene insulation. Place cork underlayment over the slab before you secure the SunTouch. If you are installing SunTouch in new construction, put insulation below the slab and at the perimeter.
- If I use SunTouch floor heating mats under a ceramic floor without a thermostat control, is there danger of fire?
SunTouch mats are Listed by Underwriters Laboratory and the focus of their tests is fire and shock prevention. Of course, you must install your system according to SunTouch installation instructions as well as all local building and electrical codes. If you operate your system without a thermostat, your floor could become uncomfortably warm and your operating costs could be higher than necessary, but it would not have a risk of fire if otherwise installed correctly. Your best option is a SunTouch Programmable FloorStat. This solid state control has a built-in floor sensor, built-in timer, built-in GFCI for safety, and built-in relay that allows up to 150 square feet of 120vac mat or 260 square feet of 240vac mat.
- How long does it take to warm my SunTouch floor from a cold start?
In a new installation, the mat is working to warm the entire cold mass of the floor. Framed floors heat up quickly-- usually it takes about 30-60 minutes. A slab can initially take a day or longer to come up to temperature, depending on the conductivity and moisture content of the slab and the material below the slab. If your radiant floor is over a heated space and there isn't a lot of heat loss from the room, these times are reduced. Once you program your Programmable FloorStat control however, you won't worry about timing issues. The FloorStat has the ability to learn how long the floor takes to reach the comfort temperature, and will automatically start the control early to reach this temperature at the programmed time. Click here to read more about this "Early Start" feature.
- Will the heated area below the SunTouch mat behave differently than the unheated area around it?
The temperature difference between your heated areas and non-heated area will not cause a problem. SunTouch radiant heated floors should not be operated above a surface temperature of 85° F. This setting is perfect for warming your feet and warming your space, but not enough to damage your floor. Install the floor sensing Suntouch control so you use only enough energy to do the job and nothing more. When your floor is warm, the control turns off the floor warming system. On average, the electricity to the floor is on about 1/3 of the time. You can also use a SunTouch programmable control to make sure your floor system is off when you are at work or asleep.
- How warm does my SunTouch floor get when it's operating?
Most people prefer about 80° F, but 85° is the upper limit. We recommend you use a SunTouch floor sensing thermostat so you can set the temperature to your liking and make sure you don't warm the floor past 85°. Concrete slabs may not reach this temperature because they are colder initially. They may only reach 65° to 75° F.
- How much electricity does my SunTouch mat use?
A 10 square foot long radiant under floor heated mat uses only 120 watts, the same amount of electricity as two 60 watt light bulbs. As an example, an average 100 square foot bathroom with 50 square feet of SunTouch uses about 10 cents per day if it operates 6-8 hours each day at a utility rate of 10 cents per kilowatt/hour. If you operate the floor more than a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening, then your cost will be more.
