Pros and Cons of Heated Bathroom Floors | Terrys Plumbing

Pros and Cons of Heated Bathroom Floors


There’s no doubt that heated bathroom floors are a luxury more than a necessity. Heated bathroom floors not only make your bathroom more comfortable and appealing, but they also contribute to more efficient heating. It’s hard to resist adding this bit of spa-like luxury to your home. Here we look at the pros and cons of adding heated floors to your next bathroom remodel. 

How Do Heated Bathroom Floors Work?

Creating heated floors in a bathroom involves installing a source of radiant heat underneath your flooring. The heat could be provided by either an electric heating element or hydronic heating. Electric heating is the more common of the two and makes use of electric cables to generate heat. They’re embedded in thin mats that are installed under different types of floors. Whether your floors are tile, engineered wood, or even stone heated floors can work for you.

Pros of Heated Bathroom Floors

  • Uniform Heating – The best thing about heated bathroom floors is uniform heating. They heat both the floor and the entire bathroom, providing a comfortable ambient temperature. With heated bathroom floors, there are no cold spots.
  • Energy Efficiency – Did you know that heated bathroom floors are 25% more energy-efficient than traditional HVAC units? Electric floor heating systems take less than an hour to warm a bathroom and do so more evenly.
  • Customization – These units are user-friendly. They come with thermostats that have adjustable temperature settings so you can create the perfect temperature. On top of that, they have timers too to control temperature no matter the time of day or night.
  • Higher Resale Value – Heated bathroom floors add value to your home, which increases its resale value too. Potential buyers love surprise luxury details.

Cons of Bathroom Heated Floors

  • Installation Process – Whether you opt for an electric or hydronic heating option, the installation process can take time. This is because you have to remove existing flooring to install equipment. It’s never convenient to have your floors torn apart, even though the outcome is worth it in the end.
  • Repairs – Although heated floors are mostly maintenance-free, occasional repairs may be necessary. A licensed professional can use a thermal camera to find the issue. If there’s a problem, it might require ripping up your stylish bathroom floors to fix the problem.
  • Cost – Both types of heated flooring can be expensive. Electric floor heating is budget-friendly during installation. But over time, expect that you have to deal with operating costs. Hydronic floor heating is more expensive upfront, but the operation cost is lower.

Get Terry’s Plumbing Today!

Now that you know the pros and cons of heated flooring are you ready to make a choice? If you have questions about a bathroom remodel or renovation project, feel free to contact us. Our professional team is always happy to help! Call today at 412-364-9114.