EasyFloor is a unique method of constructing in-floor hydronic heat panels (radiant floors) that are designed to deliver radiant warmth to homes or buildings. The system is easy to install and provides impressive operating efficiency and even heat distribution throughout a room.

The FloorHeat Company provides the EasyFloor System to offer coherent, pre-engineered hydronic heating solutions to consumers, plumbing heating contractors, and builders.  The EasyFloor System is a collection of two products – our EasyFloor radiant floor and our custom-built EasyPanel distribution panels and manifolds.  While each product can be ordered separately, most customers prefer pre-designed and pre-tested solutions.  We don’t just supply ‘pieces and parts’, we provide in-floor hydronic radiant heat systems – at a price that is remarkably affordable.  

Radiant heating transfers radiant energy into a room, similar to the heat an active lightbulb provides around it. The sections of the EasyFloor System work together to release radiant energy to cooler objects in a room. The air itself is warmed as it comes into contact with the radiant floor and heated objects throughout the room.

A properly constructed radiant heating system utilizes a thermal mass to store and release energy into the room. generally, this mass is stone or a concrete type material that can retain radiant energy. Radiant systems without a thermal mass are inherently less efficient.

Many people have the misconception that radiant floors must feel ‘hot’ in order to do an effective job in ‘heating’ a building.  Remember, however, radiant heat is not about heating the building but about ‘warming’ the objects in a building (the floor, the counter top, the kids, cat and carpet).  If the floor feels ‘hot’, it is too warm and will feel uncomfortable to the people in the building.  Ideally, the temperature of the floor in a properly managed radiant system is less than 80 degrees – a temperature that the human body senses is not too hot or too cold – just right.  So, when the thermostat calls for heat, the floor is brought up to around 80 degrees and radiant energy is released from the floor into the room.

The EasyFloor System is designed to work with a variety of heat sources depending on fuel preference and availability, BTU requirements, local building code requirements, and personal preference.  Heat sources can include ‘upper end’ hot water heaters and boilers fired by natural gas, propane gas, electricity and wood in addition to geothermal and solar systems.  

EasyFloor radiant floor is designed to work with many different kinds of floor covering – but when selecting floor covering, be sure to mention to your floor covering supplier that you will be utilizing in-floor radiant heating.  Most floor covering products have published ‘R’ factors which will determine their suitability for use with EasyFloor.  Please keep the following points in mind:

• Carpet works well with EasyFloor. Select a typical carpet with reasonable-thickness (avoid long pile and tight pile carpets).  Select carpet pads made from relatively thin, flat cellular sponge rubber or synthetic fibers (avoid fiber/hair/jute and waffle rubber).  Specially designed radiant floor pads are now available.  Carpet and pad should not exceed an R factor of 3.5.
• Hardwood also works great with EasyFloor. Engineered floors and certain natural hardwoods (recommend 3/8” quartersawn) can be installed over the backer board by gluing directly to the backer or floating on the backer.  Consult with the product manufacturer or FloorHeat Company for installation methods.
• Ceramic tile is the most efficient material for conducting heat into the room. There are several choices for applying tile over the backer – depending upon floor deflection, and the type and size of tile.  In general, properly installed EasyFloor with secured backer does not change the deflection characteristics of the floor.  Please consult your tile installer or the FloorHeat Company for specific recommendations.
• Laminates are typically floated on the thermal mass – first taping the joints on the thermal mass and applying the laminate pad over the backer.
• Vinyl flooring can also be used with EasyFloor. However, you should install a thin wood underlay material on top of the thermal mass to prevent the seams in backer board from showing through to the vinyl.

The FloorHeat Company will work with your HVAC contractor to help design a highly efficient air conditioning system to operate in conjunction with your EasyFloor system.  Typically, single story residences place the air conditioning air handler in the first floor attic or other suitable location and run flexible 6” ducts into the ceiling of each room – allowing the cool air to fall into the room.  For two story buildings, a high velocity air conditioning system that utilizes mini-ducts is an excellent choice.  FloorHeat can provide you information on both methods.