Will Radiant Floor Heat Warm Carpet?

The short answer is, yes, electric radiant heat products can be used under carpet. But not all products are compatible with every floor type, and none that we sell are suitable directly under carpet without embedding the wire or mats in a layer of self-leveling mortar. Before installing any radiant floor heat under your carpet, always check with your carpet manufacturer to ensure that your flooring is suitable and safe for use with these systems, and confirm that the combined R-value of all floor coverings does not exceed R-3.

For the most efficient and safe heating with carpet, always use self-leveling mortar to encase floor mats or wire. The mortar adds only slightly more than ¼” rise, spreads the heat evenly, and helps protect the heating elements from sharp objects and spills that might penetrate your floor.

To install electric radiant floor heat under carpet follow these steps:

  1. Attach the cable, such as WarmWire cable, or mat to the subfloor or slab by following the manufacturer’s instructions for your product.
  2. Install the floor sensor between two heating wires.
  3. Make sure to run the power lead and floor sensor wires to the thermostat location.
  4. Pour self-leveling mortar ¼” to ½” thick, fully embedding the heating wire and the splice so that no portion of these are visible. Make sure to fully encase the splice between the heating wire and the cold lead in the mortar on the floor and that it is not attached to the wall.
  5. After the mortar bed has fully cured, proceed with installing the floor covering.

A final important note about radiant heat and carpet: For the safety of our customers, Warm Your Floor does not sell products that install directly under carpet without a layer of self-leveling mortar (the only UL-approved method, see above). We sell products only from top manufacturers who stand by their products with long warranties. We urge customers to be wary of any system that installs directly under carpet without mortar. Be sure to check for a UL listing, verify the heating element’s ability to withstand the weight or stress of furniture placed on top of it, and carefully assess whether the heating system is safe if the carpet gets wet.

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