Imagine waking up on a cold winter morning, still comfortable and warm in bed, eventually getting up to start the day, and your feet hit an icy cold floor! It shakes the comfort right out of any morning. Sure, you could wear socks, but even they aren't immune to the sting of a frosty, uncarpeted floor. But there is another alternative that gets rid of that annoying cold floor for good, and that alternative is heated flooring. Heated flooring is self-explanatory, but how exactly does it work? And is never having cold tootsies again worth it? Continue reading and find out!

A radiant heating system powers heated floors. Radiant heating has the same effect an open oven has once heat escapes the confines of the oven. According to energy.gov, "The systems depend largely on radiant heat transfer -- the delivery of heat directly from the hot surface to the people and objects in the room via infrared radiation." The report says, "Despite its name, radiant floor heating depends heavily on convection, the natural circulation of heat within a room as the air warmed by the floor rises." There are also three types of heated floor systems: air-heated, electric, and hydronic. The most popular of the three is hydronic (which means the liquid is circulating) and the most cost-effective where available.

So, is all the installation and work worth the result? Well, the shelf (or, in this case, floor) life of heated flooring can last up to 35 years, so it's a sound investment. It is also a great add-on feature if the home is ever up for sale! Having heated flooring sounds like it would tack on more to utility bills every month, but quite the contrary. The heat radiating from the floors, generally warming the feet, keeps the body comfortable, making it easier on the thermostat in the winter. Sure, you could get a portable heater, but almost all of them have an odd humming sound that is annoying if it's often run throughout the cold months. A heated flooring system creates no extra noise. It lessens the usage of the central air in the home, pushing out allergens that could affect allergy sufferers. Another great benefit is that it doesn't have to be all over the entire house! With the electrical heating system, mats can be placed under some regions of the floor to centralize the flow of warmth.

Ultimately, having a heated floor system is an intelligent and comforting addition to a home in the winter or anytime there's a chill in the air. Never again start your day on the wrong side of the bed on a cold floor!

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