Frequently Asked Questions
Questions the excellent people who are or are about to become our customers have asked or are wondering about:
1. Does it make any difference if I use a 120 volt system or a 240 volt system?
Answer:
The answer is 'yes' and 'no'.
The 'no' part is that if it is a small room, less than 150 sq. ft., using 120 volts is quite acceptable. The thermostat is rated at 1,800 watts. The floor element is rated at 12 watts per sq. ft. Therefore if you are using a #12 wire from the Breaker to the thermostat, 120 volts is fine.
The 'yes' is that at 240 volts, you can cover more sq. footage. The 240V thermostat is rated at 3,600 watts. With the floor element at 12 watts per sq. ft., you can cover up to 300 sq. ft. of floor.
Customers are sometimes under the impression that a 240 volt system is more efficient than a 120 volt sytem. There is no difference in efficiency of electrical power at either voltage because the electrical load is purely resistive. Heating loads are normally at 240 volts because the same wire (#12/2 w Grd.) can be used to carry twice the amount of electrical load (watts).
2. Do I need an electrician to install the Best Heat® element?
Answer:
The Best Heat element is designed for the DIY market. Normally the floor installer, whether it be for under floating floors or under tile/stone floors is quite capable of installing the element. The wires are either run across the floor to a junction box on the wall or dropped down into the room/crawl space below. Either way the installer can do this. Now the electrician gets involved as a junction box needs to be installed and wires run up to the thermostat box and to the breaker in the main electrical distribution center. Most installers are not equipped to take resistance readings and ensure the element and thermostat are installed correctly. We do recommend an electrician at this point.
3. Can I leave spaces between the element runs?
Answer:
The answer is an emphatic NO. Unless you are single and don't have a mother or any friends! Otherwise you will be walking on 'hot' 'cold' 'hot' 'cold'. Not a pretty picture. This is even more true with laminates than with tile floors. Do not do this to yourself, you will not be happy.
4. Do we have any heat comparison charts?
Answer:
Manitoba Hydro, a crown corporation developing hydro electric power mainly from rivers & dams have given us some up to date comparisons for the use of various energy forms for heating our homes.
Note: The electric rate in Manitoba is 6 cents per KWHr
5. How does a Best Heat® floor heating system compare to other electric heating systems in operating costs?
5. How does a Best Heat® floor heating system compare to other electric heating systems in operating costs?
Answer:
