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Topic: Electric Underfloor Heat (Read 696 times) previous topic - next topic

Electric Underfloor Heat

I'm expecting to be spending quite some time in very cold climate this winter (North Dakota) and am starting to make some cold weather modifications despite it being mid-summer now. 

I've got one of the single furnace U270s and am replacing the carpet in the bedroom and bath area with hardwood floors.  While this is all up, I've been debating if I should add underfloor heat pads or wiring between the underlayment and the hardwood. 

I'm not too worried about the inefficiency of the electric heat just more interested in whether it makes any sort of difference since the bedroom and bathroom are heated off the single thermostat up near the driver's seat.

I'm not expecting it to be as wonderful as in-slab hydronic heat in a home but I would appreciate any thoughts from anyone who has had floor heat in a coach.


Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #1 –
 Our first FT a 93 ORED GV was custom built for the Canadian north with low voltage heat wires on all water lines wired to about 6 relays. The underneath of basement floor had a 4" deep box in 3 sections which was insulated inside with 1" pink foam sheets. This made a great difference in keeping floors warmer. The only problem was if you needed to work under there was a lot more stuff to remove. I had to remove the black tank soon after buying it and along with the usual stuff to take off this was another thing to do. Now with pit it would not be a problem but then it was. Never understood why FT placed that tank right in front of the passenger rear Duals,only covered by some spray foam? If you blew a tyre there goes that tank too I would think.
FT told me that this GV was the only one they ever did this underfloor mod' and heating of lines too. Cost way more than they figured!!
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #2 –
Robert, wonderful in tile even in showers and bathrooms.  They say every dime you spend u get back in reduced overall heating costs.

wood is no problem. We would like to makenthis mod. A 200sqft bathroom costs in materials and thermostat about $320. It takes a dedicated 15A circut. Dedicated because it all goes thru the thermostat.  Evens out after warm up at about 5 amps.muse the mats not the wire. ^.^d

what takes you to nd in winter, plannin on willistant?



The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #3 –
We have in floor heat and it is very nice; helps a great deal.  I would recommend you add it.

Roy
Roy Dameron
Ex 2009 42ft Nimbus
Jeep Unlimited

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #4 –
My FT got tile floor throughout during renovations at FT by a previous owner. I really wish they would've spent the extra couple bucks and put in the electric underfloor heat. There are no downsides: it doesn't weigh anything, doesn't have to be used, and is essentially maintenance free! Tile gets kinda chilly even though the coach isn't cold.

1998 U270 34'

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #5 –
Quote from: krush –
My FT got tile floor throughout during renovations at FT by a previous owner. I really wish they would've spent the extra couple bucks and put in the electric underfloor heat. There are no downsides: it doesn't weigh anything, doesn't have to be used, and is essentially maintenance free! Tile gets kinda chilly even though the coach isn't cold.

I noticed our coach was speced with linoleum 12x12 in the bath
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #6 –
Quote from: fouroureye –
what takes you to nd in winter, plannin on willistant?

Probably going to work somewhere in the Bakken region this winter, could be eastern Montana or western ND?  Not sure yet.  I was up there for a few months at the end of last winter but not in the FT.

Some of the issues other forums have mentioned is that there might not be enough floor space to for the floor heat to make an appreciable difference.  The total useable floor space in my 34' would be much less than 200 sq feet but if it works, it would allow 3 or 4 zones that would be able to assist the furnace. 
Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #7 –
I had a Lazy Daze that had propane plumbed into a cataytic radient heater in the kitchen. Â Never used it at night but it sure made the dinette comfy. I could aim it to the area I wanted heated - dinette or sofa, etc.

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #8 –
Robert, most of the reason we as humans get cold is because of our heads & feet. Army figured that out. If you have warm feet it will help. ^.^d
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #9 –
We are looking at replacing the carpet thru out.  It would be easy to add either the 12volt or 120 volt RV floor heat systems on the market.  Having re-done the last coach bath floor, without heat, but with tile, never again.  Tile floors are cold, summer and winter, and we ended up with a throw rug all the time.

We toured a newly delivered Phoenix in Port Aransas on a nice July day.  He had the windows open, nice summer breeze.  When I slipped off my shoes and took the first steps inside, I noticed how nice the tile floors felt.  He said he keeps the floors heated almost all the time, after a tour I was sold on heated floors even more.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #10 –
Dave, 12v floor? Time for research! ^.^d

They are nice, and like I said warm tootsies, happy feet. ^.^d
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #11 –
I just got a Monaco Dynasty that I am Winterizing for skiing and having done this before the most important thing I found is floor insulation.
I am spraying urethane foam every where it is practicable on the bottom of the coach especially around the water system. I have sprayed it around wheel
wells before and I was amazed at how well it stands up. My last motorhome I had, I could shut the heat down for 8 hours without having the water system
freeze up. If you have a ice maker in your fridge disconnect it as it will freeze   
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #12 –
Quote from: oldguy –
I just got a Monaco Dynasty that I am Winterizing for skiing and having done this before the most important thing I found is floor insulation.
I am spraying urethane foam every where it is practicable on the bottom of the coach especially around the water system. I have sprayed it around wheel
wells before and I was amazed at how well it stands up. My last motorhome I had, I could shut the heat down for 8 hours without having the water system
freeze up. If you have a ice maker in your fridge disconnect it as it will freeze 

Monaco used to use two pieces of 5/8"(?) wood for their flooring.  No foam.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #13 –
Having drilled more than a couple of holes through the floor bringing wiring from the engine bay into the interior under-bed cubby (to keep it away from corrosion and heat), I am surprised at just how thick and well insulated our floors are.  There probably isn't much you could do to improve them without getting crazy. 

Even the bottom bay floors are well insulated but will freeze an uninsulated water line in direct contact with it at subzero temperatures.  I am looking at adding heat trace to those lines in the future but will probably just do everything in the water pump bay and the plumbing manifold and stick with small heaters down there this winter.    I might end up adding thermostatically controlled bilge heaters.   
Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #14 –
Quote from: fouroureye –
Dave, 12v floor? Time for research! ^.^d

They are nice, and like I said warm tootsies, happy feet. ^.^d

Google is our friend.  I found it by searching for "12 volt rv floor heating".

STEP RV? - Heating RV/s, motorhomes, boats, etc - STEP Warmfloor
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #15 –
 One thing you must remember, and I am sure it applies to this stuff, is that all the years I did tiling and put down heating mats once you got a few inches off that mat area the floor was NOT heated. That is why the self layed out wire type became more popular. Unless you run them parallel to each other there are going to be unheated places and 12v is really going to have to work hard to keep it worthwhile  in my humble opinion. I suggest putting slippers on if you do not like area mats. We have tiled floor in kitchen and bathroom and love the colours of our Mexican rugs, really gives a homey feel (or like Dave say's comfy)
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Electric Underfloor Heat

Reply #16 –
I have ceramic tile floor front to back and it has in floor electric heat, I would never do without it again and the cat loves it.
Adam Byler
1999 U320 M4200 DGFE Build #5389
2014 Sundowner 26 ft Enclosed
2015 Ford F150 King Ranch crew cab