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Here are the most common Frequently Asked Questions.

The difference between a 15 watt/sf heat mat and a 12 watt/sf heat mat is the percentage of time it is turned on.  If a 15 watt/SF mat would operate with a duty cycle of 5 minutes on and 5 minutes off to maintain temperature, then a 12 watt/SF heat mat would operate at 6.25 minutes on and 3.75 minutes off deliver the same heat.  The cost of operation would be the same.

Simply put, a 12 watt/sf mat does not provide enough heat to maintain temperature at all times.

A Gold Heat mat must be installed on a dedicated circuit in accordance with the National Electric Code.
The Gold Heat mat must be protected by a GFCI per National Electrical Code. If a GFCI thermostat is not used, Gold Heat recommends installing on a dedicated circuit with a CGCI circuit breaker.

We currently offer the OJ Microline Thermostat. We have a wi-fi programmable version or a non wi-fi version. 

Contact our sales team at (503) 848-6190 to figure out which works best for you!

You will need the following tools:

  • Multimeter
  • Staple gun
  • LoudMouth®️ installation monitor
  • Sharpie®️ marker
  • Chisel or router
  • Tape or hot melt glue gun

The weight is approximately .125 lbs sq/ft

Nominal power draw is 15w/square ft or .125 amps per sf at 120v.

Each thermostat is rated for 15 amps, allowing it to control 120 square feet of heated area at 120v or 240 square feet at 240v.

A diagram answering some of the electric radiant floor heating faqs

Subfloor > Gold Heat mat > Thinset > Tile

No membrane is needed. You can attach Gold Heat straight to the subfloor and then tile as you normally would. 

The max width is 91" and the max length is 330".

If your room size is bigger than this, do not worry! You can use multiple mats to fill a space and keep them on the same thermostat if you would like. 

Contact our design team at (503) 848-6190 for guidance!

Standard cold lead lengths are 6’, 10’ and 20’.

Gold Heat offers other cold lead lengths, too. If you need another size, specify your need during the customized heat mat ordering process.

Yes it is!

  1. Take the heat mat out of the box.
  2. Lay it out over your floor plan.
  3. Staple it down.
  4. Apply thin set.
  5. Tile the same day!

Yes!  Gold Heat electric radiant heat products are designed, hand-assembled, and manufactured in the U.S.A., right at our headquarters in Hillsboro, OR.

Nope! You can clean your tile as you normally would.

Yes!!

Unlike other radiant floor heat manufacturers, Gold Heat customers always have access to design and installation help.

Gold Heat provides you the tools to troubleshoot a problem and fix it! If at any time you run into an installation problem, reach out to a Gold Heat Design Engineer for assistance at (503) 848-6190 or design@goldheat.com.

Yes. They are listed in both U.S. and Canada.

Electric Radiant Floor Heating FAQ's | Gold Heat

Electric Radiant Floor Heating FAQ's | Gold Heat

We do not recommend thee use of rubber back mats on electric floor heat - they can trap heat and create high temperatures which can damage these materials and create unwanted odors.

We recommend using fabric throw rugs or rugs with an insulation value of R1 or less. 

Our standard thermostat can control 1800 Watts at 120V and 3600 Watts at 240v. Black Gold Panels are manufactured to produce 15 watts per square foot.

Yes. Black gold is UL listed in both the USA and Canada.

It is ok to trim the cold leads.  However, you need to move the product label to the end of the shortened lead. Please note: On the Gold Heat system you must NOT trim the cold lead. Trimming the cold lead will remove the ability to provide diagnostics on the system.

Our Black Gold Panels are manufactured to produce 15 watts per square foot.

When installing Black Gold radiant heat film with cabinets and fixed objects, lay the film and install at least 2” away from these items.

Yes. Gold Heat stocks a thermostat that is equipped with a floor sensor for operating radiant floor heating systems and fits in a standard junction box.

We can ship packages using any method from ground to overnight. However we do ask for a few days to process your order as our mats are custom-designed and made-to-order.

Is your flooring going to be glued down?  

If yes, then no vapor barrier is needed.  

Is this installation being done on a platform that moves (an RV, trailer or Tiny Home that is planned on being moved more than once)?  

If yes, then a vapor barrier is needed between the top of the Black Gold panels and the flooring material.  

Does the flooring material lack padding, or does it have a rough backing and is a floating floor?  

If yes, then a vapor barrier is needed between the top of the Black Gold panels and the flooring material.  

Do you question the waterproofing of the flooring material or expect that there may be spills?  

If yes, then a vapor barrier is needed between the top of the Black Gold panels and the flooring material. 

 

A 6mil or thicker poly sheet material spot glued or totally glued over the area where the Black Gold panels are located is recommended. This protects the panels but keeps everything in place throughout the installation process.

We do not recommend thee use of rubber back mats on electric floor heat - they can trap heat and create high temperatures which can damage these materials and create unwanted odors.

We recommend using fabric throw rugs or rugs with an insulation value of R1 or less.