Installation
EasyHeat® Warm Tiles® WTE Elite Mats offer a simple, low-profile way to add comfortable warmth beneath tile and other approved flooring surfaces. The heating cable is woven into an exceptionally thin fabric that maintains consistent cable spacing and makes installation especially convenient in rectangular rooms and open floor areas.
With a variety of available mat sizes, WTE Elite Mats provide an efficient way to warm your floors while minimizing additional floor height.
Planning Your Layout
Measure only the areas of the floor you intend to warm, excluding spaces beneath cabinets and permanent fixtures. Select the appropriate mat sizes and configurations to fit your planned heating area, allowing for multiple mats when necessary.
When installing several mats within the same heating zone, maintain 1½ to 3 inches between the outer heating wires of adjacent mats to provide consistent warmth across the floor.
Preparing the Floor
Begin with a clean, stable, and properly prepared subfloor suitable for the selected flooring material. Make sure the surface is free of debris, sharp objects, and irregularities that could damage the heating cable or interfere with the finished flooring.
Installing the Mats
Position each WTE Elite Mat according to your planned layout, ensuring the entire mat fits within the intended heating area. The mats are supplied in predetermined sizes and rectangular configurations and should be selected to accommodate the room's dimensions and permanent fixtures.
Unlike conventional mesh-backed heating mats, WTE Elite Mats are not designed to be cut, reshaped, or modified around obstacles. The heating cable must remain securely woven within the original fabric assembly.
Never cut, shorten, or alter the heating cable. Only the non-heating cold lead may be shortened in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Installing the Finished Floor
The WTE Elite Mat's thin fabric construction allows it to be embedded directly into an appropriate thin-set mortar installation. Once the mats are properly positioned and tested, finished tile can generally be installed the same day without waiting for a separate underlayment to cure.
Always follow the flooring and setting-material manufacturers' instructions to ensure proper adhesion, compatibility, and installation.
Approved Flooring
WTE Elite Mats are designed for installation beneath ceramic tile, porcelain tile, marble, natural stone, laminate, and approved floating engineered hardwood flooring.
These materials can accommodate the controlled warmth produced by the heating cable when installed in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements. Always confirm that the selected flooring is approved for electric radiant floor warming.
Flooring Not Approved
WTE Elite Mats are not approved for installation beneath carpet, vinyl composition tile (VCT), linoleum-type flooring, or nailed-down wood flooring.
Carpet and certain resilient flooring materials can restrict heat transfer or be sensitive to elevated temperatures, potentially causing overheating, discoloration, or damage to the finished floor. Nailed-down wood flooring introduces the additional risk of nails or fasteners penetrating and damaging the heating cable.
Electrical Connections & Safety
GFCI protection is required. Electrical connections should be completed by a licensed electrician in accordance with applicable electrical codes and the manufacturer's installation instructions.
When multiple mats share a thermostat or heating zone, the combined electrical load must be evaluated to ensure the system is properly configured.
Test the heating cable's electrical resistance and insulation integrity at the stages specified in the installation guide, including before, during, and after installation. Record the results for future reference.
Before You Begin
Review the complete EasyHeat® WTE Elite Mat installation guide before starting your project. Proper mat placement, electrical testing, flooring compatibility, and installation procedures are essential for safe operation, reliable performance, and maintaining manufacturer warranty coverage.
