FAQ

A snow melting system will cost approximately $1.50 per square foot to operate for a winter season in the GTA. This is based on an approximate cost of 7 cents per kW hour of power consumption, and an approximate 600 hours of snowfall that the system would be active for. This estimate is based on:

1. Automatic control of the system
2. Average amount of winter precipitation
3. No manual intervention of system (i.e. turning system on or off at any given time)

Please note: This is a very rough estimate as local energy charges and average snow fall will vary.

TRM recommends that snow melting system installations are carried out by qualified and experienced personnel to ensure the site conditions and installation practices are appropriate for the materials being worked with. All materials come complete with step-by-step installation instructions and direct phone support from TRM. All electrical installations should be performed by a qualified electrician to meet all local codes and by-laws, as well as obtain any electrical permits prior to installation.

Yes, TRM snow melting products output a constant wattage (heat) when connected to an appropriate power source, which means they will continue to generate heat unless the power supply is interrupted. TRM has a vast range of snow melting controls to choose from, each having different features and benefits. Let our team help you assess your project scope and determine the most appropriate control options available.

Yes, Ground Fault Protection (GFI) is required by local electrical codes and by-laws. Some controls offer GFI as a built-in feature, while other controls that do not have GFI protection built in would need to be utilized in conjunction with appropriate GFI breakers. For more information, contact your local electrical contractor or inspector.

No, snow melting systems are designed based on ASHREA standards for the given installation area and medium being heated. However, insulation can improve the efficiency and performance of the heating system, so it is most certainly approved when installed using the appropriate embedding cross section.

Your junction box must be situated in a dry, above grade location that is accessible following the completion of your work. Junction boxes MUST NOT be recessed below grade.

TRM’s MI heating cables are single conductor, with two cold leads that are complete with two ¾” NPT glands to terminate the units safely into your junction box. We strongly recommend that your conduits are sized at 2” or greater for each snow melting cable that you are installing.

No, MI Heating cables are manufactured at fixed lengths. Our cables are CSA-tested, factory-approved, series-resistant style, and designed to suit your specific application. Cutting a cable would have severe impacts on your cable wattage output and amperage draw. Shortening cables is not appropriate and you MUST NOT cut your MI snow melting cable. If you think you have too much cable, please call TRM for layout assistance or further guidance.

Our standard length of cold leads is 15’. If you require longer cold leads, please contact TRM to review your request and project to assess cold lead extension feasibility. In theory, cold leads can be made to any length, but we strongly recommend installing your junction box within 10’ of the heated slab to avoid very challenging or, in some cases, impossible installation work.

The calculation for determining the spacing of your heating cable in inches is Area in Square Feet (A) x 12 (to convert to inches) / length of cable, i.e. 100 square feet x 12 / 200’ of cable = 6” spacing.

Cables should always be installed a minimum of ½ your spacing away from the extents of the heated area. Heat will bleed a minimum of 3” away from each cable run, i.e. since cable spacing is 6”, you would install your first run of cable 3” away from the extents of the heated area.

No, this would lead to improper embedding, overheating of cables, and premature non-warranty related failure of cables. NEVER overlap MI cables under any circumstances.

Yes, TRM MI heating cables are built to last. However, should the need arise, they are easy to test, fault-locate, and repair to avoid any costly downtime in the future. TRM is proud to offer MI heating cable repair services within the GTA and GVRD.

No, once the snow melting system is properly installed, no annual maintenance is required.

Yes, TRM electric snow melting products have undergone rigorous testing, and are CSA-approved to ensure they are safe and will perform as expected for years to come.

Yes, the application of heating cable on a pipe is not enough to ensure the generated heat will evenly transfer to the pipe material and prevent the internal fluid from freezing. For this reason, a specific thickness of appropriate waterproof insulation is required. External pipe tracing for freeze protection requires careful assessment of the pipe materials, diameters, exposure temperatures and insulation thickness to ensure the correct wattage per linear foot of pipe is achieved.

Yes, self-regulating heating cables can be looped, crossed and run in free air applications without any fear of heating cable burnout.

No, a self-regulating heating cable will adjust its output along a curve, based on its exposure temperature. So while it will output very little heat when exposed to warm conditions, it will always draw some amperage. The best way to save energy and reduce system operating cost is to utilize a snow melting or heat tracing control to activate the system only when conditions require it.

TRM self-regulating cables do not require a control to operate, but we recommend utilizing a control to ensure the heating system is only active when site conditions require it to be on. This is the best way to ensure the site is protected, while saving energy and reducing the system operating cost.

TRM self-regulating cables do not require a control to operate, but we recommend utilizing a control (or multiple controls) to ensure the heating system is active when site conditions require it to be on. This is the best way to ensure the site is protected, while saving energy and reducing the system operating cost.

No, extension cords cannot be used to extend the power supply to the heating cable. We recommend having a cable that is long enough to reach the power supply, using appropriate cable routing to prevent water from running down into the electrical box, or to contact a local electrical contractor about a new junction box or outlet installed closer to the installation area for the heating cable.

Yes, Ground Fault Protection (GFI) is required by local electrical codes and by-laws. Some controls offer GFI as a built-in feature, while other controls that do not have GFI protection built in would need to be utilized in conjunction with appropriate GFI breakers. For more information, contact your local electrical contractor or inspector.

Yes, TRM SR In-Pipe Heating Cable is NSF-compliant and designed for internal tracing of potable water lines from ¾” to 2” in diameter. It comes with all necessary NFS-compliant fittings to allow for installation at the site, using a site-specific Tee fitting (provided by the plumber or local plumbing supply), which has a ¾” NPT entry.

Insulation is always recommended when freeze protecting pipes to improve performance and reduce consumption. However, if our in-pipe heat tracing instructions are followed, exterior insulation is not required. TRM SR In-Pipe Heating Cable is designed to maintain a flow path in pipes ¾” to 2” in diameter without the need for external insulation.

Yes, TRM SR Heating Cable is built to last. However, should the need arise, they are easy to test and repair, avoiding costly downtime in the future. The electrician would require one TRM-SR-ACC-SPL/TEE Splice Kit to complete each splice repair location. If there is enough slack in the heating cable, it can simply be repositioned and spliced, but if a large area has been affected, it can be cut out and removed, and a new section (of the same type) of TRM SR Heating Cable can be spliced back into place.

TRM recommends that freeze protection/de-icing system installations are carried out by qualified and experienced professionals to ensure the site conditions and installation practices are appropriate for the materials being worked with. All products come complete with step-by-step installation instructions and direct phone support from TRM. All electrical installations should be performed by a qualified electrician to meet all local codes and by-laws, as well as obtain any electrical permits prior to installation.

Yes, TRM floor heating systems are constant wattage, so they will continue to heat if left on. A TRM floor heating thermostat monitors the floor temperature and/or room temperature to ensure the environment remains comfortable, while reducing energy consumption and operating costs.

Yes, the TRM Gold Floor Heating Thermostat comes with a built-in Wi-Fi interface, allowing users to connect it to their home Wi-Fi network and take advantage of remote accessibility via app or a web interface. You can then monitor site conditions, adjust the current settings, or set a program for future use.

Yes, Ground Fault Protection (GFI) is required by local electrical codes and by-laws. All TRM in-floor heating thermostats and relays include built-in GFI protection.

Only one floor sensor probe is required when installing a new TRM floor heating system; however, a second probe can be purchased and installed during the initial installation to provide redundancy and save any downtime or cost that a future replacement would entail.

Yes, a dedicated circuit is required to ensure the breaker can support the system load and not be interfered with by other electrical items on the same circuit.

Yes, you can control the area with one thermostat if it is a wide open space with no dividing walls and doors. However, the real question is, do you want to? One thermostat can be wired to control multiple relays in a ‘pilot duty’ control configuration, which allows for system expandability where needed, but this layout can be inefficient and lacks any ability to modify the temperature in certain areas. For this reason, we recommend zoning the heating areas using multiple thermostats, so you can turn different zones up, down, or off when required. TRM’s Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat allows you to remotely control groups of thermostats, so you can still treat the area as one large zone if desired.

Please contact us to discuss your project and determine the best control layout based on the intended use of the system.

Yes, TRM in-floor heating products are 100% safe and fully approved for installation in showers and wet areas when the proper cross sections and controls are utilized. Please contact us for more details.

Yes, if a situation occur where a heating mat or cable needs to be repaired in a dry area location, TRM can supply the appropriate repair kit for the materials in question. TRM can also provide a local repair technician within the Greater Toronto Area and Greater Vancouver Regional District to service the system for you in person. Unfortunately, damaged heating mats or cables that have been installed in wet area locations cannot be repairable due to electrical code.

Yes, you can spot heat certain areas. However, TRM does not recommend spot heating as it limits the end user’s flexibility when it comes time to change the layout or the size of the room’s furniture, and may disappoint prospective buyers when it comes time to sell the home. For this reason, we recommend heating the total available floor space wherever possible, as any unheated areas will feel much colder by comparison and detract from the overall experience of a heated floor.

Both heating systems have a very low profile, with approximately 1/16” to 1/8” difference in comparative floor heights upon installation, depending on the installer, with the mat products having the lower profile of the two.

Our membrane is 0.22” (5.5mm) thick, which fully encases the heating cable and splice joint. Our TRM heating mat is approximately 1/8” thick and is approximately 0.20” (5.1mm) at the splice joint. Both products would need to be embedded in a layer of modified thin set above and below prior to installation of the flooring materials above.

Maybe. The majority of floor heating installations are done without an insulation layer, as the intent is supplementary comfort heating. However, if the room is generally cold, if the system is intended as a primary heat source, or if the end user just wishes to reduce the operating cost, insulation can be installed to allow the system to perform as required.

Floor heating systems are designed to output a specific amount of heat (wattage) per square foot, so the only way to know what the outcome of the installation will be is to have a heat loss calculation done for the room, usually performed by an HVAC technician. We recommend installing insulation whenever possible as it will improve the efficiency and performance of the heating system and reduce operating costs.

We recommend having in-floor heating system installations carried out by qualified and experienced professionals to ensure the site conditions and installation practices are appropriate for the materials being worked with. All products come complete with step-by-step installation instructions and direct phone support from TRM. All electrical installations should be performed by a qualified electrician to meet all local codes and by-laws and obtain any electrical permits prior to installation.

Operating costs will fluctuate based on a host of factors:

• Size of the area
• Total wattage of the heating system
• Method of control (manual vs. a programmed schedule)
• Heat loss in the room
• Temperature setpoint on the thermostat

For example, an energy cost of approximately $0.07/Kilowatt Hour heating 100 sq. ft. space at 12 watt/sq. ft. for comfort floor warming would be an estimated operating cost of approximately $0.09/hour for each hour of heating operation.

No, once the heating system is properly installed, no annual maintenance is required.

Yes, TRM electric in-floor heating products have undergone rigorous testing, work in conjunction with a GFI-protected TRM floor heating thermostat, and are CSA-approved to ensure they are safe and will perform as expected for years to come.

Maybe. Depending on the type of heat loss replacement system, insulation may be required, or it may just be strongly recommended. Our experts can help you assess the application and determine the type of system needed, and if insulation needs to be installed.

We recommend installing insulation whenever possible, as it will improve the efficiency and performance of the heating system and reduce operating costs.

Yes, we recommend the installation of a thermostat with all heat loss replacement systems. Depending on the system and the end user’s requested operating intent, a TRM thermostat can monitor the slab temperature or the ambient outdoor temperature to ensure the floor temperature remains comfortable, while reducing energy consumption and operating costs.

Yes, Ground Fault Protection (GFI) is required by local electrical codes and by-laws. Some controls offer GFI as a built-in feature, while other controls that do not have GFI protection built in would need to be utilized in conjunction with appropriate GFI breakers. For more information, contact your local electrical contractor or inspector.

We recommend that heat loss prevention system installations are carried out by qualified and experienced professionals to ensure the site conditions and installation practices are appropriate for the materials being worked with. All products come complete with step-by-step installation instructions and direct phone support from TRM. All electrical installations should be performed by a qualified electrician to meet all local codes and by-laws, as well as obtain any electrical permits prior to installation.

Yes, TRM heat loss replacement systems are made from either TRM SR or MI heating cables, both of which are built to last. However, should the need arise, they are easy to test, fault-locate, and repair to avoid any costly downtime in the future. TRM is proud to offer SR and MI heating cable repair services within the GTA and GVRD.