Warm floors even when it's -30°C outside. We design and install hydronic radiant floor heating systems for bathrooms, basements, garages, and whole-home applications across North Bay and the Nipissing District. PEX tubing, manifold installation, boiler integration, and zone controls — built for Northern Ontario winters.
North Bay Plumbers designs and installs hydronic radiant floor heating systems across North Bay, Callander, and Sturgeon Falls. We install PEX tubing in concrete slabs, joist bays, and above-floor sleeper systems, with manifold distribution, boiler integration, and independent zone controls. Radiant floor heating costs $6–$12 per square foot installed, with typical bathroom or basement projects running $3,000–$8,000 and whole-home systems from $15,000–$30,000. We handle both new construction and retrofits — call 705-482-1253 for a site assessment and detailed quote.
Radiant floor heating isn't a luxury in Northern Ontario — it's the most comfortable and efficient way to heat a home when winters regularly hit -30°C. Here's why it's gaining popularity in North Bay new builds and renovations.
Every radiant floor heating system is custom-designed for the space, the subfloor, and the heat source. Here's how we approach every project from site assessment to commissioning.
We evaluate your subfloor type — concrete slab, joist bay, or existing finished floor — and measure the space. We calculate heat loss for North Bay's climate (design temperature of -31°C), then design the tubing layout with proper loop lengths, spacing, and BTU output per zone. You get a detailed plan before any work starts.
We determine the best heat source for your system. If you already have a boiler for baseboard heat, we can often integrate radiant zones using a thermostatic mixing valve. For new systems, we install high-efficiency condensing boilers. For cottages and waterfront properties in Callander, we spec propylene glycol antifreeze systems to protect against freeze damage when the property is unoccupied.
We install oxygen-barrier PEX tubing using the method that suits your project: embedded in a new concrete slab pour, suspended in joist bays from below with aluminium heat transfer plates, or in above-floor sleeper systems for renovations where ceiling height matters. Every loop is pressure-tested at 60 PSI for 24 hours before it gets covered — no exceptions.
We mount the distribution manifold in an accessible location, connect zone valves and actuators, install the variable-speed circulation pump, and wire thermostats for independent zone control. Each room or area gets its own temperature setting — so the bathroom stays at 24°C while the basement workshop runs at 18°C.
We fill the system (with water or glycol solution), purge all air from the loops, balance flow rates across every zone, and verify even heat distribution across the entire floor. We walk you through thermostat programming, seasonal start-up and shutdown procedures, and glycol maintenance schedules where applicable. Everything meets Ontario Building Code requirements.
The right installation method depends on whether you're building new, renovating, or adding radiant heat to an existing home. We handle all three approaches across North Bay.
The gold standard for radiant floor heating. PEX tubing is fastened to rebar or wire mesh before the concrete pour, creating a massive thermal mass that stores and radiates heat evenly. Ideal for new home construction, garage slabs, and basement floors in North Bay. The concrete slab acts as a heat battery — it holds temperature for hours after the boiler cycles off, reducing energy costs significantly.
For existing homes where you have access to the floor from below — unfinished basements, crawl spaces — we run PEX tubing between the floor joists and attach aluminium heat transfer plates to spread heat evenly across the subfloor. No need to tear up your existing flooring. This is the most popular retrofit method in North Bay homes adding radiant heat to a main floor from the basement.
When you can't access the floor from below, we install a low-profile sleeper system on top of the existing subfloor. Grooved panels hold the PEX tubing, and a thin layer of self-levelling compound or plywood caps it. Adds about 1.5 inches of floor height. Works well for bathroom renovations and basement finishing projects in North Bay where the ceiling is already finished below.
Waterfront properties in Callander, Lake Nipissing cottages, and seasonal homes need freeze protection. We install closed-loop glycol antifreeze systems using food-grade propylene glycol that protects piping down to -50°C. The glycol solution circulates through the same PEX tubing — no different from a standard system, just with freeze insurance built in. We check glycol concentration annually during maintenance visits.
Radiant floor heating systems in Northern Ontario face conditions that installers in southern Ontario rarely deal with. Here's what we account for on every project.
North Bay's design temperature is -31°C per the Ontario Building Code. We calculate heat loss at this temperature, not the milder -20°C assumptions used in the GTA. That means proper insulation under the slab (minimum R-10), correct tubing spacing (typically 9–12 inches on centre), and adequate boiler sizing so your floors stay warm on the coldest January nights — not just in November.
More North Bay builders are including radiant floor heating in new home plans, particularly for basement slabs and bathroom floors. It's easier and more cost-effective to install during construction than to retrofit later. If you're building a new home in the North Bay area, talk to us before the concrete gets poured — adding radiant to a new slab costs significantly less than retrofitting after.
Basements are the most common radiant heating project we do in North Bay. Concrete basement floors are notoriously cold — at -30°C outside, an unheated slab sits around 10°C. Radiant tubing in a new thin-slab pour or stapled under the subfloor above turns that cold basement into liveable space. Combined with proper insulation, it's the single best basement comfort upgrade available.
Radiant slab heating in garages is increasingly popular among North Bay homeowners who use their garage as a workshop year-round. A heated slab melts snow off vehicles, keeps tools from getting ice-cold, and maintains a comfortable working temperature without the fire risk of portable heaters. We install radiant in new garage slabs and can add it during a garage floor replacement.
Transparent pricing on radiant floor heating installations. Cost depends on the area size, installation method, and whether a new boiler is required.
Radiant floor heating typically costs $6–$12 per square foot installed. A bathroom or single basement zone runs $3,000–$8,000, while a whole-home system ranges from $15,000–$30,000 depending on home size, subfloor type, and whether a new boiler is needed. We provide detailed quotes after a site assessment.
Yes. Retrofit radiant floor heating is common in North Bay, especially in basements during renovation. For existing floors, we use joist bay installation with aluminium heat transfer plates from below, or above-floor sleeper systems that add about 1.5 inches of height. Concrete basement slabs can have tubing embedded during a re-pour.
Radiant floor heating is ideal for North Bay's extreme winters. At -30°C, warm floors eliminate cold spots and drafts that forced-air systems can't solve. The system heats objects and people directly rather than blowing hot air, so you feel warmer at a lower thermostat setting — typically 2–3 degrees lower, which reduces heating costs.
Not necessarily. If you already have a boiler for baseboard or radiator heat, we can often integrate radiant floor zones using a mixing valve to lower the water temperature. Radiant floors run at 80–140°F, while baseboards need 160–180°F. For homes without a boiler, we install a dedicated high-efficiency condensing boiler sized for your radiant system.
For seasonal properties, cottages, and waterfront homes in Callander and surrounding areas, we install glycol-based antifreeze systems that protect against freezing if the heat is turned off during winter. The propylene glycol solution prevents pipe damage down to -50°C. We use food-grade glycol and check concentration annually.
A single-zone bathroom or small basement takes 2–3 days. A full basement with concrete pour takes 3–5 days including cure time. Whole-home systems in new construction take 5–7 days for tubing and mechanical, plus time for the concrete or flooring trades. We coordinate with your general contractor on new builds.