FAHKNS 120V High Efficiency Electric Underfloor Heating System, 16 Sqft Heating Mat,with Digital Floor Sensing Thermostat and Cable Monitor, Heating Evenly, Suitable for Home, School and Yoga Studio

Why I installed it and where it shines

I put the FAHKNS underfloor heating mat under porcelain tile in a small bathroom—roughly a 4' x 4' footprint in front of the vanity and shower entry. The goal was simple: take the bite out of cold tile and add a bit of background warmth without running a separate space heater. After a few months of use, it’s delivered consistent, even heat with minimal fuss, provided you plan the layout carefully and treat the electrical side with the respect it deserves.

What you get and first impressions

The kit includes a 120V, 16 sq ft heating mat (about 10 inches wide by roughly 19–20 feet long when unrolled), a floor-sensing, Wi‑Fi thermostat, an in-floor temperature probe, and a cable monitor that squeals if the element is damaged during installation. The mat’s mesh carries a heating cable with an FEP insulation rated to 205°C under a PVC outer sheath—more thermal headroom than you’ll ever need in normal operation. The mesh backing is lightly adhesive, which helps keep the mat put while you trowel thinset or pour self-leveling compound.

Build quality is good for the price tier: the cable is robust and the mesh is tidy. The thermostat is basic plastic with a bright, always-on display and physical buttons. It’s not luxe, but it’s functional.

Planning and installation

Underfloor heat is won or lost in the planning. A few tips from my install:

• Sketch the layout to avoid permanent fixtures, floor penetrations, and under-vanity dead zones.
• You can cut and flip the mesh to change direction, but never cut the heating cable. Maintain consistent spacing and never overlap runs.
• Keep at least a couple of inches away from walls, toilets, and floor drains, and don’t run cable under anything that blocks heat dissipation.
• Run the included floor sensor in a conduit to a spot between cable runs, not crossing directly over a heating wire. That conduit makes replacement possible later.

The adhesive backing does help. I rolled the mat out, pressed it in place, then used a flat trowel to embed it with thinset before tiling. In awkward corners, you can peel the cable off the mesh and freehand it for a short section to maintain spacing around obstacles.

The continuity monitor is worth using throughout. I clipped it on while dry-fitting, while embedding, and again before tiling. No surprises is the goal; a damaged cable after tile is down is a heart-sinker you want to avoid.

Electrical and thermostat notes

Electrically, this is straightforward but not casual DIY territory. The mat in my kit had three conductors: two for the heating circuit and a ground. The thermostat has two load terminals for the heating element plus separate terminals for the sensor leads; ground lands on the equipment ground in the box. If that wiring sentence felt long, consider hiring an electrician. A GFCI breaker or GFCI protection is non-negotiable in bathrooms, and local code may call the shots on box fill, conductor type, and line/load routing.

The thermostat supports a temperature control range from 5–60°C (I ran the floor at 29–31°C for comfort). The device relies on the floor sensor for control, which is the right way to do it under tile. It’s rated to 16A, and at typical output densities you can combine multiple mats in parallel provided you stay within that limit and follow the manufacturer’s guidance.

Two gripes on the control side. First, the backlight stays on—there’s no true sleep mode or adjustable timeout on the unit I received. Second, the onboard clock drifted a bit over a week. Once I paired it to Wi‑Fi and used the app, schedules stayed accurate, but offline operation wasn’t as reliable time-wise as I’d like. The app setup was typical 2.4 GHz pairing and took a couple of minutes; once connected, it’s easier to create schedules and tweak temps from the phone than it is to peck at the front panel.

Performance and comfort

After the tile cured, I measured warm-up from 68°F ambient to a 86–88°F surface in about 20–30 minutes, depending on room conditions. That’s fast enough for morning routines, but the real magic is leaving it on a schedule that ramps up before you’re on your feet. The heat is even, with no detectable hot or cold bands, which tracks with the cable spacing and the thinset embed.

Floor comfort aside, the system nudges air temperature up a degree or two in a small bath. It’s not a replacement for primary heat, but it’s a very pleasant supplement that keeps the chill off at foot level where you feel it most.

Power draw on the 16 sq ft mat was roughly what you’d expect—under 200 watts when heating, then cycling at short duty cycles once at setpoint thanks to the thermostat’s tight ±1°C hysteresis. With a couple of hours of active heating daily, the cost impact has been modest.

The waterproof, moisture-resistant construction is appropriate for bathrooms and kitchens. That doesn’t mean you can lay it in a wet shower pan unless the assembly and local code approve it; mine is in dry floor areas only, embedded and fully covered with thinset and tile.

Usability over time

Schedules work best through the app. The thermostat’s physical interface is serviceable for setting a steady target or quick changes, but fiddly for weekly programming. Remote control works reliably once paired. I did appreciate that the sensor lead is long enough (about 3 meters) to reach a good central spot in the heated area.

Noise is nonexistent. Once it’s installed, you forget about it—until you step onto warm tile and remember why you installed it.

Where it fits—and where it doesn’t

• Best for: small to medium zones (entryways, powder rooms, vanities, laundry stations) where you want targeted comfort. The 16 sq ft size is a natural for a bath runner zone. For larger rooms, you’ll be piecing together multiple mats and need to keep an eye on load and layout complexity.
• Subfloor considerations: insulation matters. Over an uninsulated slab, heat-up times are slower and energy use higher. If possible, use an appropriate thermal break beneath your tile assembly.
• Finish floors: tile and stone are ideal. I wouldn’t use this directly under thick engineered wood without following manufacturer limits on floor temperature.

Pros

• Even, comfortable heat with quick warm-up under tile
• Adhesive mesh backing keeps the mat where you put it
• Floor-sensing thermostat holds temperature within about a degree
• Wi‑Fi control makes scheduling and tweaks painless
• Included cable monitor reduces the risk of unseen damage during install
• Robust cable construction with high-temp FEP insulation

Cons

• Thermostat backlight is always on; no true sleep mode
• Onboard clock can drift if not synced over Wi‑Fi
• Documentation on wiring and sensor placement could be clearer for non-pros
• 16 sq ft coverage is small; larger areas require multiple mats and careful load planning

Practical installation tips

• Dry-lay the mat and sensor, clip on the cable monitor, and test resistance before embedding.
• Only cut the mesh, never the heating cable. Maintain spacing and never overlap runs.
• Use a conduit for the sensor so you can replace it later.
• Embed fully in thinset or a self-leveling compound before tiling to protect the cable and ensure even heat.
• Provide GFCI protection and follow local electrical code; when in doubt, hire an electrician.

Recommendation

I recommend the FAHKNS underfloor heating mat for anyone looking to add targeted, under-tile warmth in small zones without spending premium-system money. It heats evenly, installs cleanly if you plan ahead, and the Wi‑Fi thermostat makes day-to-day use simple. My caveats are mostly on the control side—the always-on display and modest clock drift when offline—and on documentation that assumes you already know how these systems wire and route. If you’re comfortable with basic layout, thinset work, and either have electrical experience or a pro to handle the hookup, this kit is a solid value that delivers the comfort it promises. If you want a more polished thermostat experience or are wiring-averse, consider budgeting for a higher-end controller or professional installation.