Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating is far from a new concept, it was first used by the Romans whose dwellings were constructed with voids through which air, warmed by an open fire, would pass, thus heating the structure.

Underfloor heating is not a new concept in this country either. In the past electric heating elements were buried within floor screeds. These were heated over night using 'cheap rate' electricity. However, this method was expensive to run and uncontrollable and the building would over heat during the day but in the evening, when heat is generally required, no further heat was available.

Utilising today's modern multilayer pipes, control systems and high efficiency boilers, the underfloor heating systems of today are extremely comfortable and controllable. Radiators are no longer needed so giving more room space. The heat is more evenly distributed and dust is not circulated.

Underfloor heating from the whole floor area of the house gently warms the air above, eliminating cold spots. The warm air convects from the floor surface losing approximately 2 degrees centigrade at 2.0 meters above the floor, which makes the system ideal for all ceiling heights.

Independent tests reveal that the most acceptable indoor climate is one in which the floor temperature ranges between 19-29°C and the air temperature at head level ranges between 20 and 24°C. With radiator or convector heating systems a vertical temperature gradient is produced; colder at foot level than at the head.

Underfloor heating has made it possible to reduce energy consumption by using low water temperatures. These systems, based on the development of complex and very high quality plastic pipe, such as the multilayer pipe, now account for over 60% of some European heating markets.

Choose Underfloor Heating.

When you are thinking of building a new home, or renovating an existing house, or simply considering what choice of new heating to put into your home for the winter - have you considered an installation of underfloor heating. Underfloor heating has a luxurious feel to it, unlike the blast of radiant heaters or the drafts of overhead models - to surround yourself in the warmth of underfloor heating is not as expensive as you might imagine it would be, and will provide more usable floor space if you currently have an on floor or recessed heating system around which you have to locate the floor plan of your home.

Product Range

Options with underfloor heating are for ducted heated water or electrical systems of your choice - with do it yourself options if you are keen. It was architect Frank Lloyd Wright who brought back from Korea the concept of underfloor heating and incorporated this feature into his designs. In fact underfloor heating is nothing new and in ancient Roman times underfloor heating was powered by heated air from a furnace being ducted under the floor following much the same principles as the Korean ondol. Modern technology has enabled the somewhat crude system of ducted hot air to be replaced with completely safe and reliable hot water and electrical systems.

There is a wide range of products available to choose from and this includes an integrated system that can be poured into a masonry mix or you can use a jointed system or one that is fixed to the sub floor.

Benefits of Underfloor Heating

Elderly people, invalids, children, pets and anyone who dislikes having to walk on cold tiles or flooring will find the experience of underfloor heating delightful, it is cost efficient and easy to operate, and as you will no longer need extensive carpeting for people with allergies and for general cleaning there is with underfloor heating a complete reduction in to the incidence of mites, dust and particles in the home environment. If you couple your underfloor heating with a ducted vacuum extraction unit you can ensure an excellent standard of hygiene which is particularly important for young children or for people with asthma or allegies. .

Different manufacturers make underfloor heating equipment to their unique specifications and so you can simply make enquiries and see what options are available before committing to a choice.

Installed or DIY ?

When considering the cost, your may think that a do it yourself option is the best - however a note of caution here because there is more to putting in underfloor heating that just laying out some pipes or attaching a few wired mats to the flooring. As a result of the variations in temperature, and the moisture content of the air, you will get condensation, need some barrier insulation and ensure that all workmanship is first class and of suitable design and correct materials. With any electrical installation you will need to attach a thermostat and the complexities of the plumbing requirements, particularly if you are looking at a whole house spread can be challenging even to the expert plumber. Once underfloor plumbing is installed, it will be a major upheaval, not to mention the cost, if faults appear and have to be corrected. if you do not attend properly to the issues of condensation and insulation you will find that moulds and little beasties will be attracted to the comfort of your underfloor heating system. Even though all underfloor heating systems come complete with RCD and circuit breakers, it is best to put safety first rather than after an event and have your underfloor heating system professionally installed. Even though a fractured pipe or leakage means that you might have to remove a lot of floor, the history of underfloor heating suggests that if properly and professionally installed there is virtually zero incidence of call backs to rectify installation errors or product faults. Not only is properly installed underfloor heating virtually 100% maintenance free but it is also most energy efficient when compared with alternative heating options. With underfloor water heating systems you can expect around 15% reduction in your energy bills and if you use a condenser type of boiler to heat your water savings can be up to 50%. What might seem like a relatively expensive option to install will repay you in terms of ongoing running costs, virtually nil replacement costs and no or very low maintenance - unlike the average radiant heating system which with inflation becomes increasingly expensive to run, can be a safety hazard to the elderly and the young, is usually a dust magnet and takes up valuable living space.

Using Solar Powered Underfloor Heating

A word of caution is if you are intending to use solar power as a source of energy for your underfloor heating and think you might do it yourself because solar power is prone to causing air bubbles which may lead to air blocks in your underfloor heating system. This can be remedied by installing an extractor pump which will speed up the flow of the water and draw the bubbles out of the system.

Disadvantages

Generally speaking, underfloor heating systems are efficient, safe and long term cost effective. The only problems seem to occur as a result of faulty or incorrect procedures, some of which are fairly technical requirements, during installation, a problem easily avoided and remedied by allowing for the cost of professional installation in your domestic heating budget.

Overview

The main reason why people do not choose underfloor heating is that they do not realise that it is available and a cost effective alternative to traditional forms of heating, with many additional benefits.