Underfloor Heating & the Nitty Gritties of this Heating System

by Larry Kittrell Professional Writer

Forget about spending so much to build a beautiful home. Instead, focus on making your house safe for everyone. But if you’re made of money, why not aim for both?

Still, safety must be prioritised over beauty. Speaking of safety, putting up an underfloor heating system in your household ensures a comfortable and safe environment. Investing in such can also help you save money in the long-term.

How is that possible? Underfloor heating (UFH) works well with renewable technology like heat pumps. It can warm a room whilst helping you cut your fuel bills. Not only that. It can also prevent draught or cold air that drops alongside your windows.

Needless to say, a good underfloor heating system should have high-quality underfloor heating pipes. If installed properly, these pipes can last and serve their purpose for a half-century.

Types of Underfloor Heating System

Underfloor heating makes up an energy-efficient home. It uses less energy than traditional radiators or hot air heating systems. Below are the types of UFHs:

1.     Electric Heating

This type of heating system features a network of cables, which are typically attached to the heating elements located under the surface.

Example of such heating element is an open-weaved mesh mat. Heating mats cover large areas and come in a uniform size, thus making them a generally lower cost option. However, these mats should be connected together and linked up to the thermostat and main power supply.

Electric underfloor heating is safer and easier to manage as it produces the needed consistent heat. So if you’re looking for a reliable and economical way of heating your home, this type perfectly suits you.

Installation tip: Since this underfloor heating system is easy to install, you can do it by yourself to cut the overall cost.

2.     Hydronic Heating

For larger floor spaces, hydronic heating is commonly used than electric heating. It employs a network of underfloor heating pipes to distribute heat more evenly.

These pumps are either connected to heat pumps or boilers to supply hot water around the room. Often, the heat source is determined by the availability of fuels in the area.

Heat pumps work at the lower operating temperatures of underfloor, typically 40°C, compared to radiators, typically 70°C. Condensing boilers, on the other hand, run more efficiently at lower operating temperatures as well.

Installation tip: Installing a hydronic underfloor heating system requires the help of a professional. It’s a water-based system so it entails installation costs and expertise.

Key Installation Considerations

When you have chosen a UFH system for your home, you must know the installation and flooring consideration so well. Here are some of the points to keep in mind for a better heating system:

·       Multi-layered underfloor heating pipes should measure approximately 16mm. The distance between two pipe clips should be at least 1 meter.

·       Polyurethane is the best pipe material. Such type combines the best properties of plastic and rubber, thus bringing the best performance out of the pipe.

·       Pipes should be laid out at an approximate distance of 200-300mm depending on the type of insulation.

·       The distance between the external wall and the pipe should be at least 100mm.

·       For better heat transfer, tiles, stones or equivalent flooring should be used. These flooring types can absorb heat rather than insulate, allowing the heat to radiate into the room.

Think Seriously About Underfloor Heating

Most people misconstrue underfloor heating as a costly household feature—the truth is, it’s the other way around. Installing such a system actually makes an energy-efficient home. 

While this may sound too good to be true, this benefit can only be reaped if high-calibre underfloor heating pipes are used and if they’re properly installed.

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Created on Sep 2nd 2019 12:05. Viewed 454 times.

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