Underfloor heating is becoming an increasingly popular choice – no surprise when you consider ease of installation, operation and maintenance along with the savings on heating bills.
But, as with all heating systems, it pays to do your research and make sure opt for the right kit size for the room or right across your home. Clearly, the idea being any heating system is to have a comfortably warm home but as energy efficient as possible.
How does underfloor heating work?
Underfloor heating gently heats the floor above as heated water circulates through the plastic piping laid in the sub-floor. There is also an electric alternative in which the floor is heated by cables or mats.
This is a form of radiated heat which means that objects – such as the floor – in a room are heated, unlike heating the air, known as convection heat, and is the way that radiators heat a room.
By heating the floor, the room is heated better as there are no cold spots and no hot spots, such as around the radiator in a room.
Radiators also swallow space in a room and that is why there is a tendency to keep them as small as possible. This of course, can result in the room not being heated adequately and the boiler working harder than it needs to.
How is heat maximised in an underfloor heating system?
Underfloor heating packs a punch way above its weight but it does so by combining several factors.
· Bespoke design
With a professional installation company on the job, the design of the underfloor heating system is bespoke.
In other words, the system is designed to maximise heat in the room by taking into account factors such as floor length windows, the size of the room, potential cold spots and so on.
This allows for the right number of pipe loops to be installed, and at the correct spacing. Even in smaller room and using single zone underfloor heating, it is worth ensuring that heat output will be significantly higher than heat loss.
Heat loss through insulation should be minimised to get the best results.
· Screed
Wet underfloor heating systems need to have the durable and robust plastic piping kept in place with a high-quality screed.
The screed forms a dense barrier that does two things – keeps the pipes in place, protecting them from movement in the floor above and also acts as a heat conducting platform.
In many cases, a screed is used with various additives that increase its ability to grab and hold on to heat, an important factor in underfloor heating being an energy efficient heating system.
· Top layer of flooring
Getting the right flooring solution is essential too. Materials that conduct and retain heat, like the screed layer beneath maximise the heat and efficiency of the underfloor heating system.
There are a range of solutions although it is widely accepted that hard flooring solutions are the best, including polished concrete flooring. There are low TOG rated carpets that could be suitable too but carpet and fabrics tend not to retain the heat as long.
· Floor insulation
Insulating the whole of your property is essential but with underfloor heating, high quality floor insulation laid beneath piping is critical to the success of the heating system.
Screed provides some insulation but many modern come with boards that are laid beneath the system, as well as a vapour barrier to maximise heat.
· Thermostat
Using a thermostat is essential for creating an energy efficient system and the more sophisticated, the better.
It is now widely recognised that for any heating system, but especially underfloor heating, the more you can control the heating system, the more money you will save.
What size of underfloor heating system do I need?
A professional installation company when designing your system will make a series of calculations, focusing on heat loss in a property and from the room itself, if you are installing a single room system.
If the system is does not have the capacity to release the heat the room needs, the boiler will need to work overly hard leading to an inefficient system. Likewise, over compensating with a system too large is a waste of money on piping, an overly large manifold etc.
How long does it take to install underfloor heating?
Installation is quick, in most cases, taking less than a day to fit the basics. Screed will need a few days to dry out naturally so that it does not crack. The system will need to be filled with water and under pressure, but with no heat circulating through it.
The system will be up and running in a matter of weeks, so install underfloor heating during the warmer months ready for action in winter.