Underfloor heating is often touted as an economic, efficient means of heating a property. And it is.
But, the way in which you use and operate the system will have more of an impact on your bills. However, it takes some time to get out of old habits – with central heating, we are accustomed to flicking the switch, setting a temperature on the thermostat and leaving well alone.
But this is not an efficient use of heat. In order to have a home that is warm but not stifling, and energy bills that are as small as possible, you need to control the heat throughout the day (and night).
Thus, you need a thermostat that is as responsive as you need it to be in order to control and maintain the heat in your home.
One Thermostat ‘Fits All’?
We’ve seen various items over the years that tell us they are universal, that no matter what size or issue needs solving, it can do it. We have come to think that way about heating and the thermostat.
Most homes have one thermostat and maybe a few radiators in some rooms that have a thermostatic valve. But that is the extent of your control over the heat throughout the whole property and individual rooms.
But with underfloor heating controls, you can have more flexibility. With multi-zone areas, you can set different levels of heat throughout your home. And this can only be a good thing not only for the gentle, comfortable heat in your home but for your household budget too.
How it Works
Underfloor heating is laid in the sub-floor, with the top layer of flooring combined with the concrete casement of water pipes in the floor acting as heat conductors. Clean, simple and efficient, underfloor heating is a splendid addition to any home or business premises.
However, talk of multi-zones and multiple thermostats may have set your teeth on edge. If you are required to monitor the heat in your home 24 hours a day, how on earth can it be a better system?
But it is an intelligent system, making the best use of smart technology to bring you the ability to control the heat across all areas of your home.
There are various underfloor heating room types and getting the right system is important for your home.
THE BATHROOM
Often the smallest room in the house, the bathroom is also a busy place at certain times of the day. For example, if you live in a family home and you are out at work all day, the kids are in school, college or nursery etc., the house may be empty from 9 am until about 4 pm.
But the bathroom is a busy place first thing in the morning and in an evening. Essentially, day time temperatures can be low but you may want a warmer bathroom for the morning shower and the evening bath.
With a thermostat specifically for that room, you can pre-set these temperatures for certain times but clearly, the weekend or days off will be different and thus, you can quickly and easily change the bathroom heating arrangements for then too.
THE CONSERVATORY
The bathroom, however, is not a high heat loss environment – unlike the conservatory. With three or four walls of windows and a glass roof, the conservatory can be a chilly place in winter.
Radiators take up wall space but without a source of heat, the conservatory is a wasted investment, a space only usable for a few weeks a year.
The underfloor heating in the conservatory can be designed so that the pipes are laid closer together, providing a higher level of heat when you need it. And don’t forget, with a smart thermostat, you can control the temperature throughout the day so that when you want to enjoy the conservatory, it is a pleasant warm space.
THE KITCHEN
The kitchen, like the bathroom, is a busy place but unlike the conservatory is not a high heat loss area. But it is not like the bathroom either: the heat in the kitchen needs to be lower and far gentler than in other areas of the home.
Again, it comes down to the design and installation of the system, as well as your ability to control the heat via a smart thermostat so that the heat kicks in when needed, but scales back when the cooking in the kitchen is at its peak.
How Smart is Your Thermostat?
Of course, many people opt for a single zone system and that means your smart thermostat is required to regulate the overall heat across the home or zone. This will give you energy savings too but you need to ask, how smart is your thermostat?