Underfloor heating is the means of heating a property via a circuit of pipes or cables laid into the flooring of the building. It is widespread in Europe as one of the more common heating systems, but still has a relatively small market share in the UK; around 5% of …
Underfloor heating is becoming more and more popular in the UK as an alternative to central heating. Building design today focuses on energy efficiency and the reduction of carbon emissions, and underfloor heating is one of the systems which are being specified more regularly, with this in mind.
Wet underfloor heating is a type of heating system which involves laying a network of pipes under, or into, the flooring. Warm water is circulated through these pipes from a boiler or separate heat source, and heat is transmitted into the floor.
If you are thinking of installing your own electric underfloor heating, or you are having some installed and want to know more about the process, this article gives a brief guide to the fitting of the system, along with some handy hints and things to look out for.
If you are considering underfloor heating for your home, it is difficult to know what type of system is best suited to your property, and which will be the best in the long run.
There is a wealth of information out there, but it can often be difficult to navigate your way to the right answers.
Some of the more frequently asked questions about underfloor heating systems are listed below:
Whether you are building a new house or renovating an existing property, the type of heating you use is an important decision. It is one that will not only affect your standard of living, but also the cost of your energy bills.
If you are considering underfloor heating, how do you know what the best type of system is for your property? And which are the cheapest and most energy efficient?
To help you decide which type of system is the right choice for your home, some of the most common questions regarding underfloor heating are covered below.
One of the key issues when considering underfloor heating is the eventual running cost of the system once it is installed. One of the reasons underfloor heating is becoming more popular is because it proposes to be more energy efficient; reducing carbon emissions and saving money.
Choosing the most suitable system for your particular property, and your lifestyle, can help you make the most of heating while saving money at the same time.
If you develop problems with underfloor heating you will want to deal with it quickly and effectively, so that the minimum inconvenience is caused for the people in the building.
There are various problems that can occur with both wet and electric systems, whether during installation or years after fitting; and potential problems are not confined to the system itself, as the heating can also damage the flooring and fabric of a house.
If you are using underfloor heating, and particularly if you are installing it yourself, you need to get a good understanding of all the components required for a full system installation. Once the new heating is in place it must be maintained, and should anything go wrong in the future it may need repairs.
The complexity of the system will depend on how much area you are covering, and the type of system you use. An electric mat for a small room such as a bathroom may be relatively simple to install for most DIY enthusiasts, but a whole house system with thermostatic controls for each room will require a much higher level of expertise.
Finding a reliable supplier who can provide the necessary quality at the right price can be a minefield with any project. If you have decided to use underfloor heating you should have a good idea of which type of products you intend to use, and what sort of installation is required.
Different suppliers and contractors may specialise in certain areas, or have larger discounts with certain manufacturers. By now you should know what type of property the underfloor heating is being installed in; is it a refurbishment or a new build?
You should also know whether you are going to fit a wet or a dry system, and if its water based one, which heat source it will be connected to.
If you have decided to use underfloor heating in your project, be it a refurbishment or a new building, you will probably have spent much of your time considering how the system can be integrated into the design, and what type of heating you want to use.
You will probably have taken much deliberation over which systems were cheapest to buy and which would be more cost efficient to run in the long term. You may have spent time planning how the installation will be carried out, and how to fit it in with other trades to avoid downtime.
There are several factors which affect the performance, and therefore the efficiency, of an underfloor heating system. The type of system used will have an impact on the amount of energy required to heat the property, while the type of flooring will also have a bearing on running costs and energy efficiency.
The size of the rooms or zones to be heated, the overall energy performance of the house, and the use of a renewable energy source to heat the underfloor system, all play a part in determining how well the heating performs.
The Hills Fuel Poverty Report, commissioned by the government, estimates that there will be 4.1 million households living in fuel poverty in the UK by the end of 2011.
That staggering figure is due to the rise in energy prices over recent years, and any measures people take to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, help to reduce the cost of heating.
The final cost of an underfloor heating system will be broken down into several areas, each of which may come from different suppliers or one sole contractor.
The cost of purchasing the system, the cost of installation, and the running cost of the heating once it has been installed, all need to be taken into account when assessing which type of system to use.
If you are considering underfloor heating for your home, it is difficult to know what type of system is best suited to your property, and which will be the best in the long run. There is a wealth of information out there, but it can often be difficult to navigate …
If you are installing an underfloor heating system, you will want to be sure that you have all the required permissions and that the system and its components all meet with building regulations. This will safeguard the investment you have made, and maintain the value of your property. There are …
The type of underfloor heating available today, consisting of pipes or electrical cable laid into the floor, is a far cry from some of the methods used in the past. Amazingly, underfloor heating has been dated back as far as the Neolithic period; in this article we will examine some …