Underfloor heating is an ideal choice in houses as it provides heat distribution and increases comfort, making it a great heating system. The best thing about it is that it’s easy to install and, there are various available systems for various kinds of floor finish.
If considering underfloor heating, know the basics first, and understand how it works. Also, work with experts or professional providers like Heavenly Heat to know the right type of underfloor heating suited for your home.
Below are some of the things you must be aware of when considering underfloor heating:
1. The Two Types
If you want to consider underfloor heating, you should keep in mind there are two primary types that homeowners may choose from. These are water underfloor heating and electric underfloor heating.
Water underfloor heating, also referred to as wet underfloor heating, has the same concept as the electric type. The only difference is that the water pipes are connected to the boiler and have a manifold. Typically, pipework is laid above the floor insulation by plumbers and connected. It’s essential to consider the importance of pipe insulation or moisture-resistant insulation in such instances to maintain and boost the efficiency of the system and insulation, even while building a new home.
Electric underfloor heating, on the other hand, works by installing electric wires underneath the floor surface and above the floor insulation. Available like a mat of wires so they’re simple to roll out, this type of underfloor heating utilizes electricity to spread heat evenly. Mat systems are used to ensure that there are no cold patches.
2. Constant Temperature
The good thing about underfloor heating is the flexibility. Thus, it pays to spend more money to get installation service providers and professional suppliers to not just fit the system and design it in the first place.
With central heating, the boiler sends heat and fires up through to every radiator on the system, unless you switch the radiator off in particular rooms or lessen the radiator’s temperature using its thermostatic valve.
This provides you flexibility, but not a lot. With underfloor heating, it’s different. You can make single-zone areas for your underfloor heating so that the rooms in your home are heated whenever you need them, while some rooms will get a low heat level. The ability to control heating every day and night means enabling you to save money and having a heated home.
3. Setting The Temperature
Rather than turning your heating off and on every day, underfloor heating needs you to set your desired temperature for the setback and on times. Therefore, if you need your house to be warmer during the evening, you can easily lower the setback temperature in advance.
4. Perfect With High Thermal Conductivity Flooring
To make the most out of your underfloor heating system, you’ll require a top flooring layer that’s efficient to grab and keep hold of the heat. It means that the system doesn’t have to work as hard.
There are various flooring options that work well with underfloor heating, and these include ceramic tiles, laminate, wood, carpet, and polished concrete. However, it’s wise to note that there are options that work better than some. For instance, polished concrete floors are a good conductor and retainer of heat. Also, ceramic tiles work well, and other wood flooring solutions are also a perfect fit.
5. Ensure Proper Installation
Like installing heated floors, it’s critical to get an expert or a professional to install your preferred underfloor heating system. Even if it’s an effective and simple heating system, it doesn’t mean that some things can’t go wrong once it’s being installed. That is the reason hiring experts to do the job for you can make a huge difference to ensure that your system will function well for years to come.
6. The Value Of The Thermostat
Even if you think of underfloor heat as a modern invention, it has been around for quite some time. Back then, the Romans used fire under the floor for heating the bathhouses.
With today’s modern underfloor heating, it’s more flexible and sophisticated. But, to get the most out of the system, it’s a must to use a smart thermostat. This is especially true if you have multi-zone systems in which you can set different temperatures in several rooms with just a few taps on your smartphone and change it whenever you want to.
Conclusion
Underfloor heating isn’t for everybody. If you prefer dry and hot heat that leaves your home stuffy, it isn’t a good idea to consider underfloor heating. However, if you want constant and ambient temperature and warm floor underfoot, investing in underfloor heating is definitely worth it.
If you don’t know which underfloor heating to consider, working with experts will help you choose the right and best one for your needs.
