Underfloor Heating Installation in Luton, Norfolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire
With an underfloor heating system, the floor becomes the heat emitter with the heating of the room from the floor up. Unlike radiators in a normal central heating system where the emitters are mounted on the wall the room is effectively heated from the ceiling down. The installation of both electric and water based underfloor heating systems are available, the practicalities of the installation are almost identical apart from obviously, that one uses electric heating cable while the other circulates heated water through the pipe.
Water-based UFH uses water heated to a lower temperature than conventional water central heating (typically 50°C rather than 60°C plus), which makes it ideal for use with high efficiency condensing boilers. The lower operating temperature also makes it more suitable for use with heat pumps or solar water heaters.
The water temperature to the heating pipe is controlled by mixing the water in the pipe with hot water from the boiler to achieve the required temperature. This is then passed to a manifold for distribution to the various zones. Normally an existing conventional boiler will suit UFH, however, it may be necessary to fit a higher rated pump as the back pressure may be greater than in a conventional radiator type central heating system.
Whichever system is used, the heat source is located under the floor and the area to be heated is separated into separate zones (normally one zone per room) and each zone is heated and controlled independently
The Benefits of Underfloor Heating
Water based UFH is cheaper to run than central heating using radiators, as the water used is at a lower temperature (typically 50°C rather than 60°C plus).
The same level of comfort is achieved with the temperature in an UFH heated room about 2°C lower than in a room heated with conventional radiators. Wall mounted radiators act as convectors to heat the air, with underfloor heating, the whole floor area acts as an emitter for radiated heat.
Unlike conventional radiators or heaters there are no hazardous wall projections or hot surfaces.
With no need for wall mounted emitters, there is less restriction on placing furniture in the room also fewer 'dust traps' so rooms are easier to keep dust free.
In wet areas; bath, shower rooms, kitchen, etc, the floors will dry off quicker.
The 'Drawbacks' of Underfloor Heating
One of the biggest drawbacks is the relatively slow response time of underfloor heating, especially where the pipe/cable is embedded in a solid floor. A wooden floor can take 30 minutes to an hour to warm up while concrete can take several hours - however the cooling time is also similarly long. This may not be considered a drawback if the property is occupied continuously or if the UFH is just used as 'background' heating.
Underfloor heating should not be fitted under floor mounted units, which is quite easy to arrange in a kitchen where the position of base units etc are fixed.