Underfloor Heating
What is Underfloor Heating?
Underfloor heating comes in two main types: Electric and waterpipes. Electric systems involves a wire mesh and is commonly used in smaller areas like bathrooms; however, it’s not usually used throughout the entire house. While it can be very effective, it may also be costly to run. Additionally, it’s often fitted without insulation and directly tiled over, allowing the heating element to emit heat quickly. As a result, it can consume a lot of electricity to maintain heat over long periods.
On the other hand, water pipe system offers more flexibility. It can be installed with a network of pipes within the floor screed or fitted over the existing floor using boards with the pipes slotted in. Getting professional advice is crucial to determine which system best suits your property and personal circumstances.
Water-based system, commonly used throughout the entire house, requires proper insulation and thermal mass, like screed or heat spreader plates, to deliver heat evenly. A well-installed system is highly efficient and often associated with Air Source Heat Pumps; however, boilers can also work successfully. In the case of boilers, using a cold-water blending valve to reduce the heat entering the pipework is essential to prevent overheating the floor, which could lead to cracking and damage.
Selecting the right system depends on your specific needs and the characteristics of your property. By using our professional team of designers and engineers, you can ensure that your underfloor heating is efficient, comfortable, and perfectly suited to your lifestyle. Ultimately, a well-chosen and properly installed system will bring long-lasting warmth and cosiness to your home.
Underfloor heating can be costly to run when paired with a boiler because boilers typically deliver water at a higher temperature than what is suitable for underfloor heating.
To prevent any damage to the floor, the hot water needs to be blended with cooler water, resulting in wasted heat and an inefficient system.
However, by utilising Air Source Heat Pumps, you can set them to operate at a temperature that perfectly suits your underfloor system.
This makes the entire setup much more efficient and, as a result, significantly cheaper to run.
Heat pumps are highly recommended for underfloor heating systems, ensuring optimal performance and cost-effectiveness.
In general, carpets are a suitable choice for underfloor heating systems.
While there is specific underlay designed for this purpose, most carpets work exceptionally well with underfloor heating.
It’s a good idea to communicate with the underfloor system designers and inform them about the final carpet covering you intend to use.
This way, they can ensure that the system design aligns with your carpet choice.
Additionally, it’s important to inform your carpet suppliers that you have underfloor heating.
They can provide you with appropriate advice and recommendations based on this information.
By sharing this detail with both the system designers and carpet suppliers, you can ensure a seamless integration between your system and carpet, creating a comfortable and efficient heating experience.
Installing underfloor heating in new build properties is relatively straightforward but retrofitting it in existing homes can be more disruptive.
There are two primary types of underfloor heating: pipe and screed, and overboarding.
Whilst there are other variations, they generally fall under these categories.
For pipe and screed retrofitting, the process involves digging out the current screed and subfloor, installing insulation, fitting underfloor pipework, and pouring a new screed layer.
Once completed, the finished floor can be installed.
Overboarding systems, on the other hand, are placed on top of the existing floor.
The pipe work is fitted within the boards, and a latex screed is poured to cover the pipes.
Finally, the desired final floor covering can be installed.
It’s important to note that this method adds approximately 25mm to the floor height, requiring adjustments to skirting boards and doors to accommodate the change.
While retrofitting underfloor heating can be more involved, the result can provide enhanced comfort and energy efficiency in your home.
It’s recommended to consult with professionals who can assess your specific situation and guide you through the process to ensure a successful installation.
