North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Underfloor Heating’ Category

One of the key advantages to installing electric underfloor heating or water underfloor heating is that it helps to reduce your monthly heating bills.  We are all concerned about conserving energy, and reducing the cost of your heating means that you are taking the right steps to do exactly that.  Compared to traditional heating, electric underfloor heating or under tile heating has numerous advantages including:

- Heat is spread evenly throughout the room
- Little or no maintenance costs
- Low installation costs
- Reduces the amount of dust and dust mites in the air

There has been a 25% increase annually in the demand for underfloor heating systems since the late 1990’s.  In the UK alone, numerous high profile buildings now have had these types of heating systems installed in them.

Electric or wet underfloor heating systems are the two most popular types of underfloor systems being installed today.  Most homes currently use the electric type as it is wired directly into the home’s electricity source and does not require a boiler to heat water the way a wet underfloor heating system does.  Additionally, electric underfloor heating systems heat the floor much quicker making them more cost-effective and efficient to operate compared to a water underfloor heating system.

You can also control the heating by installing an underfloor heating thermostat in each room.  This also helps to reduce your monthly heating bills as you can control which rooms gets heated and which do not.  Whether your rooms are carpeted or tiled, you can install an electric underfloor heating system throughout the house, even in your bathrooms or your conservatory.

One of the primary ways self-builders illustrate their knowledge of the many advantages of designing and creating their own homes, rather than buying ready-built houses, is by featuring customised styling, combined with energy efficiency. A key was to do this is through underfloor heating.

Underfloor heating in British homes

Underfloor heating actually dates back to Roman times, where water was heated and then passed between and through flagstones to heat the floors. For many years, underfloor heating has been quite popular in Europe. Here in the UK, we have taken a bit longer to get used to the idea. In 2005, about 20% of new-builds included underfloor heating. Most of those were professionally developed properties rather than self-builds. However, since that time, the number of homes with underfloor heating built-in has increased.

How underfloor heating works

Underfloor heating works much like conventional heating does. Warmth is generated either by water or electricity and then passed through pipes. But, instead of leading to a series of wall-hung radiators, underfloor heating is installed into the fabric of the floor. This means each room within a home can have its own set of pipes, along with its own underfloor heating thermostat and controls.

Popularity amongst self-builders

Underfloor heating has become popular with self-builders because it is both cost-effective and space-efficient. Further, while it is easiest to install underfloor heating at design level, it is not all that difficult to include it in already-built homes by placing piping on the existing floor and installing a newly tiled surface above.

When you are contemplating replacing your current heating system with an underfloor heating system, the first thing you want to take into consideration is the cost and whether or not your current budget can handle it.  There are a number of factors that come into play where the cost of the system is concerned, all of which depend on the type of system you decide to go with.

Initially, when you are comparing costs, you can assume that all material factors are fairly equal.  These factors include the size of your property, where you are located geographically, and the insulation needed for your heating system.  However, the primary consideration is the ease and cost of the actual installation when you are talking about an underfloor heating system.

Underfloor heating systems can be installed in about 40% of the time that is required to install the traditional type of heating system.  Another key factor is that the actual installation of underfloor systems is usually cheaper.  However, the component parts of an underfloor heating system typically cost more.  But when you consider what you will be saving over the long run on your monthly heating bills with an underfloor heating system, the initial investment is soon recouped.

Finally, an electric underfloor heating system is less expensive to operate than a hot water underfloor heating system because there are no boilers to purchase for producing the heat required for warming up a room.  Statistics in the UK show that it costs about 25% more to install and operate a wet underfloor heating system compared to an electric one.

Many people are now choosing to install underfloor heating as an alternative to bathroom radiators. Underfloor heating comes in two variations – electrical and water. Water underfloor heating can be incorporated with your existing heating system; therefore there are no major renovations required.

The system is actually installed via a series of pipes which are located underneath your choice of flooring, be it tile, laminate or wood. The pipes then fill with hot water which creates heat which rises and circulates around the bathroom creating a warm and cosy ambience. Underfloor heating has long been popular in Europe and is now becoming a much more popular choice than traditional bathroom radiators in the UK as people opt for a sleeker, design-led aesthetic within their bathroom. No longer do you need to incorporate a radiator within the design of your bathroom. Often these radiators do not fit with the style of the room but they have, in the past, been deemed necessary due to the requirement for warmth. However, with underfloor heating the only wall space required will be for the thermostat.

You will also find that the heat provided by the underfloor heating is different to the heat commonly provided by radiators. The heat actually stays in the room for longer as the room is heated from the floor up. It is also a more environmentally friendly heating option since your energy consumption is lower. This should also result in reduction in your fuel costs.

Underfloor heating is a popular way to update your home, as well as ridding yourself of those inefficient and nasty old radiators that distribute dust as they distribute warmth. Some of the most popular places people use electric underfloor heating include kitchens, bathrooms, and conservatories. Here is some advice on how to prime your kitchen floor for installation; heating suppliers such as Floor Heating Online can also adive you if you get stuck.

Measuring

When planning to install an electric underfloor heating system in a kitchen, it is important to measure the room correctly and avoid any permanent features like your kitchen units. Measure the area you want heated and then deduct ten percent to allow for the perimeter.

Preparing the floors

Before laying your electric underfloor heating mat or cables, your floors will need to be prepared. For concrete sub-floors, if the sub-floor is new, it needs to be allowed to cure naturally. This means allowing approximately one week per 25 mm, depending upon the weather. To level it, apply a thin layer of levelling compound.

If the sub-floor is made from timber, make sure it is both clean and level before installing your system. In addition, suitable plywood over-boarding should be installed where necessary. This is especially the case if you will be laying tiles on top of your system.

Whether your sub-floor is concrete or timber, it is highly advisable to use a suitable primer or sealer before beginning your electric underfloor heating system installation. This ensures the porous floors are properly sealed before application of adhesives or levelling compounds.

Here in Britain, where the winters are cold and the summers are not always that much warmer, there is nothing nicer than the feeling of being warm – from your head to your toes. There is also nothing worse than that feeling of being warm, and then having to place your feet on a cold floor! This is where DIY underfloor heating comes in. Simple to install, a pleasure to have, DIY underfloor heating can make any home more comfortable, giving it that warm cosy feeling, even on the coldest of winter days.

A DIY underfloor heating kit comes with everything you need. In addition to the instructions that come with the pack, there is also a lot of information available via DIY Internet sites to ensure you have all of the knowledge and information you need to know before beginning the project.

Standard pack sizes go from 20 square meters to 60 square meters, with other sizes available through most vendors upon request. Otherwise you can purchase multiple packs to cover extra floor space. Most underfloor heating suppliers like floorheatingonline.com deliver to anywhere within the UK. Packs are suitable for most flooring types, although some types of flooring require extra protection when installing an underfloor heating system.

DIY underfloor heating kits are flexible, come in several types to choose from, and are generally straightforward to install. They are perfect for any room, including extensions, conservatories, and cellar conversions. Finally, installing a DIY underfloor heating system can save you money on your winter heating bill.

Electric underfloor heating is considered one of the most popular forms of heating for homes around the world in the 21st century, due to its economical nature, ease of use, lack of maintenance and the even distribution of heat throughout the entire home. Whilst water underfloor heating systems were considered par for the course in the 20th century, technological advances have allowed electric underfloor heating to take priority in modern times, with the majority of underfloor heating kits now being heating mats. The average electric underfloor heating mat will raise the floor no more than 20mm, which is negligible when considering the thickness of the average flooring material.

The average electric heat mat works via power leads and an underfloor heating thermostat, which are both attached to the mat via cables. The mat itself can be stuck down beneath any type of flooring surface with the leads running out to an electrical outlet where the power source will be wired in. The thermostat will allow the homeowner to regulate the temperature of the floor at any time, day or night.

Traditional heating systems simply emit hot air that rises to the ceiling and then remains there until it drifts down, creating a draught in the airflow. Electric underfloor heating works by distributing the heat evenly across the entire floor, leaving the rest to the laws of physics.  This is far more efficient than using the traditional radiators or electric heaters that many people have used in the past.

Underfloor zone heating is a type of electric underfloor heating in which heating areas – or zones – can be turned on or off, or set at different temperature settings depending on need.

Underfloor heating generally is a type of radiant heating, which warms the floor evenly and efficiently, making the entire floor become a radiator. In contrast to conventional forms of heating such as water filled radiators, electric heaters, or wood, gas, coal or oil burners, all of which provide convected heat, radiant heat works more slowly and minimises hot air currents.

One of the major drawbacks of convected heating systems is that hot air tends to rise to the highest point of a room. Underfloor heating reduces this effect. Modern developments of underfloor zone heating have evolved the underfloor heating system even further allowing greater efficiency.

The main benefits of underfloor zone heating are greater control over the heating system, reduced energy costs and thereby environmentally friendliness. Rooms that are not occupied can be left unheated, whilst occupied rooms can be regulated with a thermostat.

Underfloor zone heating takes into account the fact that domestic spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms, conservatories and cellars do not need to be heated at the same temperature as living rooms, hallways, bedrooms and dining rooms.

Underfloor zone heating, due to its relative newness, is not typically offered as an underfloor heating kit or DIY installation. It still tends to require professional installation, but can be bought in selected shops or online outlets.

Underfloor heating systems are a unique way to heat the home. It was assumed that it was invented by the Romans, but there is some evidence that it was actually the Koreans who used it first in the Bronze Age. The heating system used was to warm air or smoke in a furnace which was positioned at one side of a void under the floor of the building. This would then work its way through the void to the chimney which was usually located at the opposite side of the building, warming the floors and consequently the rooms above it as it went.

The Roman system was similar but they used hot water or steam which passed through ducts under floors that were suspended on pillars of stones and in the same way heated the air in the rooms. Again the steam was expelled through chimneys at the corners of the rooms. The optimum height of these voids was about two feet to allow the steam to heat the house. The furnace that provided this water was placed close to the bathroom and so it heated the water for bathing before it warmed the rest of the building.

Today underfloor heating systems are popular as they are more economical and healthier than conventional types of heating and are an easy addition to new build homes. It can be more expensive and difficult to install into older buildings although it is possible to do. It is compatible with most types of flooring and the lack of radiators helps to keep rooms simple and easy to decorate.

Obviously the costs of running underfloor heating depend on the type of heating that is chosen. Due to the differences in all buildings assessing an accurate running cost can be difficult, but using electric heating and providing that the insulation is in line with the current building regulations and there are thermostatic controls in the rooms, it is estimated that it should cost between £3 and £4 per cubic metre per annum to run. However a room such as a conservatory will obviously be more expensive to heat.

Using a water powered underfloor heating system (water heated by gas) the costs will be lower, but as with all similar systems it will depend on your usage.  The recommendation is that you adjust the thermostats to suit your requirements; for example, lowering the temperature at night when rooms are empty, not allowing rooms to get very cold as this will cost more to get them back to a realistic temperature and, most importantly, not heating rooms up to too high a temperature. Wet underfloor heating is definitely a cheaper option than the electric version.

The most economical form of underfloor heating is solar powered, although it is possibly slightly more expensive to install. Once in use though it should be very reasonable to run because you are using the free heat of the sun which, with the new solar panels, can be harvested on even the dullest of days and any excess electricity produced can be sold back to the power company helping you to recoup some of the expenses.