North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Underfloor Heating’ Category

Underfloor or radiant heating is quickly gaining in popularity, and it’s easy to see why.  Underfloor heating is energy efficient and provides a soft, gentle heat that radiates up naturally.  Especially in cool climates, nothing feels better on a cold morning than a toasty warm floor to greet your toes.

There are several types of underfloor heating, some requiring contractor installation and others that you can install yourself.  Water underfloor heating can be installed beneath linoleum, tile, ceramic, and even engineered wood, so it can work in any area of the home.

The first types of modern underfloor heating were systems that circulated hot water through pipes beneath the floor.  Nowadays the heat for these systems can be provided via solar power, making them very energy efficient.  A small pump is needed to ensure continued circulation, as bubbles can collect in high areas and eventually stop the water flow.

Radiant heating does take longer than other types of heating for its effects to be felt, and for that reason many people choose programmable thermostats when installing a system.  With an electrical system, where cables or heating mats are installed under the floor, it can be turned on an hour or so before the desired temperature is required, say, first thing in the morning; and by the time you wake the room is already warm.  This is a wonderful feature of this type of heating system.

The cost of underfloor heating kits has been dropping as their popularity has risen, and the newest systems are both cost-effective and energy efficient, making them an unobtrusive addition to any home.

In most cases, you might assume that aesthetics and eco-friendliness don’t go hand-in-hand.  However, this is not the case when you are talking about an underfloor heating kit.  Here are some of the reasons to consider an electric underfloor heating or water underfloor heating system over the traditional types of heating systems where the issue of eco-friendliness is concerned.

- From an ecological standpoint, a water underfloor heating system does not involve the generation of much heat when you consider that it only takes a water temperature of 40° to 50° C to heat a room compared to the minimum 80° C it takes with radiator-based heating systems.

- The power required to heat the water can easily be generated by alternative energy sources such as ground source heat pumps, solar panels, or even wood-burning stoves, all of which are environmentally friendly and rely on sustainable energy sources.

- There is no reliance on the electric grid or fossil fuels to generate the power needed to heat the water.  This is also eco-friendly and will leave less of a carbon footprint on your surrounding environment.

- Because the heat is being generated gently over a larger area, the draughts, dry air and cold or hot spots that you would normally experience with a traditional system are less likely to occur.

- A real bonus for an open sitting room is the fact that underfloor heating systems do not require or take up any wall space.  This is a key where aesthetics is concerned as radiators are not things of beauty.

An underfloor heating specialist such as Floor Heating Online can advise you on which system would suit you and provide information about buying and installing the kit yourself, as well as fitting it for you if you don’t have the expertise.

New and sophisticated wet underfloor heating systems are able to cool your house on hot days as well as heating it when it is cold. Installed as the primary heating, and cooling system, in a newly built or renovated building, this is becoming an effective alternative to forced-air cooling. Underfloor pipes avoid several problems associated with air conditioning, such as dust and microorganisms gathering in the ducts, bulky machinery and high running costs. Practically invisible in the home, underfloor heating and cooling components are mostly hidden out of sight. However, only water systems can cool as well as heat, it is not possible with electric underfloor heating.

One of the main challenges facing all cooling systems is how to reduce or collect condensation. Using your floor heating pipes to cool your home works best in dry rather than humid climates. An intelligent control device connected to the system is able to switch underfloor heating to cooling mode for individual zones, or the whole building. It can also control the dew point by monitoring humidity levels and adjusting the heating or cooling accordingly. However, if the temperature of the floor drops below around 68 degrees Fahrenheit, it will be uncomfortable to stand on, so the cooling ability is limited. Using floor heating in this way is more effective in rooms with extensive glazing where floors have direct sunlight. Well insulated and energy efficient homes gain the most from this system of temperature control, though in warm climates an additional cooling system may be required.

In recent years you may have heard quite a bit about underfloor heating, but do you know what it is?  Underfloor heating systems have been around since ancient Roman times.  Modern underfloor heating is quite effective, creating the ideal temperature profile between floor and ceiling.  The secret lies in the principle of radiant heat.

Conventional heating systems make use of convection, which basically circulates hot air.  This type of system also makes the ceiling the warmest part of a room, since hot air has the tendency to rise.  In contrast, underfloor heating systems use radiant heat, which allows the floor to release heat evenly.

Underfloor electric heating, as well as wet underfloor heating, can provide ideal comfort in the home – warm up feet, cool head, and an overall relaxing atmosphere.  Homes heated by underfloor solutions are evenly heated, more energy efficient, and spend less on overall heating bills.

If you want to install underfloor heating in your home, it isn’t as difficult as you might think.  In fact, underfloor heating systems work well with most types of floor finishes including tile, hardwood, laminate, stone, and even carpet.  There are some floor finishes that are better heat conductors than others, but all work well.  It just depends on your personal preference.

Floor heating systems are a great thing to consider when refurbishing your home, adding an extension, or building a new house from the ground up.  There are a variety of DIY underfloor heating system kits to choose from as well as many professionals willing to do the installation for you.

The 21st century has brought us advances in technology and conveniences that we never dreamed possible twenty years ago.  Today, one of those very conveniences has become commonplace – underfloor heating systems.  In many new homes, floor heating comes as a standard amenity. In these homes, the days of stepping out of a steaming hot shower onto ice cold tile are gone.

Modern technology has given us DIY underfloor heating kits.  These kits make it easy to install this simple luxury.  In most cases, such floor heating systems are installed directly underneath floor tiles and can be powered electrically or by a hot water system.  Both electric and water underfloor heating allow you to take the chill out of the floor on cold winter days.

There is a variety of underfloor heating systems to choose from these days.  The most popular is the do-it-yourself method.  DIY underfloor heating systems are generally easy to install, but a good amount of preparation and research is required.  In most cases, electric underfloor heating is the easiest to install while wet underfloor heating is a little more complicated.  However, there are DIY underfloor heating kits for either method.

No matter which floor heating solution you choose, it will come with an underfloor heating thermostat that allows you to adjust the floor to any desired temperature, depending on the time of year.  You can get DIY floor heating kits at almost any hardware or home improvement store.

Underfloor heating, a concept that dates back as far as the Roman Age, has become increasingly popular since its mass-market introduction in the 1960s and 1970s. The main benefit of underfloor heating is that it allows for a greater and more even spread of heating than is possible from wall fitted radiators, wood burners or gas fired heaters. Additional benefits are that the heat is retained for longer, and floor-space is saved because the heating equipment is placed underneath the tiles or floorboards.

DIY installation of underfloor heating in bathrooms, conservatories or hallways has become easier, as manufacturers produce fully fitted-out sets, with instructions. The two main types of underfloor heating use either water or electricity to generate heat. It is advisable to be aware of basic plumbing or electrical rules. In some cases it may be better to ask for professional help before starting.

A main aspect to consider in laying underfloor heating is the close proximity of the water pipes or electrical mesh to the main water or electricity source. Ensure that you have enough to fill the space to be heated and to lay the pipes or electrical mesh out evenly.

Be careful not to damage the pipes or mesh during installation, as it may prove very expensive and time-consuming to have to dig them out again in order to repair them. Also make sure that you place the correct type of floor over the underfloor heating. Wooden floorboards, for example, may not withstand the intense heat generated by water pipes, whereas electrical mesh is often relatively gentler.

You’ve probably heard plenty of the benefits of underfloor heating – the money it will end up saving you, the energy you’ll save, and the overall warming effects it will have on your home.  Suffice it to say, you don’t have to hire expensive professionals to install underfloor heating insulation – you can do it yourself!  Believe it or not, there are plenty of DIY underfloor heating systems out there to choose from.

There are some tips and tricks to DIY underfloor heating.  First of all, do a little research to find underfloor heating kits that work for you.  Then, you’ll want to thoroughly read any underfloor heating guides and instructions before you get started.  Always familiarize yourself with all of the components within the underfloor heating kit, look over the diagrams, and plan your task before jumping in.

When engaging in DIY underfloor heating there are some very important points to remember.  When installing your own underfloor heating systems always make sure that the piping and wiring is laid out as directed in the instructions.  Also, to make the work go easier, divide your flooring into equal sections.  Additionally, you will want to make sure you have all equipment and tools before starting.

DIY underfloor heating is very affordable when compared to hiring a professional to install your new floor heating system.  Just be sure to follow all manufacturer instructions exactly and you should enjoy years of efficient underfloor heating.  You can find DIY floor heating in almost any home improvement store.

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.