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A modern home that offers generous spaces, bright rooms and tasteful finishes should also excel in thermal comfort. With always perfecting efficiency, the central heating has received a significant increase in performance with the advent of floor-mounted systems. At first glance, the main benefit of this solution is to improve the overall appearance of the home, but in the long run, efficiency is proving to be the most important reason why it is worth choosing. The novelty of this way of heating the rooms of the house requires special attention from the installers, as well as significant financial resources from the property owners. Placed under the floor, between the floor material and the screed, the elements of this heating system offer a surprising effect at the first use, through the comforting sensation of the heat rising from the ground, to cover the entire enclosure.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of underfloor heating?
What types are available and how they work
How to mount the system
What tips to follow for an efficient heating system
What are the most common myths?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of underfloor heating?
Beyond the improved appearance, a home with a underfloor heating system can benefit from it in many ways. On the other hand, an owner who chooses this technical solution has to develop a series of specific details, which differ radically from those valid in the case of heating with radiators.
Benefits:
uniform distribution of heat in the room, from top to bottom, which preserves the air at high temperature;
higher efficiency than conventional heating systems due to the large floor covering area;
the economic consumption obtained due to the moderate temperature of the thermal agent, typical of this installation;
additional space available next to the wall, which makes it easier to place the furniture;
increasing the resale value of the property.
Pleasant to use, but not easy to install, the underfloor heating system also comes with a number of limitations, which you should be aware of from the beginning. The better you set up the purchase and installation of this type of installation, the more satisfied you will be with the result.
Disadvantages:
the high cost of the installation, plus the cost of the related project and labor;
long time required to reach the desired room temperature;
the need to adapt the position of the furniture according to the route of the installation, so as not to affect its efficiency.
What types are available and how they work
At first, underfloor heating was only available in the hot water circulation pipe, but later it could also be done through electrical circuits. The differences between them make them more or less suitable for your home, depending on your expectations of the heating system.
The water-based hydraulic heater uses polyethylene pipes, which are connected to the boiler or the hot water tank of the solar panel installation. This electric underfloor heating solution requires insulation with a special layer placed under the installation to prevent heat loss. The heating medium circulating in this installation has a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, and this makes its operation up to 30% more efficient than that of a conventional heating system, which uses radiators. No furniture can be placed on the route of this type of installation.
Electric heating means easier and faster installation than water heating. The basic elements of the installation are the electrical conductors, arranged in an assembly similar to a plastic carpet, which also contains the electrical resistances necessary for operation. With this system, the floor heats up almost instantly, but the electricity consumption is considerable. Another advantage of this heating solution is its very compact dimensions, which allows the furniture to be placed on the floor under which the electrical circuits are located.
How to mount the system
The first step in installing a underfloor heating system is its design. It must be drawn up only after the walls have been completed, the carpentry has been installed and the location of the furniture has been determined. In the case of the hydraulic installation, wet installation is predominant, which involves placing the devices under the screed. This process requires careful planning and expertise in the field, so you only need to turn to specialists. The sizing of the installation must be done according to the number of square meters of the house.
First, the distribution boxes, which allow the ventilation of the installation, will be installed above the pipes through which the water circulates. After mounting the support, the coils through which the thermal agent will circulate are fixed, and each of them will respect exactly the length and curvature provided in the project. Filling with water is the first step in the pressure test, a step that can reveal any design or installation defects. This evidence is very important, in view of the fact that the subsequent interventions, in case of some failures of the installation, will be very difficult to fix and with some huge costs. Dry installation consists of fixing the pipes under the floor, which they will turn into a radiant panel.
This solution is more suitable for renovations, the wet installation being the prerogative of projects developed from scratch. In the case of the underfloor heating system that uses electrical circuits, the installation is easier, thanks to the kit that includes accessories for measuring and cutting. The electrical cable, the support net, the protective tubes and the sensors are mandatory elements of this kit. The cables are mounted at equal distances, and the sensors will be placed at half the distance between the consecutive spirals. They communicate with the thermostats to turn off the power supply once the optimum temperature has been reached.
What tips to follow for an efficient heating system
A properly designed underfloor heating system is a guarantee of the thermal efficiency that the house offers, as well as the well-being that all members of the family will feel. To achieve a truly satisfying result, you need to put into practice a number of recommendations that any professional would agree with:
before making a decision on the installation of the heating system, check the thermal insulation of the house and make changes where necessary;
choose carefully where you will place the furniture, so that the design of the heating system is as viable as possible in the long run;
do not install solid wood flooring over the floor under which the heating is located, so as not to block it.
What are the most common myths?
Despite the fact that they can afford this system, many people avoid switching to underfloor heating due to a whole host of prejudices associated with it. Among the most common false arguments against underfloor heating are:
Underfloor heating does not keep the house warm. In reality, this technical solution comes with the advantage of a temperature that is constantly maintained in the rooms, even if the hydraulic systems reach their efficiency later.
Failure of the pipes will require the replacement of the entire installation. In fact, if a pipe breaks, the screed provides sufficient protection until the intervention, and the actual operation will be done only at the level of the crack.
You can wake up at any time with the floor flooded. You will not have this experience, because the drop in temperature signaled by the thermostat and the increase in consumption will warn you. You will therefore have enough time to intervene, but you will only have to do it with the help of a specialized company.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of underfloor heating?
What types are available and how they work
How to mount the system
What tips to follow for an efficient heating system
What are the most common myths?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of underfloor heating?
Beyond the improved appearance, a home with a underfloor heating system can benefit from it in many ways. On the other hand, an owner who chooses this technical solution has to develop a series of specific details, which differ radically from those valid in the case of heating with radiators.
Benefits:
uniform distribution of heat in the room, from top to bottom, which preserves the air at high temperature;
higher efficiency than conventional heating systems due to the large floor covering area;
the economic consumption obtained due to the moderate temperature of the thermal agent, typical of this installation;
additional space available next to the wall, which makes it easier to place the furniture;
increasing the resale value of the property.
Pleasant to use, but not easy to install, the underfloor heating system also comes with a number of limitations, which you should be aware of from the beginning. The better you set up the purchase and installation of this type of installation, the more satisfied you will be with the result.
Disadvantages:
the high cost of the installation, plus the cost of the related project and labor;
long time required to reach the desired room temperature;
the need to adapt the position of the furniture according to the route of the installation, so as not to affect its efficiency.
What types are available and how they work
At first, underfloor heating was only available in the hot water circulation pipe, but later it could also be done through electrical circuits. The differences between them make them more or less suitable for your home, depending on your expectations of the heating system.
The water-based hydraulic heater uses polyethylene pipes, which are connected to the boiler or the hot water tank of the solar panel installation. This electric underfloor heating solution requires insulation with a special layer placed under the installation to prevent heat loss. The heating medium circulating in this installation has a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, and this makes its operation up to 30% more efficient than that of a conventional heating system, which uses radiators. No furniture can be placed on the route of this type of installation.
Electric heating means easier and faster installation than water heating. The basic elements of the installation are the electrical conductors, arranged in an assembly similar to a plastic carpet, which also contains the electrical resistances necessary for operation. With this system, the floor heats up almost instantly, but the electricity consumption is considerable. Another advantage of this heating solution is its very compact dimensions, which allows the furniture to be placed on the floor under which the electrical circuits are located.
How to mount the system
The first step in installing a underfloor heating system is its design. It must be drawn up only after the walls have been completed, the carpentry has been installed and the location of the furniture has been determined. In the case of the hydraulic installation, wet installation is predominant, which involves placing the devices under the screed. This process requires careful planning and expertise in the field, so you only need to turn to specialists. The sizing of the installation must be done according to the number of square meters of the house.
First, the distribution boxes, which allow the ventilation of the installation, will be installed above the pipes through which the water circulates. After mounting the support, the coils through which the thermal agent will circulate are fixed, and each of them will respect exactly the length and curvature provided in the project. Filling with water is the first step in the pressure test, a step that can reveal any design or installation defects. This evidence is very important, in view of the fact that the subsequent interventions, in case of some failures of the installation, will be very difficult to fix and with some huge costs. Dry installation consists of fixing the pipes under the floor, which they will turn into a radiant panel.
This solution is more suitable for renovations, the wet installation being the prerogative of projects developed from scratch. In the case of the underfloor heating system that uses electrical circuits, the installation is easier, thanks to the kit that includes accessories for measuring and cutting. The electrical cable, the support net, the protective tubes and the sensors are mandatory elements of this kit. The cables are mounted at equal distances, and the sensors will be placed at half the distance between the consecutive spirals. They communicate with the thermostats to turn off the power supply once the optimum temperature has been reached.
What tips to follow for an efficient heating system
A properly designed underfloor heating system is a guarantee of the thermal efficiency that the house offers, as well as the well-being that all members of the family will feel. To achieve a truly satisfying result, you need to put into practice a number of recommendations that any professional would agree with:
before making a decision on the installation of the heating system, check the thermal insulation of the house and make changes where necessary;
choose carefully where you will place the furniture, so that the design of the heating system is as viable as possible in the long run;
do not install solid wood flooring over the floor under which the heating is located, so as not to block it.
What are the most common myths?
Despite the fact that they can afford this system, many people avoid switching to underfloor heating due to a whole host of prejudices associated with it. Among the most common false arguments against underfloor heating are:
Underfloor heating does not keep the house warm. In reality, this technical solution comes with the advantage of a temperature that is constantly maintained in the rooms, even if the hydraulic systems reach their efficiency later.
Failure of the pipes will require the replacement of the entire installation. In fact, if a pipe breaks, the screed provides sufficient protection until the intervention, and the actual operation will be done only at the level of the crack.
You can wake up at any time with the floor flooded. You will not have this experience, because the drop in temperature signaled by the thermostat and the increase in consumption will warn you. You will therefore have enough time to intervene, but you will only have to do it with the help of a specialized company.
