Central Heating

March 28, 2012

Considering a Wet Underfloor Heating System? Read This First.

In some countries, wet underfloor heating systems have become more favored than the standard heating systems. Water wased underfloor heating involves cross-linked pipes laid under or in to the flooring. Warm water is pumped in to the pipes with the assistance of heat pump or boiler. This warm water transmits heat to the floor, which in turn becomes a heat source releasing heat energy into the room.

As the whole floor emits heat, there's a very even distribution of heat within the room. The water pipes are insulated to stop downward and sidewards heat loss. The water is heated to a lower temperature than the standard radiator. Each room can be controlled by an individual thermostat.

Where can you install a water based underfloor heating system?

This is often installed in any building but it is most suited to new buidings as the flooring can be planned and fitted before the building is finished. It requires lot of additional effort and money, if it is retrofitted. This underfloor heating system may be employed with many of the kinds of floors like stone or vinyl flooring. In case if you are planning for timber flooring, then it is recommended to be installed with timber that has a moisture content of 10% or less. The price of installation varies according to the dimensions of the property and age of construction (new or retrofit).

What are the benefits of wet underfloor heating systems?

Water based underfloor heating provides even distribution of heat in the room. The floor, corners of the room, ceiling and the whole room is similarly warm. It is more energy-efficient and can be used with an energy saving heat source like a ground source heat pump. This makes it an eco friendly and efficient heating system. The running costs of a wet underfloor heating system are less than electrical underfloor heating systems and much less than a tradiational heating system using radiators.

If you want to learn more about underfloor heating – including information about underfloor heating cable for electrical systems, then why not take a look at About Underfloor Heating which offers an independent guide to the subject. Mark Richards is a freelance writer who writes for many well known home and garden publications.

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March 26, 2012

Is low underfloor heating cost the only reason why you should buy underfloor heating systems?

Underfloor heating systems have gained popularity because they seem to be a very effective method of keeping your home warm in winters. One of the most significant reasons why many householders like installing these systems is perhaps because underfloor heating cost less in comparison to heating cost of other products.

Underfloor heating systems consume less energy than radiator heating systems which helps in reducing your electric bills. Since these heating systems are installed under the tiles or floorboards, they warm the room efficiently and reduce energy wastage. When the floor of your room is heated, all the objects that come into contact with the floor also get heated. When you come into the room, you get a warm inviting feeling which you don't experience when you use normal heaters.

The amount you save when you use underfloor heating system will depend on the system you purchase. You can either purchase a hot water underfloor heater or electric underfloor heater. You can partially power your electrical systems using wind turbines or solar panels which would cut back your energy bills noticeably. To drive your water based underfloor systems, you can use gas, oil, propane or any other compatible energy source. The selection of energy source will depend on the availability of the power source and its cost.

A different reason why people like installing underfloor heating systems is often because underfloor heating cost of maintenance cost is low. The only parts that require upkeep are the control valves and the boiler. If you install normal heaters you have got to paint the radiators and clean the ducts regularly.

When you use underfloor heating systems, you not only reduce your utility bills but also improve your health. When you use standard duct-based heating systems, dust and other allergens can get picked up when cold air returns. This may cause breathing and other health problems in folks who use this system.

If you want to learn more about the efficiency of underfloor heating – including information about finding underfloor heating suppliers then why not take a look at About Underfloor Heating which offers an independent guide to the subject. Mark Richards is a freelance writer who writes for many well known home and garden publications.

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March 25, 2012

Problems with Electric Underfloor Heating

Electric underfloor heating systems are a modern incarnation of an ancient engineering system. Whether you trace electric underfloor heating systems to the ondol fireplaces venting hot air under the floors in Korea and China or Roman hypocausts, the value of warm floors in keeping buildings habitable and comfortable in winter has been known for thousands of years and around the world. The only major change has been the shift from steam and smoky exhaust to electric heating elements. What are some of the most common electric underfloor heating problems not caused by installation or failure in the control system?

If you fit new wooden floors or tiles, you risk damaging the electric underfloor heating system. Even if there's no damage, very thick tile or flooring may hamper you from getting the full benefit of the system's heat. Spills can cause localised problems with electric underfloor heating, such as shorting out heating elements.

A frequently encountered cause of electric underfloor heating problems is water related. If you have a pipe leaking into the foundation or wall supplying electricity to the system, it can be damaged.

Shifting foundations can break electric underfloor heating elements. This problem is most prevalent in electric underfloor heating systems installed or mounted to concrete foundations. This is less of a concern in pier and beam homes with the electric underfloor heating system lying below the shifting floor. Cracks in the foundation can also cause heated air to escape outside instead of warming your home.

Do you have pests underneath your property? Are they digging under the foundation? If so, this could cause problems if they chew through wire insulation or dig around heating wires and cause them to shift and break. Squirrels, mice and even crazy raspberry ants have been known to chew through electrical insulation around wires. If the pests attack the wiring, you may experience occasional electrical problems. However, you will have to get rid of the pests before you can mend the electric underfloor heating problems.

If you want to read more about underfloor heating – or find answers to questions such as how much is underfloor heating? then why not visit About Underfloor Heating which offers lots of independent underfloor heating information. Mark Richards is a freelance author who writes for several popular house and garden publications.

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