Underfloor Heating
How does underfloor heating work?
Underfloor heating and radiators deliver heat in different ways. The heat produced from underfloor heating is 70% by radiation and 30% by convection. Conventional systems such as radiators provide heat only by convection, warming the air in a room. Radiant heat on the other hand heats objects and the general fabric of the building, including people, just like the sun heats objects on the earth's surface.
With underfloor heating the biggest advantage is the even distribution of heat which gives warmth and comfort throughout your home or commercial premises. There are no hot or cold spots and the warmest part of the room is next to the floor, not the ceiling. As humans, our bodies prefer warm feet and cool heads and a warm floor is therefore as close as you can get to an ideal environment.
Supply temperatures can be set slightly lower than you would have with a conventional radiator system. The air temperature can be reduced by 1 - 2°C, enhancing levels of comfort and giving energy savings of between 15% and 50% depending on ceiling height. The higher the ceiling the more you save.
What are the benefits of underfloor heating?
In summary – the benefits of underfloor heating are:
Energy efficient
Consistent temperatures – even and controllable indoor climate
Clean & hygienic – dry warm floors can reduce dust mites by 80%
Easy and effective control - allowing different rooms to be at different temperatures
Frees up wall space - increases design freedom
Limited maintenance needed
Works with all floor coverings