Introduction to underfloor heating
It is believed that the earliest concept of underfloor heating is to have been in China, where archaeological have found sites in Shenyang, Liaoning, which have show humans using the heated bed floor as early as 7,200 years ago where flue ducts from wood fires were run under the bed floor, the fire was used to provide heat to the living area as well as providing simmering foods over the open fire.
In today’s underfloor heating there are a variety of methods for providing the heat. Fundamentally there are two types – water based and electric underfloor heating.
The water based underfloor heating offers a number of advantages over its electric rival, because it can be run from a number of heat sources from all forms of heating boilers to renewable energy such as biomass and heat pumps etc. With this choice available in the water based floor heating systems, it will then enable you to select the best energy saving heat source for your property.
Nowadays
Underfloor heating has become increasingly more popular and much less expensive to purchase often comparable to that of a radiator central heating system. Underfloor heating can be much quicker to install, together with additional savings on energy bills; due to how it distributes heat it makes the obvious choice with new build and many renovations.
What benefits can underfloor heating offer me?
- Offering you full use of your valuable wall space – and getting rid of ugly dust collecting wall-mounted radiators.
- Much Safer – with no hot surfaces to burn or sharp corners to fall against, making it ideal for very young children and the elderly alike.
- It provides an even heat the room it reduces the risk of fungal growth within the floor covering. Also underfloor heating radiates the gentle warmth from the floor rather than a convection air currents from the modern radiator leading to air movement of dust mites offering the occupant a much healthier environment to live in and especially beneficial to asthma and bronchial sufferers.
- It is also very good for old and infirm people who often suffer from poor circulation by warming their feet gently which in turn help the person feel much more comfortable.
- Buildings with high ceilings, such as churches and vaulted ceilings – with underfloor heating these buildings don’t have hot ceiling areas, because the floor low surface temperature this being a few degrees above that of the room temperature, the low heat gently radiates upwards.
- This is just to mention only a few.
Renewable Energies
One of the biggest benefits of a water-based underfloor heating system and when used with renewable energy it is even more economical Renewable Energy now available such as –
Heat Pumps –Geothermal (Ground Source), Air & Water Source.
Wind Power.
Solar.
Biomass boilers.
Hydropower.
