Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is becoming more and more popular particularly for new builds, but can still be installed in an existing home. If you are renovating, you can have underfloor heating installed over existing flooring and then a new floor laid over the heating or you can remove the flooring, lay the heating and then the new flow over the top.
Underfloor heating can be installed under numerous types of flooring in conjunction with different types of heating and will undoubtedly add value to your home.
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What types of underfloor heating are available?
- Carbon heating, emitting infrared rays and anions is available in a DIY kit and is suitable for most timber flooring.
Hydronic floor heating has a number of options:
- In screed heating uses a PEX pipe laid on steel mesh before the cement screed.
- Solar hot water panels or evacuated tubes can be connected to hydronic floor heating systems.
- Gas operated systems require a boiler, filter and manifold for hydronic floor heating.
- Heat Pumps are cost effective and eco friendly. They operate by drawing hot air into the chiller and transferring it to water.
- Geothermal systems have a series of loop piping buried in the shallow ground through which water is pumped creating the necessary heating for your floor.
- Wood fired stoves can power your hot water. A much less common but very cost effective way to heat your floor. The water storage tank required will depend on the size of the floor you want to heat and you will have to have an abundant wood supply.
- Hydronic in slab heating with polyethylene pipe is laid before the slab is poured. It is recommended to insulate under your slab if the slab is being poured straight on to the earth. This will prevent losing heat into the ground.
- Cable mat is looped heating elements fixed to fiberglass matting which is stuck to the floor by adhesive tape providing less work by eliminating the steel mesh and the layout of the cable.
Under what types of flooring can underfloor heating be installed?
- Underfloor heating call be installed under tiles, stone, timber, floating floors, polished concrete and carpet in kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and most popularly in bathrooms.
What are the advantages of underfloor heating?
- Underfloor heating creates an even temperature with no drafts, greatly reducing dust particles in the air making it allergy friendly. It is thermostat controlled and will never be too hot to walk on. Underfloor heating is a cost effective and energy efficient method to heat your home. It will keep your towels in the bathroom dry and on damp days you can hang your laundry on a drying rack in a room with a heated floor and you will be surprised how quickly it will dry.
Like to have underfloor heating installed at your place, find a heating specialist near you on the Homeimprovement2day directory.