Principal Benefits of Floor Heating Systems
Introduction
Floor heating systems are a simple concept, a source of heat energy, beneath the floor radiates heat into the floor covering and hence to the room above. It's certainly not a new concept, having first been adopted by the Romans some 2,000 years ago. Electric underfloor heating is a more recent development but has been available for 60 years or more, being widely adopted in Northern and Western Europe and is becoming increasingly popular in the United Kingdom. Electric underfloor heating systems nowadays provide a practical, cost-effective, alternative to traditional radiator systems and are establishing a reputation as the preferred heating solution in modern homes.
Aesthetics
Electric underfloor heating systems are, of course invisible as all the heating components are hidden beneath the floor. Traditional central heating radiators, on the other hand, may occupy anything up to 10% of the available wall and floor space in a room and make it difficult to design the interior or arrange your furniture as you would really like. Electric underfloor heating systems allow you to do away with unsightly radiators and pipe work which may also trap dust and allergens and correctly chosen, can be incorporated beneath all manner of floor coverings, including laminated, or engineered wood, tile, stone, carpet, vinyl, etc.
Comfort
One of the limitations of traditional central heating systems is that the vast majority of the heat produced is circulated by convection. This creates a rather "unnatural" temperature gradient in a room, typically, with the warmest part of the room being that directly beneath the ceiling.
Electric underfloor heating systems, on the other hand, transfer a much larger proportion (in fact, roughly 50%, or so) of heat by radiation, to the floor, and other surfaces in a room, and so create a more comfortable temperature gradient, warmer at foot level, and cooler at head level. Indeed, it has been estimated that the temperature in a room heated by electric underfloor heating can be 2°C lower than one heated by traditional means, to achieve the same level of comfort.
Aside from physically harbouring dust, traditional radiators also generate convection currents in the air of a room, which circulate the dust, along with heat. Electric underfloor heating systems produce no such convection currents and as the heating dries the air sufficiently to inhibit dust mites (but not excessively) they may be of benefit to sufferers of asthma or other respiratory ailments.
Economy
From an installation point of view, electric underfloor heating systems are less expensive than warm water or "wet" underfloor heating systems and do not require connection to a boiler or extension of existing plumbing to incorporate them. Electric underfloor heating systems use the entire surface area of a floor to radiate heat, so, in comparison to traditional central heating systems, the heat output per unit area and, therefore, the temperature, is reduced. A reduction in temperature of just 1°C may result in savings to you, as a consumer, and ultimately to the environment of 5% or more, with typical overall savings in the region of 20%, or more, possibly up to 40% in larger homes.
Electric underfloor heating systems also offer a level of control that is not possible with "wet" underfloor heating systems or traditional heating systems. Traditional central heating is often controlled by a central thermostat, but with an electric underfloor heating system, the temperature in each room can be controlled by its own programmable thermostat in the room, or in the floor itself, making regulated, "zoned" heating is a real possibility.
Safety
Electric underfloor heating systems have been available since as long ago as World War II and provided that an appropriate system in terms of the subfloor, floor covering and recommended limits for heat output per unit area, is chosen and correctly installed, there should be no safety concerns.
Electric underfloor heating cables, and mats, feature an inner heating element which is earth sheathed, with a 100% metallic sheath, and electrically insulated from the surface of the cable, so there is no danger of electric shock. Electric underfloor heating systems were, nevertheless, afforded special status under the Part P Building Regulations 2005, so the electrical side of their installation is perhaps best left to a professional electrician, or trade installer with Part P status. A professional installer will take into account additional safety precautions, such as connecting each underfloor circuit via its own dedicated fuseway and circuit breaker.
Maintenance
Electric underfloor heating systems, unlike traditional radiator systems, have no moving parts (valves, etc.) that need to be bled periodically, suffer from wear and tear and may be prone to leaking from time to time. This means that aside from the cost of electricity required to run the system, ongoing costs are virtually eliminated. The other advantage of having no radiators, of course, is that there is no need to remove them, or paint or wallpaper, behind them when it comes to redecorating a room.
Further floor heating systems Information
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