About Underfloor Heating

There are two types of underfloor heating - wet systems where warm water circulates through polyethylene pipes and electric systems which is electric matting. Both methods are installed within the floor structure. You may not require a complete underfloor heating system but simply wish to install it in your kitchen, conservatory or extension.

Utilising today's modern multilayer pipes, control systems and high efficiency boilers, the underfloor heating systems of today are extremely comfortable and controllable. Radiators are no longer needed so giving more room space. The heat is more evenly distributed and dust is not circulated.

Underfloor heating from the whole floor area of the house gently warms the air above, eliminating cold spots. The warm air convects from the floor surface losing approximately 2 degrees centigrade at 2.0 meters above the floor, which makes the system ideal for all ceiling heights.

Independent tests reveal that the most acceptable indoor climate is one in which the floor temperature ranges between 19-29°C and the air temperature at head level ranges between 20 and 24°C. With radiator or convector heating systems a vertical temperature gradient is produced; colder at foot level than at the head.

Underfloor heating has made it possible to reduce energy consumption by using low water temperatures. These systems, based on the development of complex and very high quality plastic pipe, such as the multilayer pipe, now account for over 60% of some European heating markets.

Benefits of these Systems

Both of these systems are designed to produce a radiant-heated zone of comfortable temperature which extends from the floor to a normal ceiling height of around 8 feet. This makes them particularly energy efficient because they are not heating and circulating air into unoccupied high ceiling voids and roof spaces. Furthermore, for pipe systems, utilising the whole of the floor space as a heat transmitter allows heat to be generated using much lower water temperatures than radiators, which, again, is extremely energy efficient, as demonstrated in the diagram below:

Plus...

• Space & Economics
  Every square meter of your home can be fully utilised and the cost for our system is very similar to a radiator system. Radiators can take up valuable wall space in your room
  
  
• Health & Hygiene
  No dust and the underfloor heating will help to reduce house dust mites which is a benefit to asthma sufferers. With no radiators on the walls, there is no risk of injury to children, as there could be if they touched a hot radiator
  
  
• Aesthetics & Labour Saving
  You can design your home to suit your needs rather than that of your heating engineer. Cleaning of the floors is easier and wet floors dry very quickly. Prevents discolouration of paintwork, peeling of paper etc
  
  
• Silence & Comfort
  Radiant heat will provide the highest comfort levels at an even temperature throughout. Compared to radiator systems, there is no noise. No annoying ticking as pipes expand in floor voids
  
  
• Cost effective
  It has been proven that energy saving from 15-40% can be achieved with underfloor heating
  
  
• Ease of control
  Small temperature between the floor surface and the air above means the system is practically self regulating