BEST UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEM FOR YOU
Do you hate stepping on cold bathroom tiles after a shower? Underfloor heating systems are a great way to balance the temperature in your household and to keep your feet warm at all times, even after a chilly morning shower in winter. Because it is a super-practical, efficient and a healthy way to heat up your home, this heating method is also highly recommended for large families with kids. Here is everything you need to know about it:
HOW DOES UNDERFLOOR HEATING WORK?
The most common type of underfloor heating is water-based. It consists of a carefully planned piping system that is placed under your flooring and is connected to your heating system. You can also connect the piping to a solar heating system or heat pump and make it 100% sustainable and energy efficient. The water is usually between 35-60°C degrees and by running under your floor, it evenly distributes heat throughout the entire home.
The best part about wet underfloor heating systems is that you have absolute control over your indoor temperature. With using thermostats, you can adjust the water’s temperature for each room based on your preferences. When the optimal temperature is achieved in a room, the heating system can automatically turn off, cutting down unnecessary energy spending and improving your home’s efficiency.
RADIATORS VS UNDERFLOOR HEATING
The most common way to heat a home is with radiators. However, not many people know that underfloor heating is much more effective and sustainable. This mechanism is undoubtedly the best way to control indoor temperature. Here is a short comparison between the two:
Conventional heating systems, usually in the form of radiators need to work with a higher temperatures to achieve optimal results. The radiator heats the same air over and over again. So when it produces heated air, the air first goes up and it stays there until it cools and falls down, waiting to be heated again.
Because of this, a radiator will create cold and hot spots throughout the house whereas an underfloor heating system produces heat evenly in all spaces. That’s another reason why it can save up to 20% of energy usage.
HEALTH BENEFITS FROM UNDERFLOOR HEATING
Apart from being practical and efficient, underfloor heating can also help maintain fresh indoor air. This heating system has significantly reduced allergic reactions and even asthma attacks in homeowners. Unlike radiators, wet underfloor heating doesn’t move around dust particles and it doesn’t enable bacteria nesting.
Recent research showed how radiators produce 80% more dust than underfloor heating systems and this difference is attributed to the radiator’s way of producing and distributing heat. The air continuously circulates to be heated over and over again, and along with it dust is spattered all over the place, increasing chances for bacteria and allergies.
In addition, the perfect temperature distribution for the human organism is warm feet and a cool head and underfloor heating helps to create and maintain such an environment. This type of indoor heating will also help those suffering from arthritis, primarily arthritis of feet and legs.
THE INSTALLATION PROCESS
These carefully crafted heating/cooling systems need to be installed by certified and expert contractors, especially when there is water involved as in the case for water-based underfloor heating. So DIY underfloor heating installation isn’t such a wise idea. Luckily, the installation process isn’t as long as one would think.
In most cases, it takes 2-4 days for your new heating system to be fully installed. For larger homes or in irregular circumstances, the duration might expand. If you have an unfinished home or basement, the entire process will finish much sooner. The installation involves removing your exiting flooring, laying a system of pipes, and in some scenarios even insulating the layers beneath the heating.
An important thing to note is that this heating system is flexible and can work good with many types of flooring including stone, carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate, and vinyl.
INCREASING HOME VALUE & EFFICIENCY
From reducing energy spending to providing a safe environment for the kids, this heating will not only create an ideal indoor temperature, but it will also prove to be a great addition to your home. Remember that energy efficiency, sustainability, and safety are becoming necessities for every real estate property and a wet underfloor heating system has them all.
Modern buyers love underfloor heating systems since they are looking for both luxury and practicality. Being quietly placed under your floor, this heating system also increases the amount of usable space and there isn’t a home buyer in the world who isn’t looking for extra square footage.
However, to accomplish maximum results, you should collaborate with true professionals. Having expert guidance by your side is the best thing to do when investing in such a project.
