Underfloor Heating Ideas from HOT FLOORS
Underfloor Heating Ideas

The most common form of central heating in Great British homes comprises a traditional gas, electric or oil fired boiler that is used in conjunction with radiators. However, radiator installations are notoriously inefficient at distributing heat evenly and effectively. Indeed, because radiators are affixed to walls, heat rises from around the middle of the room to its ceiling. At this point, cold draughts are created, which travel back down towards the floor. The natural consequence of this process is that central heating systems have to work harder to heat the rooms, which ultimately means that they consume more energy than ought to be necessary. Therefore, whilst radiators are useful for hanging damp towels on, they are not so effective in performing their primary function of heating the house.
In contrast, underfloor heating systems, which remain relatively underused in Great Britain, are very efficient at heating homes because they provide height to the critical areas of a room – that is, from the floor to just above head height. The effect of underfloor heating is that the room will feel warmest precisely where it needs to be, which is not at ceiling height but in the area that most people will sit and stand. Furthermore, underfloor heating does not produce cold draughts as radiators do, therefore it is far more energy efficient. Underfloor heating is available in electric mat installations and hot water piping.

With regard to hot water underfloor heating, such systems are typically more difficult to install in existing properties and will, therefore, tend to cost more money. In addition to this, hot water pipes or tubes are prone to suffering from a build-up of air bubbles, which can stem or block the flow of heated (or unheated) water. Obviously, this is an undesirable quality of an underfloor heating system and hot water underfloor heating systems also require installation of more equipment than their uncomplicated electrical equivalents. Indeed, electric underfloor heating mats, which will usually be available in 200 watts and 160 watts varieties, are very simple to install. Furthermore, electric mats only require an electrical source to function and, unlike piped alternatives, do not suffer from glitches such as trapped pockets of air. Even if a mat is faulty for some reason or another, the other mats will continue to provide heat effectively.

Therefore, underfloor electric heating systems are ideal for installing in new build properties. Whilst providing efficient and effective heating throughout the home, they are easy to install, which makes them a favourite among builders and property developers. Moreover, with the typically unsightly radiators out of the way, room space is freed up for more creative use. Indeed, radiators are a common source of frustration for many architects, builders, developers and interior designers who cannot achieve the precise look or layout they want when radiators must be installed in certain positions. Also, electric underfloor heating not only allows installers to significantly reduce their workload, but it reduces the time it takes to get a heating system up and running.

Furthermore, installation costs for underfloor heating systems vary considerably depending on what type is being fitted and whether the installers are specialists or not, but ordinarily speaking it will cost a little less than or around the same cost as a traditional radiator installation. However, the longterm financial benefits of using underfloor heating systems are much more significant and are often cited at around 25 per cent over a ten period in comparison to a conventional gas boiler and radiator system.

Moreover, electric underfloor heating mats can be installed under just about any overlay, including linoleum, carpet, stone, tile, laminate or solid wood flooring. The convective properties of these systems allow for a gentle release of heat, which is often cited as a source of frustration among some consumers as rooms can appear to take a little longer to heat up fully than with radiators. However, this marginal delay is necessary in order to avoid damage to the floor surfaces and to provide an evenly distributed and comfortable heat throughout the home. In short, underfloor heating is fast becoming the central heating method of choice in new builds and existing redevelopments.

To see how your new home could look, please visit www.3dhomedecorator.com , where you can choose a floor plan, size it, place living room furniture, dining room furniture, paint, wallpaper, add lights, art, area rugs, kitchen cabinets, appliances, bathroom fixtures, windows, doors and more and see the results rendered in 3d images.