An Underfloor Heating System warms the floor structure, then the floor surface which in turn warms the room. The main method of heat transfer is by radiation from the floor surface which accounts for about 60% of the system output, the remainder being made up from a combination of conduction and convection. As the majority of heat output is radiant, underfloor heating is very effective at producing comfort at lower air temperatures than conventional central heating systems can achieve. A well designed and installed system heats the occupied zone from the floor up and gives rise to almost none of the temperature stratification of a conventional space heating system. This is one factor that allows underfloor heating systems to be more fuel efficient as high temperatures at ceiling level are not produced.

The basic principle of operation of an underfloor heating system is that warm water is circulated through pipes which are embedded in the floor structure. As the floor is a large area compared to a traditional radiator, the floor surface temperature can be quite low, usually between 22 & 28 degrees C.

Generally hard floor finished such as ceramic tiles, slate and stone work best with underfloor heating but laminates, timber, carpet and vinyl can all be used with great success so long as any underlay used with carpets, timber or laminates has as low a tog value as possible i.e. it is not insulating.

A well designed underfloor heating system need not cost the earth, indeed it will help reduce energy bills by around 15 – 40% compared to the equivalent radiator system.

Underfloor heating has become a household name today for its great output and cost effectiveness. You can get warmth and cosiness from this kind of heating just about anywhere from your bathroom to your kitchen, living room, bedroom – in fact anywhere in the home or workplace.

You can use an underfloor heating system in the bathroom to warm the floor, or add to the whole ambience. One of the best things about this form of electric heating is that it comes with a programmable thermostat, which allows you to choose the time when you exactly want the heating to take place, thus saving your precious energy and money in the process.

Kitchens are ideal for electric or water underfloor heating because, ask anyone who spends time at home, a large chunk of time is spent in this room. A lot of kitchen floors have ceramic tiling or stone flooring that can make it a very cold place. Only underfloor heating can take away this negative of ceramic tiles and it will save wall space as there is no need for a radiator.

The living room is an important space in any household and keeping it warm and cosy is essential. Underfloor heating can be installed in almost in every kind of floor and under most floor finishes like ceramic tiles, stones, wood or even carpet. It will warm the body gently from the feet upwards and leads to a greater feeling of comfort at a lower temperature when compared to traditional radiators. This also means it leads to running cost savings.

So, what are you waiting for? Underfloor heating is no longer the preserve of the rich, or only for people building new homes. Underfloor heating adds warmth, value and comfort to any home and can be integrated into most floors. Why not contact us or email us for a quote?