Underfloor Heating Blog – Latest News from Floor Heating Online

Marmox 60mm insulation boards

Marmox have added a new thickness of insulation to their range – Marmox 60mm – so we have added it to ours!

To meet the ever increasing demands for more energy efficiency this thicker board has been added and makes Marmox now available in thickness from 6mm to 60mm. All thickness are great for use with our underfloor heating but, obviously, the thicker the board the more insulation and heat retention you will get.

FYI the Marmox 60mm board has a U value of 0.47 compared to 2.7 for 10mm Marmox.

With energy prices as they currently are it is sensible to consider as much insulation as possible when you fit underfloor heating. And energy prices are only likely to go in one direction so our advice is to fit as thick a board as you can!

Categories: Electric Underfloor Heating, Marmox Insulation, Website News

14 Jul 2010

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Underfloor heating is not a new idea

From as far back as Roman times, under tile heating was used as a way to centrally heat buildings. By passing hot air from a furnace through a labyrinth of small ducts beneath the floor, heat was imparted to the floor. Simply put this warmed the floor and heat was radiated into the room making this comfortable during colder days. A very simple but very effective way devised by our Roman ancestors to heat buildings.

With underfloor heating, the heat is evenly distributed from the floor upwards, whereas heat from radiators convects directly to ceiling level leaving the temperature at floor level much lower. The small temperature difference between the floor and the air above means the system is easy to regulate. With individual room control being a common feature of underfloor heating thermostats, you can individually adjust temperature settings in each room of the house, this combined with underfloor heating running at a lower heat level means that a running cost saving of 15 to 40% can be achieved over traditional heating methods.

Categories: Underfloor Heating Systems, Water Underfloor Heating

09 Jul 2010

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Bespoke Under Carpet Heating – Great for any home!

Carpet is the most popular form of floor covering here in the UK and just because you have carpets doesn’t mean that you can’t have underfloor heating. Carpet heating kits are specially designed to be ultra-thin and are made to measure for your room size and layout.

There are a few simple rules to follow regarding what sort of carpet should be used to provide the most efficient heating system when using these kits. The carpet and underlay should have a combined TOG value of 2.0 or less and the carpet heating kit must be covered with thin timber board (such as a low cost laminate) before the carpet is fitted.

The carpet heating kit includes made to measure heating elements, 12mm underfloor heating insulation, a programmable thermostat and floor sensor probe with protective cover; all you have to do is fit! All carpet heating kits are available to order online and take 2-5 days to manufacture.

Categories: Electric Underfloor Heating, General, Underfloor Heating Systems

06 Jul 2010

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Choosing your floor covering for Under Floor Heating

Pretty much all floor coverings can be used with an underfloor heating system but you should be aware that some will work better than others.

Some of the best surfaces for underfloor heating are ceramic floor tiles, natural stone and similar materials. These are good transmitters of radiant heat, don’t expand and contract to any great degree and are generally stuck directly on to the sub-floor with tile adhesive, which also aids the transmission of heat. Under tile heating systems have become popular over the past few years, as people move back towards natural flooring materials for their kitchen’s, conservatories and bathrooms.

Timbers and laminates will also work well but care needs to be taken to make sure they are compatible with underfloor heating, for example it is widely accepted that beech and maple are not suitable for use with underfloor heating. Talk to both your underfloor heating supplier and your flooring supplier to ensure compatibility.

The same is true for Lino, Marmoleum, PVC’s, cushion floors and the like; these should work fine with underfloor heating but get your flooring supplier and underfloor heating supplier to talk to each other.

The most popular floor covering in the UK; carpet will also work well with underfloor heating so long as a few simple rules are followed; a low TOG value carpet and underlay should be used (combined value of less than 2.0). Consult your carpet supplier for guidance, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Whichever floor finish you select, consulting an underfloor heating specialist will help ensure you get the best out of your underfloor heating installation.

Categories: Electric Underfloor Heating, General, Underfloor Heating Systems, Water Underfloor Heating

29 Jun 2010

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Different types of underfloor heating

Both electric and water based underfloor heating systems are available, they are almost identical apart from obviously, that one uses electric heating cable while the other circulated heated water through a pipe, but which type you install will largely depend upon if this is a new build or an installation to an existing building.

You would be well advised to opt for wet underfloor heating system if you are planning a new build, as the pipes can be embedded into the screed. The water temperature to the heating pipe is controlled by mixing the water in the pipe with hot water from the boiler to achieve the required temperature; this is then passed to a manifold for distribution to the various zones. Normally an existing conventional boiler will suit underfloor heating; however it may be necessary to fit a higher rated pump as the back pressure may be greater than in a conventional radiator type central heating system.

Categories: General, Underfloor Heating Systems, Water Underfloor Heating

10 Jun 2010

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Electric underfloor heating is cost effective

When the systems are used in a well-insulated building (in line with current building regulations) the running costs are usually very low, the thermostatic control in each room or zone means that you only use just enough energy to maintain your desired room temperature. As an example in a conservatory with an insulated floor, electric underfloor heating will be more efficient than radiators due to the fact that you are using the whole floor as a low temperature radiant room heater. In an average sized conservatory used at weekends and winter evenings, the cost may be up to £8 per sq metre per annum to run, equating to around £80 – £100 per year.

Electric underfloor heating is also more efficient than radiators because 100% of the electrical energy is turned into heat energy, rather than being lost as exhaust gases as is the case with many gas central heating systems. In the future, it is inevitable that more electricity will have to be produced from greener energy sources such as wind power & so in the future, electric underfloor heating should be one of the ‘greenest’ ways to heat your home.

Categories: Electric Underfloor Heating, General, Underfloor Heating Systems

03 Jun 2010

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The benefits of underfloor heating

There are many benefits to underfloor heating, but the biggest claim is that they are often cheaper to run than traditional radiator systems. The logic to this is that the water used is at a lower temperature, which is typically 50°C rather than 60°C plus in a traditional system.

It is claimed that the same level of comfort is achieved with the temperature in an underfloor heated room about 2°C lower than in a room heated with conventional radiators. Wall mounted radiators act as convectors to heat the air, with underfloor heating, the whole floor area acts as a emitter for radiated heat. With no need for wall mounted emitters, there is less restriction on placing furniture in the room also less ‘dust traps’ so the rooms are easier to keep dust free.

Categories: General, Underfloor Heating Systems

26 May 2010

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We are catching up with Europe

Underfloor heating has been widely used in northern Europe for many years and it would appear that here in the UK we are at last catching up with this popular form of home heating In recent years become quite popular in the UK, both for new builds and updating existing property. As with most things, there are various factors for and against underfloor heating and whether underfloor heating is the choice for you depends largely on your lifestyle.

With an underfloor heating system, the floor itself becomes the heat emitter and the heating of the room is from the floor up, unlike radiators in a normal central heating system where the emitters are mounted on the wall and the room is, effectively, heated from the ceiling downwards. Both electric and water based underfloor heating systems are available, they are almost identical apart from obviously, that one uses electric heating cable while the other circulated heated water through a pipe.

Categories: Electric Underfloor Heating, Underfloor Heating Systems

24 May 2010

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Looking for a radiator? Check out Radiator Centre

The Radiator Centre Ltd are one of the largest suppliers of radiators in the UK, stocking a wide range of designer radiators, including decorative radiators, cast iron radiators and traditional radiators for all rooms of the home or office. We have over 25 years local experience and our fully qualified staff are with you from the outset through to final completion.

We help guide you through some of the newest models on the market today, and help advise customer on the best deals available. We will also be offering advice from experience every day.

Why should you visit www.radiatorcentre.com

Radiator Centre staff, hand picked for their unrivalled expertise and experience, have been selected to give the customer the best possible advice.
Radiator Centres sales team do not work on commission, therefore there is no “hard sale” tactics, just honest, unbiased advice.
Understanding the products from the ground up is the best way to truly know the products. So the sales and technical team have all been involved in sourcing, selecting, building and testing each exclusive product.

From knowing the origins of each cast iron mould, to knowing how many welds there are on the modern stainless steel models, they are on hand to give all the information need to make the best decision.

Categories: General

24 May 2010

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Bamboo Flooring from Panda Flooring

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to Panda Flooring, who produce high density cross-ply strand woven bamboo flooring, which is the most stable bamboo flooring on the market and it is especially recommended for underfloor heating installations. They come in both dark/carbonised and light/natural finishes and they are currently running a special offer at just £24.95 + VAT per square metre.