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1.
What is underfloor heating?
Warm
water is circulated through a series of pipes laid in the floor
at the time of construction. These pipes are of the highest standard
and form a continuous loop between two central manifolds. Each room
has its own circuit and is individually controlled putting the heat
exactly where you want it. Back to
top
2.
I haven't heard much about underfloor heating, is it new?
Underfloor
heating first came to the UK nearly 2000 years ago. The Romans brought
the basic technology with them and used underfloor heating in their
villas. They used a system of hot air ducts which passed under the
floor from one side of the building to the other. The rooms which
needed to be hottest were situated nearest to the heat source while
cooler rooms were furthest away. Back
to top
3.
Why is underfloor heating better than a radiator system?
The
most obvious reason is that there are no ugly radiators taking up
valuable wall space. This gives you greater freedom to decorate
and furnish the rooms as you please. A radiator takes up as much
room as a hippopotamus and is about as attractive to look at! For
even more reasons click here to visit
our benefits page. Back to top
4.
Is
it expensive?
No.
Underfloor heating should be no more expensive to install than a
comparable radiator system. To give you a rough idea, underfloor
heating will cost you about as much as a good quality carpet, or
a fraction of the cost of a fitted kitchen. Furthermore, unlike
carpets and kitchens, underfloor heating will last the lifetime
of your house. We will be happy to provide you with a free no obligation
quote after receiving a copy of your floor plans. Back
to top
5.
What
about running costs?
Underfloor
heating can be up to 25% cheaper to operate than a radiator system
when used with a high efficiency condensing boiler. This level of
saving can easily be maintained and may even be exceeded. Back
to top
6.
What
fuel does underfloor heating run on?
You
can use any kind of fuel to warm the water that circulates through
the underfloor heating pipe. The most popular choices are oil,
gas and solid fuel in the form of a conventional boiler. The best
choice is a condensing boiler because these are at their most efficient
while working at the lower temperatures required by the underfloor
heating. Back to top
7.
Can
I use an alternative heat source?
Yes.
Because the system operates on low temperatures (typically between
35C and 50C) it is ideal for connecting to alternative heat sources
such as solar panels, a heat recovery system, a heat pump, or an
Aga style cooker. These systems can be used in any combination to
supplement the output from your boiler and save you even more of
your fuel costs. Back to top
8.
What
if it leaks?
The
system should not leak! The Pex-A pipe is made to the highest standards
and is guaranteed for fifty years. The pipe has been in production
for more than 25 years. Accelerated testing is constantly being
carried out by the manufacturers and has shown that it will last
for over seventy years, and testing is still ongoing. It can withstand
a constant temperature of 95C at 6 Bar (85 psi). Depending on your
floor construction, the system normally operates at temperatures
between 35 - 60C and usually only between 1 and 2 Bar (28 psi).
Back to top
9.
What
about servicing?
Servicing
is easy because basically none is required. Once the Pex-A pipe
has been embedded in the floor, there is never any need to see it
again. It should outlive the house. The only servicing required
is the normal scheduled maintenance required by the boiler. Back
to top
10.
Is
underfloor heating controllable?
Oh
yes. Each room has its own individual circuit. Each circuit has
its own thermostat which is linked to a motorised valve on the manifold.
Adjusting the thermostat will allow the valve to control the flow
to that circuit. In addition, you could have a weather compensating
system. This automatically monitors the outside temperature and
maintains the system at your preferred temperature all the time.
Ask a person who has the weather compensation system and they'll
tell you that they never know when their heating is on or off because
they never have to adjust it. Their rooms are always at a comfortable
temperature. Back to top
11.
Is
it easy to install?
Installing
underfloor heating is a specialist job which requires a degree of
technical skill. For peace of mind we recommend that it should be
carried out by professional installers. However, the system can
be installed by anyone with good working knowledge of DIY skills
if it is done during the construction phase. The system is easier
to install than a radiator system. Full installation instructions
are given with each system and advice is always available for those
wishing to install the system themselves. Back
to top
12.
I want to have hardwood floors. Will underfloor heating damage
the wood?
No.
All hard wood flooring and wood laminates should always be laid
in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. It is good practise
to first lay the wood out loose and allow it to acclimatise to the
room in which it is to be finally laid. Once laid, underfloor heating
is actually very good for wooden floors because it maintains a constant
even temperature over the surface of the floor eliminating hot spots
close to radiators. The surface temperature of the floor is always
well below the hard wood manufacturers threshold. Back
to top
13.
Can I have carpets on my floors?
Yes,
but we recommend that the carpet and underlay should not have a
combined tog rating in excess of 1.5. Underfloor heating can be
used in conjunction with any floor covering. But it should be borne
in mind that carpets act as an insulator so the output from the
floor will be slightly reduced. We can provide a quotation with
guaranteed room temperatures based on your preferred floor coverings
as long as you tell us about them when requesting a quotation. Back
to top
14.
Can I still fit underfloor heating if my build is at an advanced
stage?
Yes
this can be done, depending on your floor construction. For suspended
timber floors where your floor levels are already set, preventing
you from laying the pipes on top of your joists, you can install
the pipes between the joists instead. This requires a bit more preparation
work from your joiner because he will have to install shelves between
the joists onto which the pipes are attached. When it comes to laying
the pipe our team will notch the joists to allow the pipe to pass
between. For concrete floors it's probably obvious that you can
only install the pipes if the concrete has not yet been poured.
Back to top
15.
Can I have underfloor heating throughout my home?
Of
course. There are no restrictions on where the system can be used.
Back to top
16.
Can I fit underfloor heating in my existing home?
This
is a very difficult question and the answer depends on your circumstances.
Fitting underfloor heating requires a high degree of disruption
and upheaval in an existing home and is usually impractical because
it requires the complete rebuilding of your floors. We do not normally
recommend that you persue this option although if you are determined
then anything is possible. Underfloor heating is normally installed
in new builds or major renovation projects where the floors will
be rebuilt anyway. Back to top
17.
Can I have underfloor heating in an extension or conservatory?
Yes.
Underfloor heating can be used in conjunction with an existing radiator
system as long as you can access the hot water from your boiler
upstream of the radiators, valves, pumps and other controls. It
is ideal for use in conservatories where lack of wall space makes
radiators impractical. Also, you don't end up heating the
roof of your conservatory, the heat remains where you are. Back
to top
18.
Is underfloor heating controlled separately from my radiator system?
Yes.
As explained in the previous question you can run underfloor heating
with a radiator system. The two systems have to run independently
of each other because they operate at different temperatures. Radiators
are usually programmed to come on twice per day whereas underfloor
heating is on continuously. Contrary to what you might think, this
in fact saves money on your fuel bills because underfloor heating
operates at a much lower temperature. Once the floor has warmed
up it takes a very small amount of energy to keep it warm. Click
here to see how radiator systems and
underfloor heating systems operate together. Back
to top
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