Underfloor heating

Is it floor heating or underfloor heating? Most likely just as much has been argued about the terminology as about the choice between underfloor heating versus radiator heating. Which is right, floor heating or underfloor heating – let the client be the one to decide. A lot has been talked about the advantages and disadvantages of one or another system but let us look at the matter from a different perspective and base our decisions on common sense and the foundation of all issues that we often tend to forget - physics.

Underfloor heating is more favourable!?

The main reason underfloor heating is more economical is that the sense of warmth, the sensed temperature, is created by a large surface. A human being perceives temperature not just as air temperature but also as thermal radiation. The wall of a fireplace or a sauna stove emitting heat could be the first examples to think about in this respect. The perceived temperature is the average value of the temperature of air and of the surfaces around us. The more of warm surfaces there are around us, the lower the importance of air temperature. In short, underfloor heating creates a better perceived temperature at lower room air temperatures. Hence, the possibility of economising.

Heating emission of underfloor heating!

Different theories speak of the diameter of piping of underfloor heating as something very important. All myths are usually related to a certain diameter. Here we dismantle these myths! The diameter of the pipes of the underfloor heating is not important; the surface area that is used for heating is important. Everything else is the self-fulfilment of engineers with an artistic soul. The diameter of pipes of underfloor heating systems is related only to the given construction or situation and nothing else. The pipes of underfloor heating start generally from 9.9 mm and end at 25 mm, other solutions are extreme and rarely used. The choice of a good underfloor heating system always starts from the analysis of the cross-section of the floor, supplemented by evaluation of limit values. The position of underfloor heating pipes in the construction, i.e. installation depth, is also important. If we want a cosy, warm floor that follows regulations, we have to keep in mind some restrictions: for example at room temperature of 21 degrees Celsius, the heating emission cannot be more than 88 W/m2 and with a more high-quality floor covering (wood parquet flooring) the calculation result is 66 W/m2. Generally new buildings correspond to such parameters and heating losses are compensated. The abovementioned values may not be sufficient in houses that are being renovated.

Automated underfloor heating?

It is a system supplement that has been considered expensive and not a very sensible choice, quite unnecessarily. Here it is important to look at the habits of users of the living space. A TV remote control unit could be a good comparison here. We can do without it but most likely there are no TV sets in our homeland that would come without a remote control unit. Automated underfloor heating system is certainly an extra comfort that according to myths saves energy. Generally that is not the case! Such a solution certainly consumes more energy and the saying – comfort costs extra, is true. The comfort comes from the temperature management of all rooms individually. By now, upgraded automation systems are offered where energy spent for comfort has been regained. That in the form of economising 8% of heating energy!

Advantages and disadvantages of underfloor heating:

Requirements and recommendations on underfloor heating: