Bathroom Design Ideas

As we move closer to winter, many homeowners are starting to review their current heating systems.  Now is the time to ask yourself a few questions regarding your heating system, including:

- How efficient is your current heating system?
- Is the heating system still cost-effective?
- Is your current heating system environmentally friendly?
- Do you think it is as effective as an underfloor heating system?

Installing an electric underfloor heating system or a water underfloor heating system should be considered if you answered “no” to any of the above questions.  If you’re an avid handyman or home remodeler, this makes for a great DIY underfloor heating project.  However, you need to take a few things into consideration when you are contemplating taking a project like this on.

Where overall cost-effectiveness and efficiency are concerned, the key component involved during the installation process is the insulation and the amount of it.  Granted, you can install an underfloor heating system without using insulation, but before it will heat up the room, it will be heating up an even colder sub-floor.  The amount of Marmox insulation that you use is going to depend entirely on the type of building you live in.

Finally, the thicker the layer of insulation that you install, the more cost-effective and efficient your underfloor heating system will be.  It is easier to install thick insulation when the home or structure is being built.  However if it is a DIY underfloor heating project, the thickness of the insulation is going to depend on how high the level of the finished floor is going to be.

If you are thinking of installing an underfloor heating system in your home, you may want to learn a little more about water underfloor heating.  The basic principle underlying the wet underfloor heating solution is quite simple – a series of pipes lies under the floor constantly circulating warm water.  Temperature is controlled by a mixing valve and an underfloor heating thermostat.

In most cases, a 65-75 mm cement screed is required, but water underfloor heating systems can also be installed over timber subfloors.  When you install a wet underfloor heating system in the case of a cement subfloor, the thermal mass will then become a background heat store. The temperature offset can be dealt with during off-peak or overnight times.

With a wet underfloor heating system, it is advisable that the floor heating not be turned off completely during the cooler months.  The reason behind this is that the cement screed would cool down way too much to be efficient when turning it back on.  It could delay room warming for up to two hours!  It is a good idea to select a constant temperature and stick to it, depending on the time of year. This is where your underfloor heating thermostat will be most useful to you.

When compared to traditional radiator heating, wet underfloor heating definitely has its advantages, especially when installing it at the time of construction.  Remember, when the pipe work is incorporated into the flooring, the installation costs are no more than a traditional home heating system.  It is later that you will find the added savings of a water underfloor heating system. 

Once you have decided to install underfloor heating, either using a tradesman or by doing it yourself, you will need to decide which system is most suitable for your needs. Whether it is a wet system, solar powered or electric then you will need to find a supplier.

A good idea is to talk to people who may have had similar work done and find out who supplied their equipment. If this isn’t an option then a visit to a local DIY store will give you some ideas, especially if you are going to do the work yourself. If you want to have the work done for you then looking in the telephone book or yellow pages may help you. Another good way to find a supplier of underfloor heating systems is to use the internet. This will give you all the options you need both in the type of heating and also whether or not there is a stockist in your area.

Underfloor heating suppliers like floorheatingonline.com will be pleased to offer advice on what type of heating will suit your needs, and also be able to explain the options of what type of insulation and heating controls will be the best for where you live and your personal needs. It is also possible that the supplier you choose may be able to help you find someone to fit your system if you are not able to do it yourself.

Water underfloor heating is one of the most popular types of heating for the home.  It works on the same principle as standard central heating, in that hot water is piped through the system, gently warming all the rooms.  Water underfloor heating systems are more suitable for newer floors.

The flow of the water is controlled by a manifold which has a temperature control to ensure that the system is operating at maximum efficiency.  The heat in each individual room is controlled by thermal actuators and there are electronic controls which can operate timings and temperatures in each room.

The heating system can be controlled by electronic hubs which can control each room individually or divide the building into zones.

Water at a temperature of approximately 50°C is passed through a series of looped pipes laid under the entire floor of the room.  The whole floor then becomes a radiator, warming the room gently from the floor upwards.  The pipes for each zone or room all run to and from the manifold which is conveniently located for the user. 

The temperature at which water passes through the underfloor heating system is lower than that for standard central heating as the surface of a radiator is much smaller and has to radiate much more heat to warm the room. 

Underfloor heating kits are widely available and can be easily installed and connected to other fixtures such as towel rails.  Underfloor heating will work with most boiler types and is even compatible with alternative energy sources such as solar panels. 

Where a structure has solid concrete floors it may be necessary to also install thermal underfloor heating insulation boards in conjunction with either water or electric underfloor heating.  Solid floors can lose heat under the floor as well as round the edges and the use of thermal insulation boards can help to prevent the unnecessary loss of heat.  The use of these boards can add to the cost savings that consumers can make if they opt for underfloor heating systems. 

The insulation boards can be fitted either above or below the concrete.  Above the slab means that the rooms will warm up and cool down fairly quickly in accordance with the heating system that is being used.  If the boards are installed below the concrete it will improve the thermal functioning of the building, allowing the solid floor to absorb heat and release it slowly.
 
When used with underfloor heating systems the boards should be set below the concrete, so that the water pipes or heating cables can be set into the concrete.  If the insulation boards are placed above the heating it prevents the heat from getting through.   

The boards can be made from several different materials including extruded polystyrene, rigid urethane and rigid phenolic.   They come in a range of thicknesses and can also be used on original tiles and other types of floors if required.  All of these can be used below the concrete slabs or screed floors and are easily installed, coming complete with easy to follow manufacturer’s instructions. 

Underfloor heating has been around since Roman times, and in fact one of the earliest modern versions of radiant floor heating was a variation on the Roman method, called Hydronic Radiant Heat.  Where the Romans built their floors up on tile columns and circulated hot air from an outside fireplace through the below-floor airspace, modern hydronic systems use a network of plastic pipes to circulate hot water in pipes beneath the floor.  This is typically known as a “wet” or water underfloor heating system, although the professionals prefer the term hydronic underfloor heating.

 The floor does not need to be elevated nearly as much as the Roman floors (theirs were typically built up two feet), and the pipes are generally safely embedded in a concrete slab.  As hot water circulates through the pipes it heats the concrete, which then radiates the heat into your room.  Typically, underfloor heating insulation beneath the concrete forces most of the heat up, even though heat naturally rises, lowering the loss of heat to any place other than your room.

Thermostats control the temperature in various “zones” of the house if a whole-house installation is used.  You can heat just one small area or your entire house, saving money and energy by heating only the living space that needs to be heated.  In many cases, whole-house heating is best served by a water underfloor heating system as it is slightly more energy-efficient than electric underfloor heating.

 Also, for new home construction, the floors can obviously be initially constructed with the pipes already embedded in the plastic, and the home can be designed with the needs of this heating system in mind.  This type of system is obviously a little more difficult in a home already constructed, although for additions to an existing house they can be ideal.  

A new underfloor heating system is a wise investment, but it can be made even wiser by the addition of a thin layer of insulation beneath the wires or pipes.  Of course heat rises, that’s what makes floor heating so efficient, but a certain percentage will still work its way downward; proper use of insulation will prevent unnecessary heat loss.

Underfloor heating insulation is a thin layer of material such as cork or polystyrene foam.  Sometimes a thin layer of felt with a backing of Mylar is used.  What all these materials have in common is that they stop heat loss from the pipes or wires.  The laws of physics state that heat will always disperse to colder areas. The sub-floor beneath your pipes or wires is cold, and some heat loss will occur there. The insulating layer will substantially slow that loss.

You want the vast majority of the heat you pay for to remain in the home, so you and your family can have cosy winter evenings.  Underfloor heating insulation is rarely very expensive, even for an entire house, and will more than pay for itself in the first year in energy savings alone.

Also, with an insulating layer preventing heat loss through the sub-floor, the floor you wish to heat will reach the proper temperature much faster.  The floor can switch itself off when the desired temperature is reached, saving you money.

When selecting an underfloor insulation, ask about the insulative properties of the material and how durable it is.  Since underfloor heating systems typically last decades longer than more conventional heating systems, it’s critical that you protect your investment with something that will stand the test of time. Installation of the insulation is generally a snap, and you’ll soon be enjoying a warmer floor and home, with your new underfloor system.

One of the best things about electric underfloor heating is that the systems can be installed in a variety of applications and areas, regardless of how big or small the installation area might be. In addition, because most of the underfloor heating systems are mixtures of wires, cables and mesh mats, they can be customised to fit virtually any room dimensions. So even if your bathroom or kitchen has pre-existing fitted appliances, such as a bathtub and toilet or other obstruction, the underfloor heating kit can be cut to fit.

One of the important things to keep in mind when measuring for your electric under floor heating mat is that you should always keep the edges of the mat at least 10 inches from any exterior wall or appliance. In other words, there should be a 10-inch minimum gap around the toilet in a bathroom application, as well as at least 10 inches from all walls and exterior points, such as a doorway or bath.

It is also vitally important to avoid thermally blocking the heated areas as this could result in areas of localised heat build-up. This might not only damage the underfloor heating kit itself, but could also damage the underfloor heating thermostat, as well as the tile or other flooring material put in place on top of the underfloor heating mat. Double check all your measurements to make absolutely sure that they are correct prior to ordering your underfloor heating kit.

If you are considering a DIY underfloor heating project, there is an enormous range of easy to use, all in one, underfloor heating kits available. There are two types of system, electric or warm water, and kits are aimed at varying levels of competence. For the serious DIY expert or professional builder, a simple kit comprising a length of electrical cable with connector, or a length of plastic pipe with mixing manifold, pump and valve can be bought. A moderate level of expertise is then needed to lay out the pipe or cable at the correct spacing, and to buy and install compatible insulation, heat sensors and thermostats.

Even though most water floor heating kits come with all the necessary components, even down to the fixing clips, they do require plumbing skills to connect to your boiler.  Electric underfloor heating kits are simpler, especially when they contain a series of mats or meshed material with the cable already in position. Many of these kits have a built in return which means that only one end is connected to the electrical supply instead of having to loop the cable back to the starting point. All types of systems need an electrician to connect them to the consumer unit. One of the most important elements of any DIY underfloor heating kit is the instruction leaflet supplied. It may also be worth researching in advance how easy others have found it to install a particular product.

Thermostats enable the level of heat in a room to be kept constant by monitoring the temperature and switching the heating on and off automatically as required. They only work when your heating time clock is set to ‘on’. There are a range of different underfloor heating thermostats available, from the sophisticated digital programmable versions to simple manual ones.

Where floor heating is installed in more than one room of a house, it usually has a thermostat to control the heat in each area or zone. Building Regulations demand that areas over 150m sq. are divided into more than one zone, each with its own temperature control. Underfloor heating thermostats are normally positioned on the wall of the room being heated, except bathrooms where they must be outside the room. It is important to ensure you buy the correct thermostat for your system, whether it is electric or warm water; often they are included in DIY underfloor heating kits.

Underfloor heating thermostats monitor temperature through inbuilt air sensors and through remote sensors built into the floor. Programmable devices can be set to maintain different temperatures at different times of the day. Most allow you to set different patterns for weekdays and weekends, depending on your routine. Cheaper, manual devices tend to raise the temperature slightly above the set point, switch off, then let the temperature fall a few degrees below it before they come back on again. Digital underfloor heating thermostats are more responsive and maintain a more constant heat.