Water Underfloor Heating can save you money!
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.