Understanding UFH (Under Floor Heating)
I
n the midst of winter, all one can think about is getting warm and staying warm; it seems fitting to discuss heating at a time when
most people are running up high gas bills or even higher electricity bills in a bid to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. At Speedfit, we believe that a one-time investment in a particular system - underfloor heating (UFH) - pays high dividends in the long run. Here we attempt to share those insights with you. In yesteryear, heating via coal and
wood fires was the norm until the gas version replaced them to combat rising coal rates and wood depletion. Enter the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 (effected 2005) and measures to curb greenhouse gases came into effect to protect the environment, thus making condensing boilers mandatory. Today, in an effort to conserve our rapidly depleting energy reserves, every person with planning permission in the UK is required to acquire an SAP rating before building a new property. This rating is an official assessment of a house’s energy efficiency; the government has now become much stricter with these ratings
to conserve energy and encourage people to move away from fossil fuel boilers. Additional points are attained for air and ground source heat pumps, which work more efficiently with water at a low temperature. UFH works extremely well with these heat pumps, as radiators would require far more surface area to provide the same amount of heat. Hence, UFH is in coherence with
current environmental laws. Using electricity for UFH (in a solid screen system) wastes minimal amounts of heat in comparison with natural gas or fuel systems. Companies like JG Speedfit, produce UFH systems that save energy by allowing the user to control both time and temperature, along with room flexibility. Therefore, one can choose what time the heating comes on, which room/s should be heated and variable temperatures for each separate room. Not only does this allow one to minutely control the amount of energy used, it also allows for flexibility in use according to lifestyle. Price-wise too, UFH is a smart
decision as fuel costs rise daily. Another thing UFH saves on is space;
radiators require a large surface area, especially if the room to be heated is big. In today’s shrinking home environment, space saved is space earned for other activities! Moving furniture around can be done sans any worry about radiator positioning too. Physiologically, UFH has been
proven to work better with the human body than radiators. Have you ever noticed how in your car, having a warm head, but cold feet makes you feel ill or nauseous, whilst the same situation reversed is quite comfortable? Well, UFH takes care of this problem quite effectively whilst indoors. A heated floor ensures happy pets as well. UFH is still considered an
aspirational product by many; it is viewed as a luxury instead of a necessity. However, rising fuel costs and the need for an environmentally friendly system have led to its rise across the UK. The system is quiet unlike radiators and is fairly reliable under all conditions. Once installed properly, it can ensure energy and money savings, along with increased comfort levels. Surely, a must try for all new self-build projects!
www.johnguest.com
No more Arctic floors 54 Self Build Homes | April 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124