Underfloor heating
Spilling the beans on UFH myths
Although the advantages of using under floor heating (UFH) continue to stack up for end users, there are still many preconceptions that can leave customers with cold feet. Stories of difficult installation processes, added expense, and uncomfortable hot floors are discouraging buyers and preventing HVAC installers from making the sale. Polypipe Building Products, an industry specialist in underfloor heating systems, decided to challenge these misconceptions head on and over a cup of coffee
BY SETTING UP shop in central Manchester, Polypipe invited cus- tomers to state their fears and objections to UFH before provid- ing information about how under- floor heating has evolved into a viable heating solution.
The experiment took place at the bespoke Off The Wall Café, during a chilly week in early spring, where customers entering the store were offered a free cup of gourmet cof- fee if they could identify the source of the heat in the room. Here are some of the most repeated miscon- ceptions with advice for installers on how to counter them, using the latest information.
“The floor will get too hot” This is a common fear but unlike traditional radiators that need to reach temperatures of 80˚C to heat a room, underfloor heating will run well at a much lower temper- ature of 50˚C, while covering a much wider area. As water is gen- tly and evenly heated in a network of pipes, the system ensures heat is always distributed evenly, with- out heating up the floor.
As hot air rises, heating from the ground up provides a comfortable and consistent temperature from floor to ceiling. Traditional radiators project heat using a rising convec- tion current of hot air, possibly resulting in hot and cold patches in a room, a problem that does not occur with water-based UFH.
“It’s not safe” Traditional radiators provide interi- or design issues for many people. Rooms are designed around the bulky unsightly equipment, which often hinders, or entirely destroys, the design process. Underfloor heating is installed under the floor, thus removing the need for equip- ment on show. In addition, unlike with radiators there is less worry over scalding accidents or running into exposed metal. Furthermore, from a health
point of view, the convection cur- rent produced through traditional radiators also circulates dust and carpet mites around the room, which can increase, and in many cases worsen, cases of asthma and other respiratory conditions. The use of underfloor heating there- fore reduces the incidence of air- borne dust and consequently res- piratory conditions.
“I’ll have to dig up my floors” This is simply not the case. A number of different water-based underfloor heating systems are available dependent on whether a property is a new build or renova- tion. Whilst screeded floor systems are ideal for new build projects where the floor is yet to be con- structed, overlay systems are per- fect for fitting over existing floors, and are well suited to renovation projects, or as a later addition to a new build project.
Overlay systems (just 18mm deep in the case of Polypipe’s offering, for example) can be fit- ted over existing floors and are a preferable option for renovating a home or as a later addition to new build projects if the flooring has already been installed.
These systems are ideal for heavy-weight floor coverings like ceramic tiles, or where the floor
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covering needs to be secured directly to the panel, such as with solid wood flooring.
For new builds, the piping is fit- ted directly into the floor and cov- ered with screed before finally lay- ing the floor covering on top. This is the ideal solution for when a new floor is being constructed. Modular Heating Panels deliver a pre-configured solution that can easily be fitted and connected on site. They can be strategically placed in areas that need heat the most for maximum efficiency. This can be used to avoid areas where extra heating would be unneces- sary, such as beneath fitted units.
“I’ll need a new boiler” There are also many environmen- tal benefits to using underfloor heating. As well as working per- fectly with combi boilers, the sys- tems can be used in conjunction with ground and air source heat pumps, which extract warmth from the air around the property or the earth in the garden. This process further reduces the amount of energy boilers need to use, consequently improving ener- gy rating performance and reduc- ing CO2 emissions. If UFH is being installed in an existing room, most installed boilers will be compatible. If under floor heat-
ing is being considered for an extension the course of action is no different to if new radiators were being installed.
“It’s more expensive” Water-based underfloor heating is a much more energy efficient way to heat when compared with radi- ators.
As referenced earlier, under-
floor heating operates with an average water temperature of 50˚C, rather than the 80˚C used by traditional radiators, and therefore requires a lower temperature rise from the boiler. This means that to produce an equivalent heat out- put, the water can be stored at a much lower temperature, ultimate- ly lowering energy costs. As underfloor heating systems become more sophisticated, their cost efficiency is increasing. As pre- viously set out, the system runs at lower temperatures to radiator sys- tems, while individual rooms can be heated to the desired tempera- tures without needing to switch on the heating in every room. Customers may be beginning to wake up and smell the coffee, so HVAC installers need to be able to reassure end users that underfloor heating stands up to and has a strong answer to every preconcep- tion set against it.
HVR | May 2016 | 27
Polypipe addresses underfloor heating myths at the Off The Wall cafe in Manchester
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