Types of Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating is a type of heating that is considered central type of heating because it provides indoor climate control to make the home more comfortable. Underfloor heating can heat a home using three different types of heat production: conduction, convection, and radiation. The phrase radiant heat or radiant heating is often times used to describe this type of heating because radiation creates a great deal of the heat produced for purposes of comfortably heating a house. Even though the term radiant heat is sometimes used to describe all underfloor heating, not all underfloor heating technology uses radiation.

Underfloor heating actually has a long history that goes back before electricity even. Archelogists have discovered in Asia that create tunnels to allow drafts of smoke through these tunnels covered with stone underneath floors of terraced homes. The smoke from fires heated the stones, and this would heat the ancient homes. Underfloor heating has evolved over the years, and now we have modern day underfloor heating that is typical liquid filled tunnels or electrical mats or wires.

During contemporary times underfloor heating systems either use electrical elements or fluid in pipes or hydronic systems to provide the heat. These systems can be used for an entire home or they can be installed only in certain areas of the home such as the bathroom. This type of system is typically only useful for heating; a separate cooling system would be required. This type of under surface heating can even applied on exterior surfaces. This can be useful in winter when it is time to melt ice and snow off of sidewalks or driveways.

Electric heating floors or hydronic heating pipes can be put into concrete floors, when this happens, the floor is usually a wet system. A dry system is when the heating element is attached to a wood sub floor.

Open-weave mesh mats are the main element of electric based underfloor heating systems. There are some types that are a continuous roll with the elements embedded. These mats are rolled out over the floor and linked up to a thermostat and electricity supplies. The electric systems are less expensive to install and are easier to install in an already existing floor.

The other option is a hydroponic system using is best in a new construction project. It can be added to an existing floor, but the existing floor has to be disrupted to embed the fluid filled tunnels that will carry heat throughout the floor.

Underfloor heat is an excellent way to heat your home because it heats in the same way the sun heats the earth. The heat is absorbed into the objects in your room. This can save you money because you room retains heat better.