There are two types of underfloor heating. A ‘wet system’ that pumps warm water through piping under the floor or a ‘dry system’ of electric coils placed under the floor. Both systems take advantage of the basic principle that heat rises and warmth from under the floor is radiated into the room.
An underfloor heating installation leak is highly unlikely. Any potential damage to an underfloor heating system normally occurs during the installation process, where the underfloor heating pipe gets accidentally cut or damaged. UFH Wales use the toughest pe-rt al pe-rt pipe and test our systems before, during and after the installation. Only fully pressure-tested systems are commissioned. However, in the unlikely event that someone accidentally damages the pipe, for example by drilling through the floor, the damaged pipe can be repaired.
When underfloor heating is installed in your property, a series of pipes or cables are laid beneath your flooring. These pipes or cables will cover the entirety of the floorspace and emit heat that will transfer up into your room and warm the area.
This depends on how well insulated your home is, the efficiency of the boiler, and what kind of heating needs your system will be meeting.
According to the Energy Saving Trust:
- In an existing home with average insulation, for an air to water heat pump system, an underfloor heating under insulated timber will save 20% of energy costs over a radiator system (£500/year vs £400 average).
- In an existing home with average insulation, with a gas or oil-fired boiler, the energy savings are smaller (about £10/year average).
- In new and well-insulated homes, underfloor heating with a heat pump will save (£190 vs £230 average) over radiators
- In a new and well-insulated homes, underfloorfloor heating will save negligably over a radiator system.
Almost any type of floor covering can be used over underfloor heating, including but not limited to: Carpet, Laminate, Engineered Wood, Tiles, Stone, Amtico, Karndean or Marmoleum.
Yes – we strongly recommend the use of a high performance floor insulation board to avoid a heating system that is very un-economical to run. More insulation is better in this situation where floor heights permit.
Stone and concrete floors give the best performance with underfloor heating as they conduct the heat so well. Tiled floors and lino floors, provided they have no insulated backing, give the next best efficiency levels, while carpets allow less heat to transfer into the room by acting as insulation.
Underfloor heating can be used in conservatories as well as indoor rooms.
An underfloor heating system in a conservatory can often require a greater heat output than indoor rooms as they can get much colder in the winter. The conservatory underfloor heating can be timed to heat individually from the rest of the house for better efficiency.
Underfloor heating systems are very low maintenance. With a high quality, professional installation by UFH Wales, you are unlikely to need to carry out any upkeep activities to keep your system running smoothly.