CrossTeam Properties Offers Advice on Home and Garden Improvements

If you like to walk around your house barefoot, then you will know that the sensation of stepping on to warm tiled floors is absolute bliss. Underfloor heating feels like a real luxury. Whereas radiators heat a room through convection, allowing hot air to rise to the ceiling and then to fall as it cools, underfloor heating is much more efficient.  It radiates heat more evenly throughout a room and will keep your feet warm and the environment at the set temperature. The way that heat rises evenly throughout the whole room is very pleasant compared to the hotspots, cool zones and draughts created with traditional heating systems. Also, an underfloor heating kit is a perfect solution when you are building an extension or conservatory, as it is easier to install, doesn’t require wall space and is separately controlled.

Underfloor heating systems are controlled by programmable thermostats that control the temperature in every room, making them extremely flexible. They can be set to lower temperatures than conventional central heating to achieve the same level of comfort. The lack of radiators and pipes in a room with electric underfloor heating keeps it free from visual clutter as well as being easier to clean. This means that when designing room layouts the positioning of components such as pipes and heaters does not restrict you. Underfloor heating is hidden, but the controls are accessible for easy maintenance. Best of all, the cost of installing floor heating is comparable to, and often less than conventional systems, particularly when building or renovating a home.

Underfloor heating systems seem to be the best solution to heating a room; they are environmentally friendly and more cost effective than heating a room with the more traditional radiator systems. So are they really too good to be true or are there some downsides?

There is one downside relating to performance, but this can be got round by making small changes to heating habits. The problem is the time it takes to get the house warm. This is not an instant heat system and it does take over half an hour to warm up, which is obviously a pain if you are really cold. However this can be overcome by making sure you use a timer system and ensuring that you get the system to turn on at least thirty minutes before it is needed. Set the system to turn on well before anyone is likely to get out of bed in the morning and the problem is neatly avoided.

The only other downside and perhaps the reason why underfloor heating systems are not installed as standard in lots of new build developments, is the cost. On paper, when compared with a traditional central heating radiator system, this option is significantly more expensive, so developers are not going to install it. For the occupant of the house it is cheaper to run and maintain, but unless you are the one paying to have the system put in, you are unlikely to find them as standard.

There are lots of flooring covers that can be used in rooms that have underfloor heating, but sadly carpet isn’t one of them. Therefore, if you cannot bear the thought of not having carpet underfoot then underfloor heating probably isn’t for you. This type of heating system must be installed under materials that will use the warmth and conduct it so that the heat passes up into the room, materials like wood, tile, concrete and laminate are all excellent options and they are also clean and dust free, which is another benefit of underfloor heating.

Think about the reasons why you have a carpet, is it because you don’t like your bare feet stepping on cold floors when you first get up in the morning and carpet provides an insulating layer to the room that stops heat being lost through the floor? This is something it does extremely well, but with water underfloor heating you don’t need carpet. Floors are warm under foot, even tiled floors, and the heat cannot escape through the floor, because that is where it is emanating from. Insulation will have been used during the system’s installation to make sure the heat is always directed upwards. Carpet is also probably the hardest floor covering to clean, requiring regular vacuuming and if it becomes really bad, time consuming specialist shampooing may be necessary. Laminate, wood and tile, however, are much easier to clean as they can be mopped quickly and wiped with a damp cloth.

You may think that once you have taken the decision to have underfloor heating you have nothing left to worry about, but your work is not quite done yet. There are three main types of underfloor heating systems and you need to decide which is best for your property. Your choice will be determined by a number of factors, from the state of your property, is it a new build or is it an existing build that you want to have underfloor heating installed in. It may come down to money, whether you can afford the system you would prefer and many other factors.

The main options are wet underfloor heating and electric underfloor heating, which has two main subtypes. Wet underfloor heating uses a series of bent pipes to pump heated water under the floor and this is ideal for new build properties where flooring work has not yet commenced. Electrical underfloor heating offers a choice of heat cables and mats or carbon film heating elements. Heat cables and mats are great for use with tiled floors, as they work best with that type of material, while carbon film heating elements have been specially designed to work with laminate and wooden floors. Electric underfloor heating systems are also ideal for an existing build that needs a new heating system, as they are easy to install on pre-laid floors. To install the pipe work for wet underfloor heating, you would have little choice but to dig up the floor.

There are two main ways to install an electric underfloor heating system and one of these is using carbon film heating elements. This is an underfloor heating system, which has been specifically designed for use with laminate flooring, so if you are looking to have this type of material installed then this could be the ideal system for you.

The way a carbon film heating element system works is, as it sounds, by using a layer of film, which is made of a semi-conductive material that is wafer thin. It is unrolled, like a sheet, across the floor that you want to heat and is an ideal way to install an underfloor heating system in an existing building, as it is so thin it will not, to any great degree, impact on the floor level in any way.

The edges of the carbon film have copper electrodes built in and these are connected to the electricity supply, which is what provides the heat. Once the floor has the carbon film heating element laid on it, a layer of insulation is needed to help conduct and spread the heat evenly over the top of the laminate floor. Ideally, this should be no more than 18mm thick or the heating is not going to be as effective as it should. The level of heating is controlled by a simple digital thermostat, which makes your life easy as you can simply adjust the temperature of the floor at will.

Winter is one of the most-anticipated seasons. It’s the time when people get to dress-up in fashionable coats and boots, join holiday parties, and hold family gatherings. It’s also the season when people need warmth the most; hence, heating systems are used, such as domestic underfloor heating.

Underfloor heating systems do make winters warm, yet, they’re also a sure factor for high energy-costs. Installing an air-to-water heat-pump will help limit energy consumption of underfloor heating systems. Installation of this technology, though, can be costly, hence, it is not greatly patronised.

Fortunately, the main Japanese manufacturers of the air-to-water heat pump recently came-up with a cost-and-performance efficient version of their product. This high-tech domestic underfloor heating system is called Daikin Altherma. It is supplied and installed by Beeline Refrigeration, a company which can be trusted to offer exceptional service and product quality.

The Daikin Altherma underfloor heating system has a distinctive energy-saving characteristic caused by the Variable Set Point Temperature and Daikin Inverter Driven Compressor. These reduce energy consumption and limit carbon dioxide emission, making it environment-friendly. Daikin Altherma’s Remote Outdoor unit absorbs the low temperature from the surrounding and increases it. It transmits the high-temperature air to the Indoor Hydro-box or Boiler. The Boiler transfers the heat from the heating radiators to the underfloor heating system. It also comes with an optional Sanitary Hot Water Tank that ensures efficient water heating. It also heats water up to 70°C at least once each week to ensure that legionella bacteria won’t grow.

Daikin Alterma also comes with a cooling option, enabling this contraption to be utilised as a cooling system.

Having the perfect domestic underfloor heating is one solution to lowering energy-costs in winter, hence, leaving you with a bigger budget for shopping for winter clothes, gifts, and parties. That thought will surely warm anyone’s soul.

Electrical underfloor heating can be used underneath most types of flooring, including wooden and laminate flooring and tiled floors. Underfloor heating systems are rising in popularity, as these flooring choices remain the most popular within bathrooms and throughout the house. Underfloor electric heating is not expensive to run. A comfortable heat is created by the system that heats the room from the floor up. Conventional radiators heat air which then rises to heat the room, however when the air cools it drops, creating a draught. A more even, constant heat is provided by underfloor heating systems.

Underfloor heating systems are 100% waterproof as well as being completely safe and the system works on the basis that the electrical cables are attached onto a mat, which in turn is stuck to the floor. Two variations of this product are available – one for use on timber floors and the other for concrete floors. This is because timber and concrete absorb heat at different rates. These mats can be used in any shape of room, as they can be adapted to ensure a proper fit although care must be taken not to cut through the electrical cabling.

This economic electric underfloor heating system uses only the same amount of electricity that is consumed by a standard household light bulb across each square metre. The system uses a thermostat that senses when the optimum temperature has been achieved and will then turn the heat off. This could result in a 50 per cent reduction in energy consumption.

All safety advice and instructions should be followed to ensure the product is laid correctly. The manufacturers recommend that only a qualified electrician should connect the underfloor heating cabling to the existing heating supply.

Parents want the best for the benefit of their children. There are several things that concern them a lot, such as allergies, colds, sleeping problems, and keeping their child’s skin smooth and moisturised. Carpet heating can be a solution that gets rid of these problems.

Children often have colds, runny noses, and even asthma attacks. This is because they often play close to or on the floor, sitting and lying on the surface. Adults often notice that the surface is cold and the temperature is being absorbed by the kids’ bodies, which will later accumulate irritants and allergens which may cause illness. In conventional heating systems, heat is released inside the room, but it does not get onto the floor’s surface. As a result, the heat rises and gathers toward the ceiling instead of settling on the surface. Therefore, children are considered colder than adults in the same room.

Air systems continuously send out dust, germs, bacteria, mildew, dander, mould, and other allergens. Many air filters are pretty ineffective and still contaminate the surroundings of the house. However, by turning on the electric radiant floor heater, these risks are reduced and eliminated.

Scientists hypothesise that sleep disorders are instigated by reduced circulation and failure of blood vessels in the extremities to expand, which can be corrected by the regulation of temperature. Radiant heat promotes a soothing temperature that warms kids in the night. Likewise, it also prevents dryness of the skin and chafing caused by forced heated air without moisture content.

With the method of carpet heating, parents can totally address these problems. The heat spreads out under the carpet, soothingly warm for babies, toddlers, and children, making them more comfy, warm, and healthier.

Due to its easy installation and modern design, laminated flooring has become a popular type of flooring in the home.  Although a laminated floor provides more warmth than other types of flooring, such as tile, installing some electric underfloor heating is still a good idea.

Heating mats are an ideal option for laminated flooring.  These often come as part of heating packs, and include a thermostat and installation instructions. Heating mats are the best option for those looking for a type of underfloor heating that is easy to install.

There are laminate floors that can be used alongside water floor heating, although extra care needs to be taken if you opt for this type of underfloor heating.  The temperature for water floor heating must be kept at a particular level when using it with laminate flooring.  The water tubes must also be installed a certain distance away from the surface.  Guidelines for temperatures are usually provided with the installation instructions.

Another option for laminate floor heating is heating film.  Heating film is ideal for laminate flooring as it provides a soft heat and is maintenance free. It is easy to install, although an electrician may be needed to make any final electrical connections.  Since heating film provides a low temperature, it may be a better option than water floor heating given that you must be careful not to exceed a certain temperature.  This makes heating film one of safest and most ideal options for laminate flooring. 

There is nothing worse than walking across a cold tile floor in the middle of winter.  Luckily you can solve this problem by installing an underfloor heating system under your floor.  Although this might seem like a difficult task, several products are available today that make this project more reasonable.  Many will also be surprised to learn that installing tiled floor heating is also fairly inexpensive.

There are multiple systems that can be used to heat your tiled floors.  One of the best ways to determine which system is best suited for your needs is to take a look at the room that you want to heat.  If your room has a fairly standard shape, a mat kit will likely be a great option for you.  Cable kits on the other hand are great for rooms that have an unusual shape to them.

Mat kits are designed to be installed quickly with little effort.  The heating element has already been embedded into the mat.  All that needs to be done is to simply lay out the mats.  In many cases, these heating mats already come with adhesive on the backside for added convenience as well.

Floor Heating Cable kits can provide a bit of flexibility during your installation.  You can manipulate the cable which will allow you to accommodate an unusual space.  Bathrooms are great places to use cable kits as they will allow you to work around objects such as toilets.

Tiled flooring is commonly found in bathrooms, conservatories, entryways, and kitchens.  Each of these areas would be greatly benefited by tiled floor heating which can keep these areas dry and warm.