Do you have underfloor heating in your house or apartment, but are you terrified of heating bills? Learn 8 effective ways to lower them. These are proven methods that will bring you many benefits. Thanks to them, your bills will significantly decrease, and you will still be able to enjoy thermal comfort. Find out that saving on heating is not difficult at all.
Underfloor heating is growing in popularity and is a popular choice for people who are building a house or buying an apartment. It is a modern alternative to traditional radiators. It undoubtedly provides thermal comfort, plus it is aesthetically pleasing. Thanks to better temperature distribution, it also reduces the costs associated with heating. Thus, it has many benefits that translate into great interest.
The underfloor is placed at a suitable depth and can be in the form of tubes into which hot water is supplied from a heating device, an electric cable, or special mats. In the latter two cases, it is necessary to connect them to electricity. Unlike traditional radiators, underfloor heating does not use the movement of air created by a large temperature difference. It transfers a large part of its heating energy to objects in the room using radiation. Wondering how to save money on underfloor heating? This is possible because it allows you to provide optimal thermal comfort, the same as with radiators, but at a much lower temperature. As a result, underfloor heating uses considerably less energy and thus contributes to lower bills.
Underfloor heating has many advantages that are worth exploring. Among the most important of these is, first of all, that it is:
– efficient – it provides thermal comfort while consuming less energy compared to traditional radiators,
– aesthetically pleasing – it increases the design possibilities of rooms due to the absence of radiators,
– beneficial for health – it does not dry out the air and does not nullify air movement, so it works well for allergy sufferers.
Underfloor heating, therefore, not only saves on the expense of providing thermal comfort but also improves the well-being of the occupants.
Types of underfloor heating are divided by the type of installation used – water and electricity. The former are nothing more than pipes, which are laid out suitably and sunk into the screed. They can be made of plastic or copper. They are laid in the form of heating loops, the length of which should not exceed 100 meters. This type of floor heating is most often used in rooms located on the first floor. Low-temperature heating can also cooperate with high-temperature heating, i.e.
radiators, but the connection of both circuits is quite problematic. Such a solution is usually used in bathrooms.
Electric flooring will work especially well in renovated houses and apartments. This is because its installation is much easier than in the case of water heating. Its basis is wires, mats, or foils that conduct electricity. The former are installed in the screed, just like water pipes. Mats and foils, on the other hand, can be laid just under the top layer of the floor. Because they are thin, this does not unduly increase the thickness of the floor. The combination of underfloor heating and radiators is much simpler than with the water version, as there are two separate circuits.
If you want your underfloor heating to serve you flawlessly for many years and provide thermal comfort at the highest level, you need to know how to use it. Below you will find a collection of practical tips that are sure to provide you with a lot of valuable information.
1. Choose the right type of floor
Underfloor heating must be combined with the right type of flooring, as only then will it be able to transfer heat to the room in an efficient way. It is therefore necessary to use a material that conducts heat well. Stone and ceramic tiles in particular work well with underfloor heating. They should be used mainly in the hallway, bathroom, and kitchen.
Underfloor heating can also be installed together with panels or wood, but it all depends on the thickness and the exact parameters. It is important to bear in mind that natural wood conducts heat poorly and will deteriorate when exposed to heat. Underfloor heating can be successfully installed under a wooden floor if the building has optimal thermal insulation and an adequate heating output of 60-80 W/m2. For underfloor heating, exotic wood species that have a low shrinkage coefficient are best suited.
For laminate, on the other hand, it is best to go for snap-on models. These do not have glued edges, so they can work freely when exposed to temperature. When choosing panels, check whether the manufacturer allows them to be laid on underfloor heating.
2. Do not use carpets or rugs
If you opt for underfloor heating, avoid carpets and rugs. These hurt the distribution of heat, so the installation is not able to provide optimum thermal comfort. It is also not advisable to place furniture directly on the floor. It is advisable to use special feet which allow a few centimeters of space.
3. Ensure the right flow temperature
Underfloor heating is a low-temperature heating system and therefore requires the correct temperature of the heating appliance. The water should not be more than 55°C. If it gets any warmer than this, it can damage not only the installation but also the floor. Special boiler controllers, available from ENGO Controls, are excellent for sub-headers. They allow you to conveniently control the appliance and set the optimum temperature. This will not only ensure thermal comfort but also protect the installation from damage.
4. Control the room temperature
Underfloor heating regulators and controllers from ENGO Controls allow you to optimize the operation of the system. Thanks to them, you can conveniently set the optimum temperature and schedule your underfloor heating. This makes it possible to increase the heating intensity when necessary and to reduce it in situations when, for example, the occupants are not at home or asleep. With these, you can conveniently set different temperature levels in individual rooms – depending on your specific needs. Remember that sensible control of underfloor heating can save up to 30% on heating bills.
5. Protect the floor against heat loss
It is very important to protect your heated floor against excessive heat loss. Such measures will also make it work more efficiently and economically. Rigid polystyrene boards or those made of mineral wool with resin additives work best. They are laid on a previously leveled substrate. Special foils with a printed grid are also often used to facilitate the distribution and fixing of the underfloor pipework.
A floor with an insulation layer should have a heat transfer coefficient of less than 1 W/(m2*K) if it is placed on the ceiling above a heated room. If it is located directly above an unheated basement, for example, it should optimally be 0.3 W/(m2*K) for floors above the ground.
The expense of heating a house or flat is a large part of the running costs, and it is even higher for spacious properties and those with poor insulation. However, there are ways you can make some savings. With these, you’ll be able to reduce your heating costs without sacrificing thermal comfort. Find out how to do this.
1. Think about insulating your home
This is a solution aimed at owners of older homes that have a high demand for heat. Lack of proper insulation leads to so-called thermal bridges, i.e. places where heat escapes to the outside. The heating system then has to work harder to maintain the right temperature, which results in higher costs. Proper thermal insulation of a building can save up to 40%. First and foremost, the quality of the windows needs to be taken care of. Replace them with new models that are distinguished by their airtightness and durability. You can also consider installing shutters and external blinds. Closing them at night will reduce heat loss and cooling of the building.
2. Maintain the optimum room temperature
You already know that the use of regulators and controllers allows you to maintain the desired temperature in individual rooms. However, care should be taken not to overheat the rooms as this will not result in a more comfortable home. It is very important to control the temperature sensibly, which will have a positive effect on your heating bills.
Ideally, in usable rooms such as the living room or dining room, it should not exceed 20-22°C. In the bathroom, the temperature should oscillate between 22-24°C, while in the kitchen and bedroom, the desired level is 16-18°C. It is worth knowing that turning up the heating above these values, generates high heat losses and thus contributes to higher expenses. With controllers, the system can be programmed so that its mode is tailored to the users’ needs. Set the cycles so that the heating works a little more intensively when the occupants are present and a little less when they are not at home. It is also a good idea to reduce the heating in rooms that are used less frequently. At the same time, do not overcook the interiors, as reheating them not only takes a long time but also consumes valuable energy.
3. Ventilate with reason
Maintaining the optimum temperature indoors involves good room ventilation. Contrary to popular belief, this is not so obvious. Many people leave the windows ajar for long periods in autumn and winter, thinking that this will ensure adequate air circulation. This is a big mistake, as such actions promote the cooling of the flat or house.
First of all, before opening the windows, you should turn down the heating beforehand – this way, the system will not work at higher power to compensate for the temperature. When it is cold outside, ventilate the room briefly but intensively. This means opening one window sash wide open and leaving it open for 5-10 minutes. Remember to close the door to the room beforehand to speed up the air exchange process. Only after closing the windows should you turn the heating back on. In this way, the interiors in your home will be adequately ventilated and you will not feel this in the form of higher bills.
The time it takes for an underfloor heating system to heat up and cool down is, for many people, a key parameter when choosing how to heat a room. Depending on the temperature that has been set, this process usually takes several tens of minutes. It also all depends on the insulation layer and the type of flooring that has been laid over the heating.
If you want to ensure thermal comfort and at the same time save money on heating, choose underfloor heating instead of traditional radiators. Underfloor heating has many advantages, but first and foremost it heats rooms evenly and enables optimum heat distribution. If it is made in the right way, it will serve you flawlessly for a long time. In addition, you can also reduce your heating costs by changing your habits such as airing your rooms.