Underfloor Heating and United Kingdom Residents

                                                                                         

The United Kingdom is full of homes that are heated by "traditional" sources like wall units and other kinds of forced air heating systems. More and more often, however, underfloor heating systems are being installed. Underfloor heating is a central heating system that makes use of radiant heat systems alongside mechanisms that conduct heat. Forced air heating systems use a convection heating mechanism to warm up air and then blow it out into the various rooms of a home. Underfloor heating can be spread throughout a house through a variety of methods including water!

Underfloor heating seems like a modern convenience but it was invented by the Romans more than two thousand years ago. When Underfloor heating was first introduced, it was done in the form of a furnace that was kept in a room under the rest of the house, like a cellar. The furnace would be lit and then the heated air would circulate up and through the rooms of the rest of the house. If the furnace was kept on the first floor of a home, it would have channels attached to it that would carry the heated air to the other rooms of the floor and up into the rooms on the higher floors.

The underfloor heating that is used today is based upon a method introduced in the 1960s. Electric resistance cables were run through concrete foundations of rooms and then heated with an electric current during the night. Most people did not like this method of underfloor heating because the temperature of the cables and floors could not be controlled, but this method did serve as the inspiration for underfloor heating mechanisms in place today.

The biggest benefit of underfloor heating is the amount of money it saves on a home's utility bill. Underfloor heating regulates a room's temperature. Forced air systems are not able to do this efficiently as the heated air quickly dissipates leaving the room cold.

Underfloor heating is also contained so home owners do not have to worry about losing space to or accommodating wall heaters or radiator units. This method of heating is also better for those who have allergies as it does not stir up dust.

Installing underfloor heating is best left to a professional heating expert because the installation process involves working with your house's plumbing, foundation and insulation systems. There are some companies who have put together do-it-yourself underfloor heating installation packages. These are good for home owners familiar with construction and wiring. If you are inexperienced in these areas, it is better to hire a professional to install the system for you. This way you will make sure that the system is installed correctly and you will not have to worry about mistakes threatening the structural integrity of your home.

About the author:
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles on boilers, central heating, Forest Hill plumbers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

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