If your home is quite cold during the winter time, it is advisable to consider having underfloor heating installed. It does not matter whether you currently live in a rather cold area or you are moving to such a place, you surely do not want to think about whether you will be warm enough. Underfloor heating is nowadays of great help, no matter where you live. Even if you decide to call Canada your home, for example, it is something you definitely should have installed.
There are two types of underfloor heating - electric (known as a 'dry' system) and water-based (known as 'wet' system). When it comes to the electric one, a network of electric wires is installed under or within your floor. The good thing about it is that you can install it yourself if you are good at do-it-yourself things. On the other hand, when the water-based type of underfloor heating is in question, it is much more complicated to install and you cannot do it yourself. Underfloor heating is mainly installed in the bathroom and kitchen. It is a rarity to see it in other parts of someone’s home. What is praised the most about it, is the fact that you can save some money by having it installed.
An electric underfloor heating system is installed by putting a network of electric wires under or within your floor. There are three options for you to choose from: loose-fit wiring, cables or ready-made mats. The first option is good for small places, while the other two are designed for larger areas. They are quite easy to install, so you will not need any help if you are skillful. However, you will need some help from a qualified electrician. Your system will need to be connected to the electric supply and there is also a sensor that needs to be connected to the thermostat. With this sensor, you will control the temperature more easily or it can help you with pre-setting the system to turn on or off.
When it comes to the water-based underfloor heating system, the first thing you should be aware of is that you cannot install it yourself. You will need to hire an expert, so if you are interested in learning more about the prices, just follow this link. Installing this kind of system implies that you will need to have a series of pipes connected to your boiler. In this way, warm water will be able to circulate throughout the floor and heat the space. An alternative can be to connect them to a solar water heating system, ground source or air source heat pump. Although this kind of heating system is much more complicated and expensive to install in comparison to the electric one, it pays off later on. The heating bills will be much lower.
The main advantage is the fact that for underfloor heating, additional space is not needed. Since they are installed within or under your floor, there is no longer the need for radiators. In case there are any, feel free to remove them and use the extra space you now have. In addition to this, when compared to radiators, it is noted that this new system is more efficient. The radiators heat a more isolated area, whereas, with underfloor heating, the heat rises slowly throughout the whole room. Another thing that is great is that it can be installed under any kind of surface. Be it tile, stone or wood, you can be sure that it will not be a problem for both types of underfloor heating. Also, carpeted floors can also be heated this way, you just need to make sure the carpet is not very thick.
The first thing you should do when having your underfloor heating installed is to clear out the room in which you are installing it. This means that you should put your belongings into boxes before starting the whole process. This way, you will avoid the possible damaging of your furniture. Another thing to be aware of is that there should not be any furniture on the surfaces where underfloor heating is installed. So, if you are having this system installed, for example in your living-room, then you should carefully choose the area where to install it and where to put your furniture. In addition to this, you should consult an expert about the level of the floor. You may need to change it, depending on the kind of underfloor heating you would like to install.
When underfloor heating is in question, you will definitely not regret having it installed. Its good sides are numerous. For example, the space will be greater without the radiators, the heat is evenly distributed throughout the room, you will have a timer, so you can set it to start heating even before you come home from work, etc. In addition to this, you will even be able to walk barefoot on the tiles during winter time, no matter how sensitive to the cold you are. Of course, it is always better to consult an expert about what kind of underfloor heating to install, rather than to decide by yourself. But, once you have it ready to use, your home will be a much warmer place - both literally and metaphorically.
