Myths About Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating has been available in the heating installation market for many years.
As a heating system, it has many advantages and benefits, which many of our customers have already experienced. Therefore, there is no reason not to dispel some doubts that we, as a manufacturer of underfloor heating and heating systems, encounter practically every day in our interactions with our clients.
There can be many concerns regarding proper installation, the correct choice for building technology and heat source, proper layout to ensure the underfloor heating works efficiently, and the accessories used for its installation. Our expert in the video below explains all the related doubts.
Most Common Myths About Underfloor Heating
1. The only suitable flooring is tiles
Tiles are the best material for underfloor heating because of their low thermal resistance, making them ideal for water-based underfloor heating systems. However, this does not mean that tiles are the only acceptable material. With a properly designed heating installation and an appropriate heat conduction coefficient, panels or wooden floors can also fulfill their role. Due to the growing trend of underfloor heating, manufacturers of panels or wooden floors are significantly expanding their assortment, catering to underfloor heating.
2. Underfloor heating is only for houses, not for flats
Underfloor heating can be installed both in houses using the traditional system with a concrete screed—and in apartments or old tenement houses. Here, the so-called “dry” system comes to the rescue. This screed less system involves laying special plates (polystyrene or wood fibber) with aluminium foil or aluminium strips that distribute heat over the entire floor surface. Depending on the final flooring, a special underlay is then laid, followed by the final floor. This system is characterized by low height and lightweight, making it ideal for any apartment.
3. Underfloor heating is more expensive than radiators
The installation costs of water-based underfloor heating are comparable to the costs of installing radiators. Moreover, underfloor heating is about 30% cheaper to operate than radiators and 60% cheaper than electric heating. Want to see for yourself? Talk to our advisors and learn about the costs of an underfloor heating system tailored to your home!
4. Underfloor heating takes a long time to warm up
Certainly, a downside of underfloor heating is its high thermal inertia—it takes a long time to warm up and cool down. However, the “dry” system (mentioned above) helps with this. Due to the lack of a screed, meaning no thermal inertia, the reaction of underfloor heating to changes in room air temperature is only 15 minutes, which is very convenient in today’s “fast” lifestyle.
5. Underfloor heating is unhealthy
Underfloor heating works on the principle of radiation, as opposed to radiators which work on the principle of convection, or air movement. It is therefore ideal for allergy sufferers—in a room with underfloor heating, dust does not rise. Additionally, underfloor heating prevents moisture build-up in walls, reducing the likelihood of harmful mold growth. It is commonly believed that underfloor heating causes heavy legs—however, with a properly designed and executed underfloor heating installation, this problem does not occur. If you want to know more about how underfloor heating works, feel free to CONTACT us.
6. Underfloor heating cannot be combined with radiator heating
With a well-designed and regulated heating system and installation, there are no contraindications to combining underfloor heating with radiators. The so-called “floor heating” in the bathroom or kitchen is becoming very popular. In this case, we can easily connect the underfloor heating loop to an existing installation using an motorized valve.