Underfloor Heating is Gaining Popularity in the UK
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!
Though Underfloor heating feels like a modern convenience it was first implemented by the Romans more than two centuries ago. When the system was first used, the heat was produced in a furnace that was usually kept in a cellar-type room underneath the rest of the house. Someone would light the furnace and the heat from the furnace fire would fill the cellar room and then move upward, warming the rest of the house as it went. Sometimes, if the furnace was contained on the first floor of a house, there would be channels connected to the furnace that would be used as a conduit for the heated air to be transported to the other rooms in the house.
The underfloor heating that is used today was “invented” about halfway through the twentieth century. Electric resistance cables were run through concrete. During the night an electrical current would heat the cables and the warmed concrete would warm the rooms above it. This method was unpopular because the temperature of the cables could not be altered, but it did provide the basic idea upon which today’s underfloor heating is based.
The most appreciated benefit of underfloor heating is the money that is saved after it is installed. Wall units and radiators use forced air which is difficult to control and requires more energy. Underfloor heating is used to regulate the temperature of a room, which uses less energy.
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.
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