Electric Under Floor Heating

What It Is and How It Works

So why the need for an electric under floor heating? We all want to have a home that is warm in the winter. There are many different kinds of heating systems for your home, all with advantages as well as drawbacks. Having a furnace heater, even when they are brand new, have problems.

There are heating ducts that take the hot air and distribute it throughout the house, but in a lot of cases, this heat isn't as evenly distributed as you would like. Some areas, usually near the unit are warmer than rooms that are further away. You also have to deal with regular maintenance, changing filters, clearing ducts, etc.

Many people these days are opting for an electric floor heating systems instead. While this isn't a new concept, because the technologies have become more energy efficient, this is now a more viable alternative. There are really two different systems, electric, as well as hot water systems. While both work in similar ways, the electric heating system is more economical.

This is basically how the electric radiant in floor heating works

• There are a couple of different methods actually. One is with sub flooring before tiles or the top layer finished flooring is laid down.
   
• A grid of electrical coil is laid down across the entire surface of the floor.
   
• Once the entire area has been covered, the whole system is tied together and connected to a thermostat and power supply.
   
• Then a layer of mud is applied, completely covering the surface, making the floor once again even and level.
   
• Then the tiles are laid down, or floor panels, depending on the owner's choice.
   
• All of this is allowed to dry completely before the system is turned on.

• This electrical underfloor heating system can be installed relatively cheaply, and can be laid down in almost any part of the house.

Benefits of using electric under floor heating

There are many different advantages of these systems. One of them is that because the layer covers the entire floor area, there are no cold spots. The heat is evenly distributed throughout the room, as well as the whole house. Temperatures can be regulated just as you would with conventional heating methods, but because the heat is at floor level, and rises, you don't have to keep your thermostat so high in order to heat up the entire house.

You can also have individual thermostats installed, regulating the temperature in each room or area, so you don't have to heat areas of the house you are not using. It is also safe, because everything is installed below the floor, there are no hot vents, ducts, or radiators to worry about. Because they are also below the floor, there is total heat distribution, no maintenance, and you are able to use all the floor space in the room.

Because this type of heating system can be installed under wood, tile, laminate, and other surfaces, it is often installed when a room is being refurbished. Even when laid down on existing surfaces and then covered over, in many cases, it raises the floor level by only around 20mm, so there is no worries about losing ceiling height.

Northern colder countries such as Finland, Sweden, and Norway for a few examples have been using the electric underfloor heating systems for more than sixty years, so they have a track record of being safe and energy efficient.

It is important to know that these systems work differently than conventional heating methods. Instead of having to turn the thermostat up high to heat up the room from one or two locations, the whole floor is being heated up. They also take slightly longer to heat up the whole house, because you are heating from the bottom up.

This means that depending on the size of the room, the floor may feel warm on your feet, but your head area may still be cold for a certain period of time, because instead of the heat coming from one location, being forced into the room, the whole floor acts as the heat source.

From a safety point of view, each of the underfloor heating circuits is connected to the main power supply with their own fuses, and circuit breakers. The heating elements are completely sealed and insulated, as well as grounded, so the isn't any danger of electric shock.

It is important that you buy smart when it comes to electric underfloor heating systems. You should do some research, understand more about what these systems are, and how they work before you start finding a company that installs these for you at home.

If you are somewhat of a handy man, you may even be able to install some of the more basic systems yourself, however you will still need a qualified electrician to make sure everything is connected properly.

Electric Under Floor Heating Articles

Floor Heating Mats - When the temperatures dip outside and the wind is bellowing, you will be glad you have chosen to install heating mats in your home. They have been compared to having a large electric blanket under your feet, so even going barefoot inside when the conditions outdoors are freezing, you will be warm.

Installing Electric Floor Heating Or Hydronic Floor Heating? - When you think of possibly installing an electric floor heating system, there are a number of options that are available. Installing the right heating system as well as features will definitely help you save on energy costs.

Electric Floor Heating Installation - First of all, what is the benefit of installing electric floor heating? The answer is simple: waking up on a cold winter morning can be a bit traumatic. Electric floor heating will make your floor toasty, even on the coldest of days.