Forced air is considered the "usual" form of heating homes in the UK by UK residents and is done via a heat source like a wall unit or a radiator. Though forced air is considered typical, underfloor heating is quickly becoming popular. Underfloor heating is a form of central heating that distributes heat via a conduction mechanism and radiant heat. Forced air is usually transferred through a convection heating system. Underfloor heating is transferred throughout a house via a variety of systems including heaters, cables, film, or mesh. Water can be used in underfloor heating as well.
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 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 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 also saves space, unlike the radiators and wall units which can take up quite a bit of space in a room. Radiators and wall units are also known for stirring up dust which can be detrimental to people with allergies.
The installation of underfloor heating should be done by a professional. There are do-it-yourself kits that some underfloor heating companies put together, but if a home owner does not have experience with plumbing, insulation or working with a house's foundation, he/she should not attempt to install underfloor heating him/herself. Doing it without a professional's help could result in structural damage to the home. Professional installation is not expensive and can be done relatively quickly.
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 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 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 also saves space, unlike the radiators and wall units which can take up quite a bit of space in a room. Radiators and wall units are also known for stirring up dust which can be detrimental to people with allergies.
The installation of underfloor heating should be done by a professional. There are do-it-yourself kits that some underfloor heating companies put together, but if a home owner does not have experience with plumbing, insulation or working with a house's foundation, he/she should not attempt to install underfloor heating him/herself. Doing it without a professional's help could result in structural damage to the home. Professional installation is not expensive and can be done relatively quickly.
About the Author:
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about home 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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