Underfloor heating is increasingly popular for a variety of reasons, including the extra comfort and sense of luxury in can bring and, crucially, the idea that it can save money by heating a home more efficiently. When considering installing underfloor heating, it is import to understand how it will work with your existing central heating system and what alterations you may need to make.
Wet and dry underfloor heating
The most basic question you need to address is whether you will be opting for a wet or dry system. A wet system uses pipes under the floor that are connected to your central heating to carry hot water around your home to heat the space. A dry system, however, uses electrical heating elements placed under the floor to provide heating. A dry system, therefore, usually works entirely independently of your existing heating, while a wet system will be a fundamental part of your central heating.
Type of boiler
If you opt for a wet system, it is important to know whether your current boiler will be compatible. Fundamentally, this is an issue about the heating capacity of your boiler. If the underfloor heating will be replacing radiators, your boiler may well be powerful enough to run the new system. However, if the underfloor heating will be heating a new area such as an extension, or working in addition to existing radiators, you will likely need a more powerful model of boiler.
Other considerations
If your main goal in installing underfloor heating is to make your system more efficient, you should strongly consider upgrading to a condensing boiler if you have not done so already. Older, non-condensing models are often convert as little as 60% of their fuel into usable heat, whereas a modern A rated condensing boiler will usually be over 90% efficient.
If your boiler is not condensing, then a replacement could potentially save you a lot of money by significantly reducing your bills. DHS have been providing boiler installation in Bristol and the surrounding area for over 40 years, giving us an enviable reputation for quality and reliability.
i need to install a new system to service underfloor heating (ground floor), radiators (first floor) and hot water for kitchen and the bath.
i need this as early as possible,
please call me on 0777 31 666 26.
Thanks, btw Typo – You should be your
If you opt for a wet system, it is important to know whether your current boiler will be compatible. Fundamentally, this is an issue about the heating capacity of your boiler. If the underfloor heating will be replacing radiators >>you<< boiler may well be powerful enough to run the new system. However, if the underfloor heating will be heating a new area such as an extension, or working in addition to existing radiators, you will likely need a more powerful model of boiler.