HOMEOWNERS
Are you considering underfloor heating for your project but need some good advice?
We can provide comprehensive advice, even if you are just starting out.
It is never too early in project to discuss the heating system. It is never too early to understand the importance of a good heating strategy.
Even though we supply and install systems for a vast array of customers we particularly value our end user / home owner customer base. We are aware that although you may only be looking to install underfloor heating in a small extension, for you it is a big project. You may just want to get to grips with the fundamentals of underfloor heating – if so, you are very welcome to call us, or pop in for a chat.
Our friendly office staff are here to provide you with in-depth advice regardless of your knowledge level. We know what questions to ask so that we can provide a comprehensive quote-normally within 24 hours.
If you wish to install the system yourself, we can provide full installation diagrams and heating pipe layouts. We also rent out the appropriate tools for you to do the job properly. Check out our installation videos or have a look at our installation guides.
Basic Introduction
If you have come to our web site you probably already know about the basic theory behind underfloor heating.
There are various types of underfloor heating systems on the market; water based and electric systems are two popular examples.
Water-based systems have always been more expensive to install yet cheaper to run, whereas electric systems are very expensive to run but relatively cheap to obtain.
Regardless of system type the effect is the same: heat from the floor radiates gradually upwards whereas convectors (generally called radiators) send heat straight up to where it is not required – the ceiling. The following diagrams illustrate this:
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Water-based systems can be connected to gas boilers and heat pumps and require only low temperature water to produce sufficient heat output. It can also be used in extensions and normally the existing boiler will be able to cope with the minimal additional load that the underfloor heating requires.
Traditionally underfloor heating involves embedding pipe with a screed. Although there is nothing fundamentally wrong with this type of system they do present certain issues.
One of the main arguments against screed-based underfloor heating systems is the thermal response time. Heating up a huge mass of sand / cement takes hours. Not only does this mean that such systems must be kept switched on 24/7 it also means that they do not cool off quickly when the demand is no longer there. This one major disadvantage of screed-based systems led Jupiter GmbH to radically re-think underfloor heating design and resulted in the introduction of the IDEAL System over 20 years ago.
The concept behind the IDEAL System was to remove screed from the equation. By removing it, or rather replacing it with a thinner, lightweight and preferably dry material the main issue of thermal response could be addressed.
The IDEAL System not only brought heating and cooling time down to minutes rather than hours, it also improved build times and brought what was a multi trade installation under the roof of one trade. The grey area of responsibility had been removed.
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