Underfloor heating is often touted as the must-have source of heat in a home. So much so, that many new builds now come complete with some kind of underfloor heating system.
Providing a far subtler and more comfortable heat, wet underfloor heating systems that use hot water to heat rooms are also relatively inexpensive to run. Dry underfloor heating systems can be quickly and easily added to an existing property but, as they run on electricity, can be more expensive to run. Pairing any system with underfloor heating controls can be very beneficial for your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home.
Water and Electric Underfloor Heating Controls
When looking for the right heating system for your property, you are essentially looking for two things – comfort and efficiency.
There are times when you will want to adjust your heating or set different temperatures for different parts of the day. This can easily be achieved with underfloor heating controls, which are becoming more advanced all the time. There are a couple of things you need to know about your heating system to understand the controls.
- Zones– an underfloor heating system is divided into zones. In most cases, these zones will refer to individual rooms e.g. bedroom, lounge, kitchen and so on
- Thermostat– each of these zones will be controlled by their own thermostat. So you may want more heat in the lounge, but less in the kitchen.
Like all heating systems, the more controllable the thermostat is, the more you will be able to regulate temperature in a zone. Underfloor systems do not belch out heat and is a system that will take time to respond in temperature changes but, once you understand the system, it is easy to use.
Read on to see some of the most common controls you can use alongside your underfloor heating
Thermostats
Opting for a thermostat can help with energy efficiency. It is also a more convenient way of controlling your systems temperature. They are ideal for saving energy because when the room reaches a comfortable temperature, the boiler automatically turns off. It is therefore important to set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The temperature of a room will, naturally, depend with the season. But 21°c is generally a comfortable temperature for a living space.
- Dial thermostat– these are simple thermostats, controlled by turning the dial to the required temperature. Easy to use and simple to install, it can leave you wanting more, however.
- Digital programmable thermostat– this piece of kit allows you to see important information relating to current room temperature and the desired temperature. You can set a number of programmes for certain days and times of the week. This means you gain more efficiency on which part of your home are heated and when.
- Smart thermostats– this is app technology that allows you, even more, control of the heat in your home. Estimates are that this responsive smart thermostat can save you an additional 20 to 30% on your energy bills.
- Wireless thermostats– these gadgets allow you to control the heat without the need to have floorboards lifted ad wires chased throughout the house. These are perfect additions to a system being retrofitted to an existing property.
Programmers (or a timer)
This is used to manage the heating system as well as the hot water. It turns the hot water on and off when certain set temperatures are reached. A programmer enables you to heat your home only when you need it.
You can use the programmer to time the heating of your property when you get home so that you get favourable temperatures. A programmer/timer is one of the most widely used underfloor heating controls used across the UK.
Manifolds
A manifold is fitted at the centre of the underfloor heating system. This is because, after all the pipework is done, it is brought back to a central distribution point known as the manifold. The flow from the manifold is taken back to the source of the heat in the building. There are several useful items that come with the manifolds. For instance, the return manifolds are fitted with two balancing valves, there is a minimised depth dimension which allows the mounting of the flush-wall enclosed cabinet. These control valves are designed in a way that means they are able to accommodate the standard actuators.
Underfloor heating systems are supplied with thermostatic options. This implies that the actuators can be mounted on the return manifold. These actuators are connected to an air thermostat in each room and they are programmable.
Installation of thermostatic radiator valves
As the name suggests, these valves are fitted to the radiator. They are used in controlling the temperature of an individual room. The control of temperature is achieved by changing the flow of the hot water towards the radiator. When you are not using a certain room of your house, and it’s fitted with the thermostatic radiator valves, you can just switch it off, thus lowering the overall cost of the energy bills. It is recommended that the thermostatic radiator valves in the bathroom should not be turned off. In this room, they play an important role in keeping the floor dry.
Thermostatic blending valve
This is specifically for blending the flow of the heat to achieve a stable temperature in the room. This thermostatic wax ensures that the temperature of the water is stable, especially with the quick supply of any prevailing temperature changes.
Understanding how to control the flow of heat through an underfloor system will take time. It will help you understand how you use your home as a whole.
The Benefits of Controllable Heat
Having the flexibility to control your heating easily is greatly beneficial to your homes energy efficiency as well as your comfort.
Underfloor heating offers a far gentler heat which is more evenly distributed through the room. Heat transferred into the room via radiation rather than convection. This is widely recognised as providing a more efficient heat but at a lower temperature. The system also uses the whole of the floor area. When you combine this with the flexibility of a digital thermostat, you can be certain that you are only using as much energy as you need to.
Underfloor heating is a far more efficient heating system that can provide gentle background heat without a large energy bill. Some households report their energy bill dropping by 25%!
Give our team a call to discuss the compatibility of your heating system with the range of controls available.
