Heating using radiant surfaces, as observed in Mpchs phase 2 homes, offers a high level of thermal comfort and considerable energy savings compared to more conventional methods. The most common system is the one that uses pipes through which hot water circulates at a low temperature, although there are also other simpler systems based on electrical resistors, suitable for air conditioning in a specific area of the house without the need to carry out many works.
All this makes this method of air conditioning one of the most comfortable, versatile, and efficient in energy terms, although it still raises many questions among users due to issues related to its installation and maintenance. Three experts explain all the advantages and installation requirements and clarify doubts about this system.
Experts Consulted:
- Iván Castaño, air conditioning product manager at Uponor
- Enrique Martín, air conditioning and renewable energy product manager at Leroy Merlin
- Joan Cubedo, Building Technologies product manager at Rehau
Why is Underfloor Heating Better?
“Because it works at low temperatures (from 30 to 45º C), underfloor heating helps reduce energy consumption, distributes heat evenly, and saves space,” summarizes Enrique Martín, head of air conditioning products at Leroy Merlin.
“In addition, by working with heating water temperatures well below those used by conventional systems, the direct cost of hot water production decreases, which makes it possible to use low-temperature systems, such as heat pumps or condensing boilers, and the use of renewable energies, such as geothermal”, confirms Joan Cubedo, Product Manager of Building Technologies of Rehau.
“Invisible Underfloor Air Conditioning Systems” offer cooling in winter and heating during summer without having to cool or heat the air inside the room. This way, greater comfort is provided by keeping the room temperature about 20C cooler or higher (depending on the mode of operation is cooling or heating) as compared to traditional systems. This way, the energy consumption can be reduced by around 20%.” says Ivan Castano, Uponor air conditioning product manager.
How does Underfloor Heating Work?
“The different existing versions of underfloor heating are based on a system made up of circuits of plastic pipes that are integrated into the floor of the house, through which hot water circulates in winter and cold water in summer. In winter, the hot water from the pipes transfers its heat to the ground and this, in turn, to the environment, while in summer, the cold water (close to 16ºC) cools the mass of the ground, lowering the temperature of the environment through radiation”, explains Castaño.
“It is a heating system that uses the ground as an emitting and accumulating element,” confirms Joan Cubedo from Rehau. “The most commonly used system is by water, consisting of the circulation of hot water through plastic tubes embedded in a layer of mortar suitably isolated from the rest of the structure of the floor and walls”.
How is Underfloor Heating Installed?
The installation of the system is one of the issues that raise the most doubts among users since, when going under the floor, it has to be lifted, place the entire installation, and reposition the pavement. “The installation of underfloor heating consists of placing an insulating panel on the floor of the house (and about 20 centimeters high on the walls) in which the conveniently separated plastic pipes are fixed.
The pipes start from distribution manifolds, normally located in cabinets built into the wall. Once the water circuits are filled to the necessary pressure, the mortar is poured on top of the insulating panel, forming a slab of mortar about 5 cm thick that will allow heat to accumulate,” says Cubero.
“There is a simpler system that consists of sheets with an electrical resistance that are placed under light flooring such as parquet or laminate and that are connected to a plug. They have a maximum power of 3,600 W for an area of 30 square meters”, says Martín.
Can I Install Underfloor Heating at Home?
“It must be appreciated that its installation requires significant screed heights,” says Cubedo. Currently, the market allows a radiant system to be adapted to any type of installation. There are systems specially designed for very low-rise rehabilitation”, he continues.
Yes, there are also radiant ceilings. “Currently, the market is diversifying with radiant ceiling installations, which add to the comfort and efficiency of radiant floors and open up new opportunities in cases of rehabilitation”, agrees Joan Cubedo from Rehau. “In the case of the radiant ceiling, the simplest formula is to resort to panels in which the pipe is already mounted on them.
The installation process is not very different from the installation of a conventional false ceiling, in which the installer only has to make the hydraulic connection to it”, he continues.
Regarding the type of flooring, “ceramic and stone flooring are the most suitable for underfloor heating and cooling, given their high thermal conductivity. However, wooden floors are perfectly valid, as recognized by the Spanish Federation of Wood Flooring Manufacturers. The only requirement is that said pavement is glued directly to the mortar slab without leaving air spaces in between”, explains Castaño.
Underfloor air conditioning systems can work with any hot water heat generator as long as the generator or subsequent regulation ensures adequate operating water temperatures lower than those of conventional systems.
“The most efficient systems are the so-called low-temperature ones, such as conventional or geothermal heat pumps, condensing boilers, and low-temperature boilers,” says the Rehau manager.
“Since radiant systems work at low temperatures, condensing boilers are optimal since they reach yields of up to 108% –says Castaño.
Solar thermal energy systems are increasingly present since they provide free energy to the user. Currently, the use of solar energy is mandatory, which must provide 70% of the consumption of domestic hot water (DHW) by this method. Radiant systems are the only ones that work at low supply temperatures”.
With a Radiant System, you Save on Electricity Bills
Due to its low-temperature operation and the variety of heat generators with which it can work, one of the main arguments in favor of radiant floors is their high level of energy efficiency. “Underfloor heating helps to reduce the energy consumption of a home by approximately 10%,” says Martín.
“The use of a radiant floor heating system in combination with renewable energy sources (biomass, solar, geothermal…) saves up to 90% of energy compared to conventional heating systems ”, says Castaño.
Radiant heating systems allow the independent management of each of the rooms in the house through thermostats. “This is a good system to keep it constantly in operation since they are systems with high thermal inertia,” says Martín.
“There are interesting regulation options on the market that guarantee optimal operation, as well as a high degree of comfort in radiant air conditioning installations (heat and cold), in addition to the integration between mixed floor and ceiling systems,” says Cubedo. Uponor, for example, has a wireless and individual control system for each room that allows intelligent management that predicts the user’s consumption habits as the system is used.
Is it Expensive to Maintain Underfloor Heating?
Regarding maintenance, Martín believes that “it is advisable to carry out a periodic review to guarantee the operation and prevent problems, and that this is done by a specialized company, since it is necessary to take care of and review both the underfloor installation and the installation team.
Castaño assures that “given that radiant systems lack mobile components, filters or ducts that can deteriorate over time, they only require generic preventive maintenance to adjust the installation to the maximum each season and check that all the energy saving functions of the control system they work right”.
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