Underfloor heating

Allied Solar provides a heat pump package integrated with Solar Panels, matching room heat emitters and intelligent controls to provide a lower cost, efficient heating system ideal for new builds.

Why underfloor heating is more effective and efficient

Underfloor heating is designed to emit radiant heat, which effectively is infrared electromagnetic radiation emitted from the surface of a warm object. This infrared then heats the surface of any object it encounters (e.g. people and walls etc.). In effect this means that the air temperature may be a degree °C or two lower than "normal" but the room still feels comfortable because the occupants are feeling the warmt of the infrared radiation.

Old fashioned "radiators" in contrast only emit about half their energy through radiant heat, the remainder is used to heat air in contact with the radiator surface, warm air then rises setting up convection currents, and heating the air in the room. Because there is less radiant heat, rooms feel a little cooler and to compensate room stats are normally set a little higher than rooms with underfloor heating.

Advantages of Underfloor heating

• Almost ideal temperature distribution.
• Floor warmest part in the room, giving increased comfort at lower running temperatures.
• Low opertating temperatures which make them and ideal match for heat pumps.
• Visual and space advantages because no radiators are needed.
• Inherently safer than radiators for children and old people becasue any hot surface burn possibility has been removed.

Disadvantages of Underfloor heating

• Cost, although costs are much more affordable than a few years ago.
• Must be "got right" first time and subsequent changes are very difficult.
• More thermal inertia, so slower to ramp temperture up and down. Outside weather compensation however helps match the output of the system to weather conditions.