It is leaving temperatures below zero, snowfall and warnings for minimum temperatures in several areas of the country. And, although they can serve as a tool to fight against the cold and low temperatures, there are also other methods that can help us in this sense and that also take up much less space.
An example, although less known, is the hydraulic underfloor heating which is installed under the surface of the house and works thanks to the channeling of hot water (which can reach 40º if you want to heat the home, or about 15º or 16º, if what you want to do is cool it.) through the pipes.
This type of heating, despite what you may think, has its origins in the 1st century BC when the Roman engineer Gaius Sergius Orata designed a system known as the “hypocaust“, where air circulated through pipes below the floor (which could be considered the ancestor of the central heating we know today).
Some of the advantages of underfloor heating are:
- It takes up less physical and useful space than other methodsas is the case with radiators.
- Helps save emissions. Which makes it a more sustainable option.
- Greater energy efficiency. This translates into greater savings.
- Distribution uniform from the heat.
- It’s silent. It hardly makes any noise.
One of its disadvantages is that, in general, it usually takes longer to start heating than other methods, although it also maintains the temperature longer once it is turned off.
Types of underfloor heating
There are several types of underfloor heating. The best known are the following:
- Hydraulic underfloor heating: It is the system that we have explained before. It uses water tubes under the pavement, emitting heat or cold, depending on the temperature.
- Electric underfloor heating: In addition to hydraulic underfloor heating, there is also electric underfloor heating. This works through an electrical circuit that transforms energy into heat through heating resistances. Its installation is a little simpler than other systems and does not require maintenance.
In addition to these types, it should be noted that the installation of radiant panels can be done either on the ceiling or on the wall. It can be installed in any room, from the bedroom, to the kitchen, to the bathroom or bedroom.
How to install underfloor heating
Installing underfloor heating is very simple. It will only take four steps. First of all, you must prepare the surface where you are going to install it. You should clean the area and check that it is regular. It is essential that the surface is level.
Next, you will have to place the manifolds to connect the pipes, place the insulating panels and place the pipes. Finally, you must fill the installation and test the pressure. Of course, before pouring the mortar you should check that there are no leaks. When you have verified that everything is working correctly, you can pour the mortar and finish laying the screed.
