Underfloor heating

[Smac]

Hi guys was just going to ask a few questions on what is best way to control ufh my system would be rehau with heatmiser programmable room stats is it best to have ufh ruinning all the time via room stats my query also if ufh is switch off completely and suddenly outside temperatures drop in evening when ufh heating is switch on response time can be 2 To 4hrs approx before Temperatures start to rise in house with oil boiler running constant would buffer tank beside oil boiler be a better options to curtail boiler running for long periods any
help very much appreciated

 

[RTFI]

The idea behind underfloor heating is to create thermal mass. That is that your whole floor is a heat source. It's not like a radiator that heat's up in minutes to a high temperature. If there is a sudden drop in temperature outside you won't notice. You don't want high temperature differentials occurring, that is running your heating system like you do with radiators, you run the system with set back temperature. It'll take hours to cool as well as hours to heat up. If you have chosen underfloor heating you should have good insulation levels in the floor, walls and ceiling to allow the system to work correctly. You'll fall out with the system if you have a high heat loss dwelling as it won't respond quick enough.
You use buffer tanks for when heating demand exceeds supply capability. For example you would use a buffer tank with a ground source heat pump, this provides a constant low grade heat (low grade means slight increase in temperature) therefore when the system is satisfied you would charge the buffer tank then should there be a demand the buffer tank handles it. Imagine a constant drip into a water tank, if you want a glass of water the tank has enough reserve to cover it and fill later, with out the tank you'll get you glass of water but it won't be instant.

 

[bobbydazbowers]

Hi ive justed added a one storey extension on the back of my house onto the kitchen and living room taking out internal walls making it open plan living. there are radiators in the existing building throughout including one in the kitchen and living rooms that have been extended by approx 16 metres. due to wall space restrictions on extension i wish to add underfloor heating ( off my combi)to the new extension and have insulated the wooden floor between joists with 100mm kingspan about 40-50 mm below top of joists. I have seen diy packs with two systems one a straightforward addition to existing radiator system with pipes and another that adds manifolds etcas well as pipes and needs wiring and plumbing to the combi keeping it seperate this system is more complicated and expensive but if it is more efficient and would pay for itself in a reasonable timeframe i would consider. any advice would be appreciated please.

 

[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

Hi ive justed added a one storey extension on the back of my house onto the kitchen and living room taking out internal walls making it open plan living. there are radiators in the existing building throughout including one in the kitchen and living rooms that have been extended by approx 16 metres. due to wall space restrictions on extension i wish to add underfloor heating ( off my combi)to the new extension and have insulated the wooden floor between joists with 100mm kingspan about 40-50 mm below top of joists. I have seen diy packs with two systems one a straightforward addition to existing radiator system with pipes and another that adds manifolds etcas well as pipes and needs wiring and plumbing to the combi keeping it seperate this system is more complicated and expensive but if it is more efficient and would pay for itself in a reasonable timeframe i would consider. any advice would be appreciated please.

As far as I know you can't add underfloor heating to a system as if it is another rad. so this makes me think you have not fully understood the one system For one thing the liquid in the UFH will be at a lower temperature typically about 40C whereas in your rads it could be between 50 to 80. A system with manifold and wiring is what I would expect. Perhaps you could post name or link to the DIY packs for better info. i would expect you have looked at nuheat www.[B]nu-heat[/B].co.uk/

 

[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

Hi guys was just going to ask a few questions on what is best way to control ufh my system would be rehau with heatmiser programmable room stats is it best to have ufh ruinning all the time via room stats my query also if ufh is switch off completely and suddenly outside temperatures drop in evening when ufh heating is switch on response time can be 2 To 4hrs approx before Temperatures start to rise in house with oil boiler running constant would buffer tank beside oil boiler be a better options to curtail boiler running for long periods any
help very much appreciated

Are you planning to retro fitting UFH in an old house to run from oil boiler?
If you are starting from scratch and are not on mains gas then i would seriously consider all electric heating! There, i said it on plumbing forum!
In the right installation electric ufh could be ideal, cheap to install, cheap to maintain and given rising oil costs... The world leader Warm up put a strong case to say over its whole life their electric heating will be cheaper than gas! And certain installation methods can result in floor reaching temperature in 20-30 minutes.

Alternatively or in conjunction it is worth looking at various heat pumps, including air to air which are cheapest & easiest to install and far more efficient than older electric heating methods.

So much depends on the details of your home and what you are trying to achieve.

 

[bobbydazbowers]

As far as I know you can't add underfloor heating to a system as if it is another rad. so this makes me think you have not fully understood the one system For one thing the liquid in the UFH will be at a lower temperature typically about 40C whereas in your rads it could be between 50 to 80. A system with manifold and wiring is what I would expect. Perhaps you could post name or link to the DIY packs for better info. i would expect you have looked at nuheat www.nu-heat.co.uk/

hi try this link and see what you understand of it.


http://www.uheat.co.uk

 

[xsjadofred]

As far as I know you can't add underfloor heating to a system as if it is another rad. so this makes me think you have not fully understood the one system For one thing the liquid in the UFH will be at a lower temperature typically about 40C whereas in your rads it could be between 50 to 80. A system with manifold and wiring is what I would expect. Perhaps you could post name or link to the DIY packs for better info. i would expect you have looked at nuheat www.[B]nu-heat[/B].co.uk/

you can with the poly plumb stuff.. you can get the pack with no 2 port and stats and it works with the heating on.. obvs it still needs own pump but can be done.