When carrying out a major renovation of a building, many users consider the possibility of installing invisible underfloor heating or radiator heating as an integrated heating system in their home.
Both underfloor heating and radiators can be electrical systems, water systems or air systems (Aerothermal), but we already talked about the latter in this other article about what aerothermal energy is and how it works , so in this article we will focus on the first two and leave aerothermal for another time.
If we focus on underfloor heating by electrical systems and by water systems, although both systems actually use hot water to heat a space, we have to say that the basis of their operation is quite different. We explain how each one works so that you can choose the one that best suits your home.
Underfloor heating with water It consists of the emission of heat by the water that circulates through tubes embedded in the concrete slab that makes up the floor, with which we achieve a really large surface as a heat-emitting element. In winter, the water runs through the pipe integrated into the floor at a low temperature compared to the temperature that circulates through the radiators – around 30-40 ºC compared to the 70-80 ºC required by radiators – and provides the necessary heat to achieve a comfortable temperature in the home.
The advantage of working with water at a low temperature is that the underfloor heating system is ideal for working with a heat pump, which takes advantage of the thermal energy contained in the air to heat the home, consuming very little energy and being considered renewable. There is also an underfloor heating that works with resistors but the electrical energy consumption of these equipment is remarkably high.
Radiator operation
Regarding the operation of radiator heating, the function of heat-emitting elements is precisely that: to emit and distribute heat from the water heated in a gas boiler. Traditional aluminium or steel radiators need the water circulating inside them to reach 70-80 ºC in order to transmit heat to the room.
However, today there are what are called low-temperature radiators, which are also capable of working using a heat pump to heat the water (55ºC-60ºC), with the low energy consumption guaranteed by this type of installation. These low-temperature radiators emit heat in a different way than traditional radiators and have other types of technical characteristics.
Economic investment
Underfloor heating is more expensive than a radiator installation. The explanation is simple, the installation of an underfloor heating system requires greater technical complexity as it involves more components such as valves, pipes, planks or mortar that increase the initial economic investment. With proper use of the system and thanks to the economic savings that we will achieve by consuming less energy, the initial investment can be amortized in about two years.
Energy efficiency
Underfloor heating systems work with a low-temperature water circuit as opposed to radiators that need higher supply temperatures. Low-temperature systems have fewer losses and the efficiency of the thermal generators they use – condensing boiler or heat pump – is higher and, therefore, they consume less. The use of underfloor heating consumes between 10% and 20% less than other conventional heating systems, such as radiators.
Space and aesthetics
Apart from other technical characteristics about its operation, it is true that one of the greatest advantages of underfloor heating is that it is practically ‘invisible’, except for a small cabinet integrated into the wall that hides the system’s regulation valves, leaving all the space free for interior design.
Radiators, on the other hand, occupy a considerable physical space, which must be taken into account when designing the distribution of the furniture in the house. We must take into account in an underfloor heating installation the type of floor that the system will have, with marble or ceramic tile floors being preferable. This is not to say that it is incompatible with wood, but depending on the quality of the wood, it can cause more problems.
Peculiarities of the house
One of the characteristics that most distinguishes underfloor heating from radiators or other types of systems is its high thermal inertia. Once switched on, it takes several hours for the entire system to heat up and, in the same way, several hours to cool down. This characteristic can be both good and bad, depending on the habits of use of the inhabitants of the home.
An underfloor heating installation is suitable for those spaces where it is used continuously or in very cold areas where it is always advisable to maintain a minimum temperature. For homes in temperate areas where the use of heating is going to be punctual – from seven in the afternoon to eight in the morning, for example – it is more advisable to install and work with radiators.
If you still have more questions or need the advice of a professional, at Kaleidoscope we will be happy to help you take the step in your comprehensive renovation with the heating that best suits your needs. Contact us and let’s start building your new home!
