Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

Underfloor heating systems have been in use since the times of the Roman Empire. In the colder regions of their Empire, and even in other areas of the world, underfloor heating systems gained popularity in private and public Roman buildings. Today, homeowners are renewing this once popular form of heating, and adapting new technologies with more efficient products and better results.

Currently, there are two main systems of underfloor heating. The first is a warm water system, and the second is an electric system. These systems can be installed using a wet system, also known as a poured-floor system. Wet systems are installed when the masonry mix is poured. Alternatively, underfloor heating systems can be installed using the sub-floor system, also known as the dry system. During the installation of a dry system, the underfloor heating is put straight onto the sub-floor.  If installing an electric system, for the first time you should hire a professional because improper wiring can be extremely dangerous.

The hot water system utilises warm water that is forced and circulated through the network of pipes or tubes that have been fixed into the floor. Numerous types of pipes are available for this system. These include Alupex, PEX, and polybutylene. It is rare for copper pipes to be used for this function.

Homeowners opting for hot water underfloor heating must choose the product by balancing the difference between cost and desirable water pressure. Some tubing is pricier, but offers better quality, while other types of tubing offer more resistance. However, the higher the resistance the more energy is required to pump the water through the system. Alternatively, this resistance is necessary for effective heat generation.